To understand the deep roots of the crisis, we'll go straight to the creation of the canal in 1869, and the long history of British intervention in Egypt - all with the usual Epic History TV maps, as well as lots of brilliant and rarely seen films from the period.

History of a Mediterranean Superpower- The Rise of Venice - Universal History

In the 6th century AD, during the reign of Emperor Justinian, the Roman Empire experienced an extraordinary resurgence, reconquering lands - including Italy, North Africa and Rome itself - that had been lost to the 'barbarians' a century before. Leading these campaigns, a brilliant Roman general named Flavius Belisarius - a skilled tactician, inspirational leader, pragmatic and humane.

In 1796, at the height of the Revolutionary Wars, Napoleon Bonaparte took command of French forces in northern Italy. He was just 26 years old and had never commanded an army before. Within weeks, he had turned his ragged, demoralised troops into a ferocious fighting force, defeating the Austrians and knocking Piedmont out of the war.

In 1825, a group of disillusioned army officers launched a coup in the Russian capital, St.Petersburg. Their goal was to overthrow the Tsar, establish a constitutional government and abolish the brutal institution of serfdom.

The incredible story of Alexander the Great and his conquest of the known world is brought to life with animated maps, images from Osprey Publishing and Total War game footage. In Part 1, we look at the background: Persia's invasion of Greece in 480 BC, the rise of Macedonia under King Philip II, and the formation of the Hellenic League.

In 1804 Napoleon created 18 'Marshals of the Empire', to serve as the senior officers of the Grande Armée. He created a further 8 before his abdication. A few were aristocrats, but others were the sons of shopkeepers or tailors. The most favoured became princes and kings. Among their ranks were legendary figures such as Marshals Lannes, Ney, Soult, Davout and Massena, but also much less well know figures like Pérignon, Brune and Moncey.

The story of Venice is a fascinating tale of ambition, commerce, politics, wars and empires. Join us as we chart the extraordinary rise of Venice - from a community of refugees hiding out in the Italian lagoons, to one of the medieval world's most dominant maritime states - and then explore its gradual demise at the hands of powerful enemies.

1918 is the year that Woodrow Wilson unveils his 'Fourteen Points' as the basis for future world peace. Meanwhile Bolshevik Russia quits the war by signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, freeing up half a million German troops for General Ludendorff's last ditch attempt to win all-out victory on the Western Front. His Spring Offensive, also known as the Kaiserschlacht, or 'Kaiser's Battle', comes tantalising close to success, but is finally halted by British and Australian troops at Amiens in April.

The masterful visionary work of Jules Verne, considered the pioneer of modern science fiction, returns to enchant with incredible mysteries of the underwater world and traveling adventures.
The year is 1866. Zoologist Professor Pierre Aronnax, his servant Conseil, and harpooner Ned Land are searching for a creature believed to be the cause of numerous ship accidents. And although everyone assumes that an incredibly large whale is responsible for the disasters, the sea monster turns out to be the enigmatic submarine Nautilus with Captain Nemo at its helm.
Part 2