History's Most Famous Emperors & Kings

An international team of experts led by Dr. Damian Evans is on a mission to uncover the secrets of the ancient city of Angkor and its massive temple Angkor Wat. Using a revolutionary mapping system called LIDAR, they uncover a complex grid of roads, canals, and other structures never before seen, leading to new revelations about the Khmer Empire. Follow the rise of this great civilization, from the rice paddies of the Kulen Hills to virtually all of Southeast Asia, and witness the epic scale of their medieval metropolis.

The great Khmer Empire flourished during the reign of Jayavarman VII, one of the first Buddhist kings. Under his rule, the sprawling city complex of Angkor Thom was born. It was then the largest city in the world, and continued to grow by the year. But did it grow too big, too fast? Join an international team of archeologists who, using a state-of-the-art LIDAR technology, map out the massive scale of Angkor in its golden age. With their findings, they'll attempt to solve the ancient mystery of the giant city's rapid demise.

Angkor Wat is the largest temple on the face of the Earth and is a symbol of one of the greatest empires in the history of Southeast Asia. And yet, for centuries, the sacred structure remained lost within the tropical forests of Cambodia, along with the history of the young king who built the temple. Discover the story of Suryavarman II and how he ushered in the golden age of the Khmer Empire. See how Angkor Wat was constructed over four backbreaking decades, and witness the monument in its true glory and splendor, as it appeared 900 years ago.

The most spectacular architectural wonders in Cambodia's ancient city of Angkor were built after its darkest days. Journey with us as we trace the rise of Jayavarman VII who, after being exiled, became king of the Khmer Empire following his defeat of the Champa kingdom. See how the sprawling city complex of Angkor Thom grew under his rule to support the vibrant and thriving Khmer civilization. Witness the palaces and temples he built, as they first appeared hundreds of years ago, before time and nature took its toll on this once great city.

King Tut's sudden death at the age of 19 has been a hotly debated topic ever since his tomb was discovered in the Valley of the Kings in 1922. Why did he die so young? Was he murdered? Was he killed in a chariot accident? To solve this 3,000-year-old cold case, a team of scientists will perform a virtual autopsy on the boy king, using modern technology. Their mission: to determine the cause of Tutankhamun's death and reveal, for the first time, the real boy behind the golden mask.

Austrian Archduke Maximilian spent his life yearning for the crown his older brother Franz was destined to wear. When the opportunity arose to cross the Atlantic and become the Emperor of Mexico, his dreams of becoming a ruler would finally come true. But a series of poor choices, wrong alliances, and ill-timed events turned his dream into a nightmare. Witness the tragic story of this complex and conflicted member of the powerful Habsburg family as we relive the circumstances behind this seminal moment in Mexican and Austrian history.

It lasted only one day on a small piece of land, but the impact the Battle of Waterloo had on history is massive and far-reaching. This is the definitive account of the fight that ended Napoleon's rule as emperor and altered the destinies of France, Europe, and the world. Based on testimonies of those involved, we reveal the tactical decisions and human dramas that transpired on both sides of the battle to give you an unprecedented look of one of history's most epic conflicts.