2: The Cross and the Crescent | Africa’s Great Civilisations

Duration: 52'38''

Synopsis

Henry Louis Gates Jr explores how the emergence of Christianity and Islam reshaped Africa over centuries.

Further Information

More clips from 02: The Cross and the Crescent

Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia | Africa's Great Civilisations

Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 5'25''

Throughout Ethiopian history, rulers have claimed links to King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba and the Ark of the...

Early Islam in Africa | Africa's Great Civilisations

Early Islam in Africa | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 2'43''

How Islam impacted Africa culturally and politically.

King Ezana of Axum and Christianity | Africa's Great Civilisations

King Ezana of Axum and Christianity | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 3'59''

King Ezana of Axum's decision to convert to Christianity changed the course of African history.

Lalibela | Africa's Great Civilisations

Lalibela | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 5'47''

In Ethiopia, the rock churches of Lalibela were part of a plan to build a new Jerusalem.

Monasticism | Africa's Great Civilisations

Monasticism | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 1'26''

The story of how monasticism emerged in Africa through the work of St Anthony in Egypt.

Nubian Christian frescoes | Africa's Great Civilisations

Nubian Christian frescoes | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 2'27''

A look at the beautiful and distinctive frescoes produced by Nubian Christians in the seventh and eighth centuries.

More resources about Islamic civilisations (e.g., baghdad c. 900)

1: Medicine and Religion | History File

1: Medicine and Religion | History File

BBC Two | 1998 | 24'02''

Programme begins with looking at Ancient Greece, then the Roman Empire then looking at Muslim and Christian links.

1: Medicine, Religion and Natural Causes | History File

1: Medicine, Religion and Natural Causes | History File

BBC Two | 1989 | 19'00''

This programme looks at ancient Egypt, Hippocrates, Christianity and Islam.

1: Wellspring of Holiness | Jerusalem: The Making of a Holy City

1: Wellspring of Holiness | Jerusalem: The Making of a Holy City

BBC Four | 2011 | 59'02''

Simon Sebag Montefiore begins a history of Jerusalem by exploring how it came into being and how it became s...

2: Clash of the Titans | The Crusades

2: Clash of the Titans | The Crusades

BBC HD | 2012 | 59'19''

Dr Thomas Asbridge examines the two figures who have come to embody Crusader war: Richard the Lionheart and Saladin.

2: Invasion, Invasion, Invasion | Jerusalem: The Making of a Holy City

2: Invasion, Invasion, Invasion | Jerusalem: The Making of a Holy City

BBC Four | 2011 | 58'59''

Simon Sebag Montefiore continues his history of Jerusalem by discovering the impact of Islam and the c...

24: 1979: God Fights Back | People's Century

24: 1979: God Fights Back | People's Century

BBC Two | 1997 | 53'22''

Religion makes a comeback into people's lives in the Islamic world and elsewhere, as people seek guidance and spiritual sustenan...

Al-Khwarizmi's digit and numerical system | Science and Islam

Al-Khwarizmi's digit and numerical system | Science and Islam

BBC Four | 2009 | 3'40''

Jim Al-Khalili explains how our numerical system spread to Europe through the work of the Arabic mathematician ...

Algebra | Science and Islam

Algebra | Science and Islam

BBC Four | 2009 | 5'52''

Jim Al-Khalili describes the invention of algebra by medieval Islamic mathematicians.

Arabic, the language of God | Science and Islam

Arabic, the language of God | Science and Islam

BBC Four | 2009 | 5'36''

Jim Al-Khalili looks at how Islamic caliphs encouraged scientific research and made Arabic the official language of their vas...

Episode 1 | The Ottomans: Europe's Muslim Emperors

Episode 1 | The Ottomans: Europe's Muslim Emperors

BBC Two | 2013 | 59'16''

Rageh Omaar examines the history of the Ottoman empire. He starts by looking at the unlikely roots of the Ottomans, as nom...

Episode 2 | The Ottomans: Europe's Muslim Emperors

Episode 2 | The Ottomans: Europe's Muslim Emperors

BBC Two | 2013 | 59'18''

Rageh Omaar explores the contrasts between two very different Ottoman sultans, Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th centur...

Episode 3 | The Ottomans: Europe's Muslim Emperors

Episode 3 | The Ottomans: Europe's Muslim Emperors

BBC Two | 2013 | 59'12''

Rageh Omaar ends his series with a look at how the collapse of the Ottoman Empire created a legacy of tension and conflict...

Islamic Medicine | Science and Islam

Islamic Medicine | Science and Islam

BBC Four | 2009 | 1'51''

Jim Al-Khalili explains the importance of medical knowledge to medieval Islam.

Map-making | Science and Islam

Map-making | Science and Islam

BBC Four | 2009 | 5'42''

Jim Al-Khalili explains why Al-Ma'mun, a medieval caliph, funded a programme of map-making.

Medieval Islamic Compassion | Science and Islam

Medieval Islamic Compassion | Science and Islam

BBC Four | 2009 | 2'15''

Jim Al-Khalili talks about the enduring legacies of medieval Islamic medicine.

Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem | Jerusalem: The Making of a Holy City

Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem | Jerusalem: The Making of a Holy City

BBC Four | 2011 | 3'15''

Simon Sebag Montefiore investigates the extraordinary life of Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem.

Pact of Omar | Jerusalem: The Making of a Holy City

Pact of Omar | Jerusalem: The Making of a Holy City

BBC Four | 2011 | 3'46''

Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses the circumstances in which the Pact of Omar between Christian and Muslim rulers was nego...

Printing press | Science and Islam

Printing press | Science and Islam

BBC Four | 2009 | 6'14''

Jim Al-Khalili looks at how the printing press shifted the centres of scientific research from East to West.

The Crusades

The Crusades

BBC HD | 2012 | 58'59''

Dr Thomas Asbridge re-examines the story of the Crusades. He traces the epic journey of the first crusaders as they marched from Europe to recapture the city of...

The first crusade | Jerusalem: The Making of a Holy City

The first crusade | Jerusalem: The Making of a Holy City

BBC Four | 2011 | 4'17''

Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses the events of the first crusade.