5: The Atlantic Age | Africa’s Great Civilisations

Duration: 52'18''

Synopsis

This episode looks at the tremendous changes that took place across the continent between the 15th and 18th centuries.

Further Information

More clips from Africa's Great Civilisations

1: Origins | Africa's Great Civilisations

1: Origins | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 52'45''

Henry Louis Gates Jr looks at the discoveries that point to Africa as the genetic home of all currently living humanity.

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

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

BBC Four | 2018 | 52'38''

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

3: Empires of Gold | Africa's Great Civilisations

3: Empires of Gold | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 52'37''

Henry Louis Gates travels to the shores of the Sahara Desert to see the transformation of north and west Africa.

4: Cities | Africa's Great Civilisations

4: Cities | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 52'06''

This episode looks at the powerful, cosmopolitan cities that dotted Africa at the time when Europe was in its Middle Ages.

6: Clash of Civilisations | Africa's Great Civilisations

6: Clash of Civilisations | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 52'54''

The final episode reviews the 19th century, when a fierce competition for resources and trade led to conflicts.

Amanirenas | Africa's Great Civilisations

Amanirenas | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 3'21''

Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates Amanirenas, the Queen of the Kingdom of Kush.

Ancient life in the Sahara | Africa's Great Civilisations

Ancient life in the Sahara | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 2'50''

Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates cave paintings which demonstrate that the Sahara was once a Savannah.

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 humans and the development of culture | Africa's Great Civilisations

Early humans and the development of culture | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 5'06''

Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates early human migration from Africa and the development of culture...

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.

Iron technologies | Africa's Great Civilisations

Iron technologies | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 2'22''

Henry Louis Gates investigates the early uses of Iron and the impacts it had on early societies in Africa.

Kerma and the Kingdom of Kush | Africa's Great Civilisations

Kerma and the Kingdom of Kush | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 3'02''

Henry Louis Gates explores the ancient powerful settlement of Kerma, which was located in modern day Sudan.

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.

The development of complex societies in the Nile Valley | Africa's Great Civilisations

The development of complex societies in the Nile Valley | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 2'39''

Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates evidence of complex societies and creative cultures ...

The evolution of writing | Africa's Great Civilisations

The evolution of writing | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 3'42''

Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates the evolution of writing in Africa.

The Great Pyramid of Giza | Africa's Great Civilisations

The Great Pyramid of Giza | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 2'17''

Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates the construction of the pyramids and the societies that created them.

The origins of humanity in Africa | Africa's Great Civilisations

The origins of humanity in Africa | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 5'08''

Henry Louis Gates Jr looks at the discoveries that point to Africa as the genetic home of all currently livi...

More resources about Ancient Civilizations

01: High Priest | Julius Caesar: The Making of a Dictator

01: High Priest | Julius Caesar: The Making of a Dictator

BBC Two | 2023 | 58'59''

Caesar enters into dangerous alliances and bends the rules of the republic in his bid to become consul, the highest...

02: Veni Vidi Vici | Julius Caesar: The Making of a Dictator

02: Veni Vidi Vici | Julius Caesar: The Making of a Dictator

BBC Two | 2023 | 58'54''

03: Ides of March | Julius Caesar: The Making of a Dictator

03: Ides of March | Julius Caesar: The Making of a Dictator

BBC Two | 2023 | 59'11''

1: Age of Conquest | Seven Ages of Britain

1: Age of Conquest | Seven Ages of Britain

BBC HD | 2010 | 59'09''

David Dimbleby charts the last 2,000 years of Britain through its art and treasure. The first part begins with the Roman invasion ...

1: Ancestors | The Story of China

1: Ancestors | The Story of China

BBC Two | 2016 | 59'00''

Michael Wood explores the history of the world's newest superpower. Michael joins the Qin family reunion, as 300 relatives gather to worshi...

1: Beginnings | Michael Wood: The Story of India

1: Beginnings | Michael Wood: The Story of India

BBC Two | 2007 | 59'02''

Michael Wood journeys through the subcontinent, tracing the diversity of its peoples, cultures and landscapes. He charts the...

1: Boudicca's Rebellion | Battlefield Britain

1: Boudicca's Rebellion | Battlefield Britain

BBC Two | 2004 | 58'57''

Peter and Dan Snow on the battles that shaped our nation, starting almost 2,000 years ago with the revolt of the Iceni, led by ...

1: Democrats | Ancient Greece: The Greatest Show on Earth

1: Democrats | Ancient Greece: The Greatest Show on Earth

BBC Four | 2013 | 59'07''

Michael Scott discovers that from the start, drama was about more than entertainment - it was a reaction to real ev...

1: Julius Caesar: I Am Not King, But Caesar | I, Caesar

1: Julius Caesar: I Am Not King, But Caesar | I, Caesar

BBC Two | 1997 | 49'04''

First of a six-part series that charts the rise and fall of the Roman Empire as reflected through six of its greatest...

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: Mysterious Ancestors | In Search of Scotland

1: Mysterious Ancestors | In Search of Scotland

BBC Two | 2001 | 29'06''

Exploring Scotland's dramatic history, Dr Fiona Watson begins with our mysterious Neolithic ancestors.

1: Roman Games | Games People Played

1: Roman Games | Games People Played

BBC Two | 1981 | 9'55''

Michael Dean presents a programme about early forms of games, in this case those used by the Romans.

1: Romans to Normans | Michael Wood's Story of England

1: Romans to Normans | Michael Wood's Story of England

BBC Four | 2010 | 58'57''

Michael Wood uncovers the history of Kibworth's first 1,000 years, with a Roman villa, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and evide...

1: Second Moment of Creation | Civilisations

1: Second Moment of Creation | Civilisations

BBC Two | 2018 | 59'00''

Simon Schama looks at the formative role art and the creative imagination have played in the forging of humanity itself.

1: Son of God | In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great

1: Son of God | In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great

BBC Two | 1998 | 58'41''

Michael Wood walks in the footsteps of Alexander the Great as he travels from Macedonia in Northern Greece, crosses t...

1: Stonehenge | The Flying Archaeologist

1: Stonehenge | The Flying Archaeologist

BBC One | 2013 | 28'58''

Archaeologist Ben Robinson flies over Wiltshire to uncover new discoveries in the Stone Age landscape. Sites found from the air have...

1: Survival | Andrew Marr's History of the World

1: Survival | Andrew Marr's History of the World

BBC One | 2012 | 59'26''

Andrew Marr traces 70,000 years of history, beginning with the earliest humans. From Africa, they spread around the world, a...

1: The Age of Heroes | Treasures of Ancient Greece

1: The Age of Heroes | Treasures of Ancient Greece

BBC Four | 2015 | 59'03''

Series in which Alastair Sooke explores Greek art. He begins his journey in Crete at the palace of Knossos and travels to ...

1: The Age of the Heroes | In Search of the Trojan War

1: The Age of the Heroes | In Search of the Trojan War

BBC Two | 1985 | 55'36''

Series on the veracity of the Trojan War. Michael Wood traces Heinrich Schliemann's search for the site of Troy.

1: The Gladiators | Colosseum

1: The Gladiators | Colosseum

BBC Four | 2023 | 47'02''

In AD80, the Colosseum is open for business. Roman emperor Titus plans 100 days of games to commemorate, including an epic battle to the death ...