Synopsis
The final episode reviews the 19th century, when a fierce competition for resources and trade led to conflicts.
- Programme: Africa's Great Civilisations
- Episode: 6: Clash of Civilisations
- Channel: BBC Four
- Broadcast year: 2018
- History
Licence: ERA Licence required
UK only
Staff and students of licensed education establishments only
Cannot be adapted
Add Notes
More clips from Africa's Great Civilisations

1: Origins | Africa's Great Civilisations
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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
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
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
This episode looks at the powerful, cosmopolitan cities that dotted Africa at the time when Europe was in its Middle Ages.

5: The Atlantic Age | Africa's Great Civilisations
5: The Atlantic Age | Africa's Great Civilisations
This episode looks at the tremendous changes that took place across the continent between the 15th and 18th centuries.

Amanirenas | Africa's Great Civilisations
Amanirenas | Africa's Great Civilisations
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
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
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Early Islam in Africa | Africa's Great Civilisations
Early Islam in Africa | Africa's Great Civilisations
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Iron technologies | Africa's Great Civilisations
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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
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
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King Ezana of Axum's decision to convert to Christianity changed the course of African history.

Lalibela | Africa's Great Civilisations
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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
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
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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
Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates evidence of complex societies and creative cultures ...

The evolution of writing | Africa's Great Civilisations
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Henry Louis Gates Jr investigates the evolution of writing in Africa.

The Great Pyramid of Giza | Africa's Great Civilisations
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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
Henry Louis Gates Jr looks at the discoveries that point to Africa as the genetic home of all currently livi...
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Samuel L Jackson and a team of journalists and divers explore 400 years of slavery. What happened to the 12 million ensla...

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

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David Olusoga visits Hadrian's Wall and discusses the Roman history of black soldiers.

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Bechuanaland Chiefs | Black and British: A Forgotten History
David Olusoga investigates the Bechuanaland Chiefs.

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Bill Richmond | Black and British: A Forgotten History
Davis Olusoga investigates the Bill Richmond black boxer who took Georgian Britain by storm.

Bristol's role in the slave trade | Angellica: Time Traveller
Bristol's role in the slave trade | Angellica: Time Traveller
Angellica Bell introduces the slave trade and the importance of Bristol in its history.