The Greeks: Series 1

Delve into groundbreaking new explorations of the ancient Greeks' journey across time in this three-part series.

They were an extraordinary people born of white rock and blue sea. They invented democracy, distilled logic and reason, wrote plays to plumb the deepest recesses of the soul and captured the perfection of the human form in athletics and art. Quite simply, the Greeks created our world. These days, Greece conjures up very different images: civic unrest, financial meltdowns, and long ATM lines. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that strife and discord are often required for greatness. Ancient Greece was born out of chaos – economic and environmental collapse, political turmoil and brutal warfare. And yet, it alone became the cornerstone of Western civilisation.

In ancient times, the Mediterranean was home to some of the greatest civilizations the world has ever seen. Scientific data, combined with computer graphics, can drain the sea to unlock mysteries about the rise and fall of the Minoans, the Greeks, the Carthaginians and the mighty Romans, while unveiling the powerful natural forces at work in this unique region.

Dr Michael Scott journeys to Athens to explore how drama first began.

What really went on at the ancient Greek oracle at Delphi, how did it get its awesome reputation and why is it still influential today? Michael Scott of Cambridge University uncovers the secrets of the most famous oracle in the ancient world. A vital force in ancient history for a thousand years it is now one of Greece's most beautiful tourist sites, but in its time it has been a gateway into the supernatural, a cockpit of political conflict, and a beacon for internationalism. And at its heart was the famous inscription which still inspires visitors today - 'Know Thyself'.

Drama-documentary in which art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon tells the story of the greatest cultural controversy of the last 200 years. He explores the history of the Elgin Marbles, tells the dramatic story of their removal from Athens and cites the arguments for and against their return to Greece.

What really went on at the ancient Greek oracle at Delphi, how did it get its awesome reputation and why is it still influential today? Michael Scott of Cambridge University uncovers the secrets of the most famous oracle in the ancient world. A vital force in ancient history for a thousand years it is now one of Greece's most beautiful tourist sites, but in its time it has been a gateway into the supernatural, a cockpit of political conflict, and a beacon for internationalism. And at its heart was the famous inscription which still inspires visitors today - 'Know Thyself'.

Historian Michael Scott journeys through Sicily to find out how 3,000 years of conquest and settlement have shaped the identity of the island we see today.

Greek myths - from Hercules to Adonis - have seeped into our lives, providing inspiration and sources for plots from Hamlet to Happy Days.