Season 1 · Episode 1
1071. In Manzikert, part of modern Turkey, a new Muslim dynasty, the Seljuks, manages to dominate in a battle against the Byzantines - a historical event that marks the beginning of the end for the Byzantine Empire.
Following a 53-day siege, Constantinople falls into the hands of the Ottomans on March 29, 1453. With the capital of the Byzantine Empire now taken, it’s only a matter of time before Greece is also conquered.
In order to fill up the empire’s treasure chests after conquering new territories, Ottomans imposed heavy taxes to their non-Muslim subjects. In Greece, tax collection was as ruthless as it could be.
Under the Ottoman rule, a long period of intellectual darkness began in Greece. With almost all educated people and scientists having fled to Europe, the difficult work of the preservation of Greek letters fell on the Church.
With intellectuals away from Greece, Church took on the role of the watchful guardian of the Greek language. But equally important for the spreading of Greek language and culture were folk poetry and songs.
Before the Revolution of 1821, Greece’s population was a mosaic of people of different religions. Amid the extremely difficult life conditions and numerous restrictions, Greeks tried to preserve their traditional way of life.
Since the fall of Constantinople, Greeks staged 123 smaller or bigger revolutions, which were usually instigated by the great European powers. All of them were drowned in blood, but they paved the way for the 1821 Revolution.
With their modern ideas and activities, Greek intellectuals and expatriates prepared the ground for the burst of the Revolution in 1821. Two of the most emblematic figures were Adamantios Korais and Rigas Velestinlis.
Beside Greek intellectuals, crucial role to the preparation of the Revolution played the numerous secret organizations, with Filiki Eteria being the most prominent, as well as certain areas of Greece, like Mani and Souli.
On February 24, 1821, Alexandros Ipsilantis, who has taken on the leadership of Filiki Eteria after Kapodistrias’ refusal, declares the beginning of the revolution in Iasi. But the heart of the Struggle beats in the Peloponnese.
Conflicts over power and the management of British loans gave rise to civil wars between rebelled Greeks. Finally, the victories of Kolokotronis and Karaiskakis as well as the tragedy in Missolonghi reignited the Struggle.
The fact that the Revolution of 1821 was the only one to have employed the navy was the key to its success. Hydra, Spetses and Psara led the war at sea and their famous fire ships stroke some heavy blows to the Ottoman fleet.
In a very short time period, Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first governor of Greece, managed to create a state from scratch. But, his conflict with the Opposition and the traditional social ranks made his position precarious.
The period of anarchy that followed Kapodistrias’ murder destroyed almost everything he had created. To fill his gap, the Great Powers chose 17-year-old prince Otto to become the first ruler of the newly-found Greek state.
National Geographic's landmark event series, The Greeks, brings together historians, archaeologists, actors, athletes, scientists and artists to launch a groundbreaking exploration into the ancient Greeks' journey - not just to better understand their past, but to discover how their legacy illuminates our present, and will shape our future. The story of the Greeks is the story of us.
2016
No description available.
2005
In the fourth and fifth centuries, B.C., the Greeks built an empire that stretched across the Mediterranean from Asia to Spain. They laid the foundation of modern science, politics, warfare and philosophy, and produced some of the most breathtaking art and architecture the world has ever seen. It was perhaps the most spectacular flourishing of imagination and achievement in recorded history.
2000
In the Eye of the Storm is a six-part documentary series about one of the foremost intellectuals and political figures of our age, Yanis Varoufakis. In the Eye of the Storm begins with a first-hand account of Varoufakis’ dramatic battle with the European establishment, but goes much further to weave a gripping political narrative about the fate of our civilization: where we are, how we got here, and where he believes we must go. We see up close, through Varoufakis’ unique story, how power works at the highest levels, entering a world so often shrouded in secrecy.
2022
200 years after the Greek Revolution, this documentary revisits the key moments that led a nation to be reborn and reclaim its Hellenic identity, from the ideological factors that ignited a revolution to the battles that forever scarred it
2021
Historian Bettany Hughes has embarked on an epic, personal journey. Inspired by Homer's The Odyssey, she will sail the unpredictable Mediterranean seas, tracing Odysseus's long journey home. Her mission: to experience what the Greek hero experienced and to uncover truths behind the myths and legends, all while enjoying the delights of ancient Greece today. Follow her 1,700-mile adventure as it takes her to over a dozen islands and 22 historic sites and puts her through two hair-raising storms and even an earthquake.
2020
Who was Homer, and what is the meaning of The Odyssey? In this documentary we follow the footsteps of Ulysses, also known by his Greek name Odysseus—a hero as relevant today as he was nearly three thousand years ago, on a journey across some of the most fascinating landscapes and seascapes of the Mediterranean region. With the help of prominent international scholars, we seek to resolve the questions that still surround one of humanity’s greatest literary works and its enigmatic author.
2023
Discover the lives of nine memorable couples, whose relationships were directly, indirectly or unexpectedly involved in Greek history. Along with their romances, the era that 'fueled' them revives, too.
It all starts on 1830, when young George Stephenson manufactures the first steam engine and the first railway networks are built soon after. Railway becomes a crucial factor in the development of trade and military strength for a country, with its ability to quickly transport soldiers and munitions. Railways expand rapidly in Europe and arrive soon in Greece.
Pedro Coelho and the team of 'Grande Reportagem SIC' dive into a long investigation on the Portuguese extreme right-wing political party "Chega!" and to it's leader André Ventura, also passing through the heritage that feeds the extreme right parties in contemporary Europe.
Documentary series that casts a covert eye over the ever-growing problem of insurance fraud, and sees outlandish claimers as they're caught out on camera.
2012
In Crime Time, the public prosecutor's office, forensic medicine, police and profilers talk about Hessian criminal cases that they won't soon forget. How do they manage to catch the perpetrators? How do real murderers think?
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The law of the wild is kill or be killed; learning how animals kill.
2015
A glimpse into the life of Paul Pogba, the influential world-class French footballer.
True Life Crime UK investigates the most harrowing true crime mysteries rocking headlines and social feeds. The victims were young; the crimes against them were shocking and haunting questions remain.