The Ming Dynasty's Destructive Appetite For Silver | Empires of Silver

China's lust for silver helped establish their formidable economic position on the global stage. However, Western powers were reluctant to engage in silver trade and in their search for an alternative avenue they discovered something that would change history forever: Opium. As opium surged throughout the nation, it brought forth multifaceted societal issues, ultimately fueling the harrowing Opium Wars. These conflicts marked the onset of a devastating "Century of Humiliation" for China, leaving an indelible mark on its history and global standing

It's hard to believe but silver was at one time worth more than gold. China used silver as their currency and the West had to pay in silver for Chinese goods. This angered the British and so they sought a commodity that the Chinese would be forced to buy. China did not covet any goods that the West had except one: Opium. Join the Absolute History club to get access to exclusive member benefits! 💚

The ancient Maya's vast cities, temples, and tombs reflect the sophistication of this civilization that dominated Central America for 3,000 years. Archaeologists use space technology in a two-year investigation to search for the tomb of a long-dead Maya king, offering exclusive access to uncover the mysteries of Maya life and death. In the city of Copan, a burial site is discovered beneath a hieroglyphic stairway, raising questions about Maya burial practices. Surprisingly, the remains of a young woman with battle injuries suggest that some Maya warriors were women, possibly sacrificed victims. We delve into the Maya's connection with the supernatural world, emphasizing the importance of blood sacrifices for rulers to seek favor from the gods. Odyssey is your journey into the world of Ancient History; from the dawn of Mesopotamia to the fall of Rome. We'll be bringing you only the best documentaries that journey into the mysteries and ruins of worlds long lost.

Jack London was the most famous American writer of the twentieth century, but he didn't always have an easy time of it. This symbol of adventure was at different times a vagabond, gold prospector, sailor, farmer, war reporter and socialist militant. 💚 Join the Absolute History club to get access to exclusive member benefits!

King Henry VIII is one of history’s most recognizable figures, but the man behind the myth is far more complex than his six wives and his famous appetite. This documentary tracks the radical transformation of the "Royal Spare" who was never meant to be King. From his golden youth as a pious polyglot and star athlete to the tragic jousting accident that left him in lifelong agony, we explore how a desperate obsession with a male heir led Henry to tear his kingdom apart. Discover the truth behind the Bloody Reformation, the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and the chilling moment he warned his third wife to "remember Anne" when she dared to question his authority. Was he a cold-blooded monster, or a man haunted by the traumatic civil wars of his father's past? 💚 Join the Absolute History club to get access to exclusive member benefits! 📺 You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries

Just east of the San Francisco Bay Area are the Berkeley Hills Walls--remnants of a massive, stone wall that stretches a distance of over fifty miles. The wall segments are up to six feet high in some places and are constructed of tightly fit limestone boulders. Scott is in intrigued by the fact that nobody knows who built the wall or even what purpose it serves. The only historical precedent for a miles-long, manmade, ancient wall is the Great Wall of China. Could ancient Asiatic explorers have made it all the way to the North American West Coast? In investigating the theory, Scott uncovers other evidence that could suggest the Chinese with their massive maritime fleet made it to the New World, using maps that were in the possession of Kublai Khan. He also discovers evidence that European explorers knew about China's epic voyages, including Italian explorer Marco Polo. 💚 Join the Absolute History club to get access to exclusive member benefits! 📺 You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for