Why Was 16th Century China So Obsessed With Time? | Empire of Time

Matteo Ricci was the first European to be allowed into China's Forbidden City. Trained in geometry and algebra, a young Italian Jesuit priest would soon discover that cosmology and the art of measuring time were at the very center of Chinese civilization and imperial authority, the Emperor's Mandate of Heaven.

Joann Fletcher examines the extraordinary preparation ordinary Egyptians would have made for the afterlife. Discover the enormous cost, effort and time that would have gone into securing your passage into the afterlife in Ancient Egypt. 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.

The history of the Roman Empire is written in blood and conquest, but few chapters are as intense or shocking as the Celtic uprising led by Queen Boudica. In the first century, British society was thriving with advanced ironwork, vibrant clothing, and a culture that saw women warriors as equals to men. However, the arrival of Emperor Claudius and his ruthless legions changed everyday life forever. After the death of her husband, corrupt Roman officials seized Boudica's kingdom, subjected the queen to public torture, and assaulted her daughters. This monumental betrayal sparked one of the most violent rebellions in ancient history. Witness the terrifying revenge of the Iceni tribe as they united to burn prominent Roman cities to the ground, taking no prisoners in their path. We examine the tactical genius of the Roman military, the horrific final battle that ended the Celtic dream of freedom, and the true story of a legendary warrior who pushed the world's greatest superpower to the absolute brink. 💚 Join the Absolute History club to get access to exclusive member benefits! 📺 You can

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

In 1972, while digging a hill in Changsha, workers stumbled upon a tomb that would rewrite the history of death. Inside was Lady Dai (Xin Zhui), a woman who died 160 years before Christ, yet her skin was still soft, her limbs were flexible, and her veins still contained red blood. 💚 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 presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.

The North of England was at the very extremity of the Roman world. What sort of defences did the Romans have to guard their Empire? Time Team have travelled to Ribchester to investigate some of these very fortifications and to examine what life must have been like for these soldiers, so very far from home. 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.