The Big Why: Ancient History Edition
Uncovering the Secrets of the Past
How did people build massive cities before they had cranes or trucks? We’re traveling back in time to solve the riddles of ancient civilizations and find out why they left behind such incredible mysteries.
Topics
The Pyramid Puzzle: How were the Great Pyramids built?
Discover the ramps, rollers, and math that moved stones heavier than cars to build the world's most famous tombs.
Picture Writing: How do we read Hieroglyphics?
Learn the secret code of the Egyptians and how a 'stone key' called the Rosetta Stone unlocked their history.
The Terracotta Army: Why did an Emperor build 8,000 clay soldiers?
Explore the underground silent army built to protect a Chinese Emperor in the afterlife.
The Roman Pipes: How did ancient cities stay clean?
Explore the giant stone bridges called aqueducts that used gravity to bring fresh water from miles away.
Island Giants: Why were the Easter Island statues moved?
Solve the mystery of the 'walking' Moai statues on a remote island in the Pacific.
Viking Voyagers: How did they find land without a GPS?
Meet the sea-raiders who used 'Sunstones' to see the sun through thick fog and clouds.
The First Games: Why did the Greeks start the Olympics?
Travel back to the original Olympic Games to see why they stopped all wars just to play sports.
The Lost City: Why was Machu Picchu built so high?
Hike into the clouds to find a secret city made of stones that fit together so perfectly you can't even slide a knife between them.
Castle Walls: Why are castles built on hills?
Discover the 'High Ground' strategy and the moats, drawbridges, and towers that kept kingdoms safe.
The Sky Watchers: Why did the Mayans build giant calendars?
See how ancient people used the stars to track time better than some modern watches.
The Frozen Clues: Why do we find mammoths in the ice?
See how the 'Deep Freeze' of the Arctic acted like a giant prehistoric freezer for ancient creatures.
The Silk Road: How did the world first trade secrets?
Follow the camels across the desert to see how silk, spices, and paper traveled across the world.
The Gladiator Ring: How was the Colosseum built?
Look at the 'Golden Ratio' and the arches that allow a massive stadium to stand for 2,000 years.
Sunken Cities: Why is the City of Thonis-Heracleion underwater?
Dive to the bottom of the sea to find an Egyptian city that vanished beneath the waves.
Floating Gardens: How did the Aztecs grow food on a lake?
Explore the 'Chinampas'—the incredible man-made islands that fed a giant empire.
The Trojan Horse: Why did a giant wooden toy end a war?
Solve the mystery of the world's most famous 'sneaky' invention used to win a battle.
The Stone Dragon: Why was the Great Wall built?
Discover the thousands of miles of stone that kept an entire country safe from invaders.
Cave Paintings: Why did early humans paint on walls?
Uncover the first art galleries in history and what they tell us about living with prehistoric beasts.
The Antikythera: Did the Greeks have a computer?
Investigate a 2,000-year-old rusty machine found in a shipwreck that could predict the stars.
The First City: Why did humans stop wandering and start farming?
Meet the Sumerians, the people who invented the wheel, writing, and the idea of living in a city.