Epic History

In 1798, during the French Revolutionary Wars, General Napoleon Bonaparte led a French expedition to Egypt. The plan was to conquer the wealthy province and deal a major blow to British interests in the Mediterranean. What followed was a campaign featuring legendary battles, ruthless occupation and immense hardship.

In the 8th century Middle East, a new dynasty seized control of one of the world’s greatest empires – the Islamic Caliphate. Though little remembered in the west today, the Abbasids reigned for five centuries. They oversaw an era of Islamic military dominance... city-building… brilliant scholarship, and technological innovation. It has come to be remembered as Islam’s ‘golden age’. This is the rise and fall of the Abbasid Caliphate.

In 1807, Napoleon Bonaparte hoped to follow up his brilliant victories over Austria and Prussia with another decisive victory over the Russians in Poland. But amid freezing winter conditions, his attempted encirclement of General Bennigsen's Russian army near the East Prussian town of Eylau led, instead, to one of the most notorious battles of the Napoleonic Wars, fought in terrible conditions, with appalling losses on both sides.

In 1796, at the height of the Revolutionary Wars, Napoleon Bonaparte took command of French forces in northern Italy. He was just 26 years old and had never commanded an army before. Within weeks, he had turned his ragged, demoralised troops into a ferocious fighting force, defeating the Austrians and knocking Piedmont out of the war. With success, Napoleon began to believe it was his destiny to shape the fate of nations. In this series, we follow Napoleon's first glorious campaign step by step.

In 1796, at the height of the Revolutionary Wars, Napoleon Bonaparte took command of French forces in northern Italy. He was just 26 years old and had never commanded an army before. Within weeks, he had turned his ragged, demoralised troops into a ferocious fighting force, defeating the Austrians and knocking Piedmont out of the war. With success, Napoleon began to believe it was his destiny to shape the fate of nations. In this series, we follow Napoleon's first glorious campaign step by step.

In 1796, at the height of the Revolutionary Wars, Napoleon Bonaparte took command of French forces in northern Italy. He was just 26 years old and had never commanded an army before. Within weeks, he had turned his ragged, demoralised troops into a ferocious fighting force, defeating the Austrians and knocking Piedmont out of the war. With success, Napoleon began to believe it was his destiny to shape the fate of nations. In this series, we follow Napoleon's first glorious campaign step by step.

In 1825, a group of disillusioned army officers launched a coup in the Russian capital, St.Petersburg. Their goal was to overthrow the Tsar, establish a constitutional government and abolish the brutal institution of serfdom. They became known by the month of the revolt - the Decembrists - a moment that nearly changed the course of Russian and world history.

In the 6th century AD, during the reign of Emperor Justinian, the Roman Empire experienced an extraordinary resurgence, reconquering lands - including Italy, North Africa and Rome itself - that had been lost to the 'barbarians' a century before. Leading these campaigns, a brilliant Roman general named Flavius Belisarius - a skilled tactician, inspirational leader, pragmatic and humane. This is the story of those campaigns, as recorded by Procopius, an eyewitness to many of them, as well as other ancient historians, texts, and archaeological remains.

This is Epic History TV's guide to HMS Victory, one of the most famous warships in history, and flagship of Vice Admiral Nelson at his decisive victory over the Franco-Spanish Combined Fleet at Trafalgar in 1805. In this episode we look at the composition of naval crews, and how they sailed, fought and lived aboard a warship like Victory.

This is the story of the 1848 European revolutions, one of the most dramatic and significant moments in the history of the continent. Hungry workers and peasants joined forces with liberals and nationalists, and in a series of tumultuous events, toppled the French monarchy, and forced reforms across Italy, Germany, and the Austrian Empire. But the revolutionaries were divided between middle class liberals seeking limited reforms, and radicals and workers who wanted sweeping change. As they argued over political and economic reform, counter-revolutionary forces recovered their confidence, and gathered their strength for a brutal onslaught against Europe's revolutionaries.

This is the story of the Decembrists, a group of young Russian aristocrats and army officers, including decorated veterans of the Napoleonic Wars, who returned home after the conflict hoping Russia would embark on a course of modernising reform. Instead, Emperor Alexander turned his back on the liberal ideals of his youth. He opposed all attempts to reform Russia's autocratic government, or end its brutal system of serfdom. The Decembrists, organising themselves into secret societies and publishing their own draft constitutions for a future Russia, decided that the only way forward was by revolution.

In 1956, an international crisis over control of the Suez Canal put Britain and France into direct conflict with President Nasser of Egypt, a proud Arab nationalist determined to stand up to foreign powers meddling in Egyptian affairs.

The video covers the major events of Russia's two revolutions of 1917 - the February Revolution that ended Tsarist rule and the October Revolution that brought the Bolsheviks to power. It explains the causes of Tsar Nicholas II's unpopularity, including the role of Rasputin, Russia's involvement in World War One, and the events in Petrograd that led to the Tsar's abdication. It also discusses the Provisional Government's challenges, Prime Minister Kerensky's struggles, and the Bolshevik coup led by Lenin and Trotsky. The aftermath led to a brutal civil war and the formation of the Soviet Union in 1922.

In the 6th century AD, during the reign of Emperor Justinian, the Roman Empire experienced an extraordinary resurgence, reconquering lands - including Italy, North Africa and Rome itself - that had been lost to the 'barbarians' a century before. Leading these campaigns, a brilliant Roman general named Flavius Belisarius - a skilled tactician, inspirational leader, pragmatic and humane.

In the 6th century AD, during the reign of Emperor Justinian, the Roman Empire experienced an extraordinary resurgence, reconquering lands - including Italy, North Africa and Rome itself - that had been lost to the 'barbarians' a century before. Leading these campaigns, a brilliant Roman general named Flavius Belisarius - a skilled tactician, inspirational leader, pragmatic and humane.

The Battle of Salamis was one of the decisive battles of world history, in which the small city-states of ancient Greece joined forces to take on the mighty Persian Empire. After the defeat and death of the Spartan King Leonidas at Thermopylae, the Persians burned Athens, and the Greek alliance seemed close to collapse. But thanks to the foresight of Athenian general Themistocles and the heroism of the Greek fleet, the Persians would meet with disaster in the narrow straits of Salamis.

This compilation of our Napoleonic Wars series covers the period from 1809 to the Emperor's abdication in 1814. Along the way we encounter the horrors of the French occupation of Spain and Portugal, Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia, and the great struggle for German in 1813. The series concludes with arguably Napoleon's finest campaign - his doomed defence of Paris in 1814.

We explore the dramatic story of NASA's Apollo Program, beginning with President Kennedy's ambitious deadline for a lunar landing after the Soviet Union took the lead in the 'Space Race'. Following the success of Apollo 11, and the fulfilment of Kennedy's goal of landing a man on the Moon, questions hung over the future of the Apollo Program. With declining public interest in Moon missions, and government funding slashed, NASA focused on scientific research. But the final phase of the Program is best remembered for the dramatic near-disaster of Apollo 13, in which the ingenuity of astronauts and Mission Control was pushed to the limit.

We'll cover NASA's Apollo Program, from President Kennedy's lunar landing goal to the tragic Apollo 1 fire. Despite setbacks, NASA succeeded with Apollo 7 and Apollo 8, leading to the first manned orbit of the moon. In 1969, Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins aimed to make history with the first lunar landing attempt.

The Saga of Ragnar details Ragnar's death and his final song, the Krákumál, which is both a death and life song. Ragnar, awaiting a feast in Odin’s hall, faces death with defiance, as expressed in the line "læjandi skalk deyja" ("laughing shall I die"). Similarly, King Hrolf’s saga, blending fact with fairy-tale, features the were-bear Bödvar Bjarki. The Jomsvikings’ downfall, tied to their boastful politics and the Battle of Hjörungavágr, contrasts with the more historical Battle of Stiklarstaðir, where the poet Thormod, mortally wounded, composes his final incomplete poem. Harald Hardrada, a patron of poetry, completes Thormod’s verse. The Viking belief in Valhalla, where fallen warriors feast eternally, reflects a prominent but not universal afterlife concept among Norse gods, as recorded by Snorri Sturluson.

We delve into NASA's Apollo Program, sparked by President Kennedy's goal to land on the moon by 1969, amidst Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union. Key figure Werner von Braun, once of Nazi Germany's V2 program, led NASA's rocket development. After triumphs in Mercury and Gemini, tragedy struck with Apollo 1, where astronauts perished in a launch pad fire. NASA rebounded, redesigning for safety, and succeeded with Apollo 7. Apollo 8's historic moon orbit and the iconic 'Earthrise' photo set the stage for the first moon landing attempt in 1969.

In AD 793, Vikings from Scandinavia began raiding Europe, striking fear with their sudden attacks, exemplified by the Lindisfarne raid. For 300 years, they terrorized and conquered, leveraging their naval prowess. Professor Tom Shippey explores the "Viking mindset" through their sagas, highlighting a fascination with death and a dark humor. Key figures like Ragnar Lodbrok, whose legendary death motivated his sons' vengeance, and King Hrolf, whose hall's discovery supports saga authenticity, illustrate this mindset. The sagas, though often fictional, reflect real cultural attitudes towards death and humor, seen in battles like Stamford Bridge where Harald Hardrada's poetic defiance marked the Viking era's end, leading to William the Conqueror's reign in England. This period showcases Vikings not just as warriors but as bearers of a unique cultural identity, blending bravery with a grim, humorous outlook on life and death.

In 1804 Napoleon created 18 'Marshals of the Empire', to serve as the senior officers of the Grande Armée. He created a further 8 before his abdication. A few were aristocrats, but others were the sons of shopkeepers or tailors. The most favoured became princes and kings. Among their ranks were legendary figures such as Marshals Lannes, Soult, Davout and Massena, but also much less well know figures like Pérignon, Brune and Moncey. Our series will explore the lives of all 26 Marshals, and rank them according to our own judgement of their achievements as Marshals.

This is Epic History TV's guide to building the perfect castle, based on the development of European medieval castles over 400 years of history. We trace the origins of the castle in the feudal system that emerged in France c.900 CE, and look at the early motte-and-bailey castle, used by the Normans to subjugate England and Wales in the 11th century. We then look at how castle's became stronger and more sophisticated, with the addition of stone curtain walls, massive keeps, towers (square, round and D-shaped), as well as powerful gatehouses, barbicans, machicolations and moats.

In 1812 Napoleon invaded Russia with the largest army Europe had ever seen, composed of troops from France as well as Poland, Germany, Italy and several other allied states. The campaign that followed saw the Russians use scorched earth tactics to deny the enemy supplies, while Napoleon advanced further and further into Russia, searching in vain for the decisive blow that would force Emperor Alexander to negotiate peace. Even after winning a costly victory at Borodino and occupying Moscow, Napoleon's invitation to negotiate received no response. Napoleon found himself 500 miles from friendly territory, outnumbered, poorly supplied, and with winter approaching. What followed was one of the most harrowing and disastrous events in military history - the Retreat from Moscow - in which Russian attacks, freezing weather and starvation virtually wiped out the once-proud Grande Armée.

In October 1813 Napoleon faced the combined might of the Sixth Coalition (Russia, Austria, Prussia, Sweden) near Leipzig, in what would prove to be the decisive battle of his career. Outnumbered, virtually encircled, Napoleon opted for a high-risk strategy of striking against Schwarzenberg's Army of Bohemia, before the other Coalition armies could come to his aid. The four-day Battle of Leipzig would be the largest and bloodiest battle in European history before the First World War, and one that changed the destiny of Europe.

In 1812 Napoleon invaded Russia with the largest army Europe had ever seen. But after winning a costly victory at Borodino and occupying Moscow, Napoleon's invitation to Russian Emperor Alexander to make peace met with no response. Napoleon now found himself 500 miles from friendly territory, outnumbered, poorly supplied, and with winter approaching. What followed was one of the most harrowing and disastrous events in military history - the Retreat from Moscow - in which Russian attacks, freezing weather and starvation virtually wiped out the once-proud Grande Armée.

In 1812 Napoleon invaded Russia with the largest army Europe had ever seen, composed of troops from France as well as Poland, Germany, Italy and several other allied states. The campaign that followed saw the Russians use scorched earth tactics to deny the enemy supplies, while Napoleon advanced further and further into Russia, searching in vain for the decisive blow that would force Emperor Alexander to negotiate peace.

A quick guide to infantry tactics and formations of the Napoleonic period, which first appeared in our video on the Battle of Aspern. In this video we try to explain why lining up shoulder-to-shoulder was not as stupid as it first seems, and how different formations were used to maximise firepower, mobility and defence. All achieved through the miracle of drill.

In 1809, as Napoleon fought the Austrians at Wagram, the war in Spain and Portugal continued to rage. The French had inflicted several heavy defeats on Spanish field armies, but now they faced a popular insurgency as well as a well-trained Anglo-Portuguese army led by British general Lord Wellington. The Peninsular War, as it became known, became Napoleon's 'bleeding ulcer', or his Vietnam, costing his empire nearly quarter of a million soldiers, in a war that looked increasingly unwinnable.

Alexander is played by Charlie Merriman, an actor who studied Ancient Greek and Latin at Cambridge University. With Barefaced Greek, he performs in plays and videos in Ancient Greek.

In 1808, Napoleon's rivalry with Britain led to an ill-fated intervention in Portugal and Spain, that sparked a nationalist revolt against the French. At Bailén Napoleon's Empire suffered its first major defeat, and though Napoleon himself then arrived in Spain to reassert French military dominance, he could not prevent the escape of Sir John Moore's small British army, after its defensive victory at Corunna on 16 January 1809. The British army would return, under new leadership, to play a major part in his downfall.

Part 1 of Epic History's guide to the rise of Venice - from a community of refugees hiding out in the Italian lagoons, to one of the medieval world's most powerful maritime states.

Fresh from his great victory at Austerlitz, Napoleon's next campaign saw him take on Prussia in the autumn of 1806. Prussia's army had been feared throughout Europe since the days of Frederick the Great, but in just 5 weeks of 'Napoleonic Blitzkrieg', the French Emperor showed that those days were long gone.

Napoleon crowned himself Emperor in 1804. Soon after, he faced the Third Coalition of European powers. His Grande Armée, using the new corps system, swiftly defeated Austria at Ulm and occupied Vienna. The decisive Battle of Austerlitz followed on December 2, 1805. Napoleon's strategy lured Allies into attacking his right while he struck their center on the Pratzen Heights. The French victory shattered the Coalition, forcing Austria to accept harsh terms. However, Britain remained undefeated at sea after Nelson's victory at Trafalgar. The battle showcased Napoleon's tactical brilliance and the effectiveness of his army's organization. It solidified French dominance on land, while Britain ruled the seas. This stalemate between the "whale and the elephant" set the stage for years of continued conflict in Europe. The war's impact was summed up by British PM Pitt: "Roll up that map of Europe, it will not be wanted these ten years.

Watch the story of Magellan's voyage on Simple History

In 1956, an international crisis over control of the Suez Canal put Britain and France into direct conflict with President Nasser of Egypt, a proud Arab nationalist determined to stand up to foreign powers meddling in Egyptian affairs. Part 2 explores how Britain, France and Israel cooked up a secret plan to invade Egypt, overthrow Nasser and reassert their standing as global powers. But when the international community, and in particular the United States, condemned their actions, the aggressors were forced into a humiliating climbdown. The repercussions for the Middle East and global history were long-lasting and profound.

Epic History TV's complete four-part history of Alexander the Great in one video. Follow the incredible story of the Macedonian king as he embarks on the total conquest of the ancient world's greatest superpower, the Persian Empire. With dramatic victories at the Granicus, Issus and Gaugamela, Alexander defeats Darius III and claims the throne of Persia. But his campaign to subdue the empire's easternmost provinces and reach the edge of the known world will take him into modern Afghanistan, Pakistan and the frontier of India, where he meets the Indian king Porus in battle at the Hydaspes. This is the complete overview of Alexander's conquests, a 10 year period of immense drama and historical significance, as the young Macedonian king's breathtaking achievements ushered in a new era in European and Middle Eastern history - the Hellenistic Age.

Alexander the Great has subjugated the Persian Empire west of the Euphrates, winning battles at the Granicus and Issus, capturing the city of Tyre and seizing control of Egypt. Now he heads east for a final showdown with Darius III, King of Kings, at Gaugamela. The great clash there will determine the fate of two empires, and win Alexander everlasting glory. But in the wake of victory, he faces the challenge of ruling over his new, sprawling empire, and dealing with usurpers and rebellion.

The incredible story of Alexander the Great and his conquest of the known world is brought to life with animated maps, images from Osprey Publishing and Total War game footage. In Part 1, we look at the background: Persia's invasion of Greece in 480 BC, the rise of Macedonia under King Philip II, and the formation of the Hellenic League. Following Philip's assassination, his 20 year old son Alexander inherited the kingdom and a formidable army. In 334 BC he used this army to launch a invasion of the Persian Empire, winning a crucial victory at the River Granicus.

The First Crusade was one of the most extraordinary, bloody and significant episodes in medieval history. It began with an appeal for aid from the Christian Byzantine Empire, threatened by the rising power of the Muslim Seljuk Turks. But when Pope Urban II preached a sermon at Clermont in 1095, the result was unlike anything ever seen before. The Pope offered spiritual salvation to those willing to go east to aid their fellow Christians in a holy war, and help liberate Jerusalem from Muslim rule. Knights and peasants alike signed up in their thousands, leading to the disastrous People's, or Peasants', Crusade, then to a much more organised and powerful Princes' Crusade. Their forces gathered at Constantinople, where they made an uneasy alliance with Byzantine Emperor Alexius I Comnenus. Entering Anatolia, they helped to win back the city of Nicaea, then won a decisive but hard-fought victory at Dorlyaeum, before marching on the great city of Antioch...

From Prince Rurik to the Russian Revolution, this is a compilation of the first 5 episodes of Epic History TV's History of Russia.

Nicholas I took the Russian throne in 1825, surviving the Decembrist Revolt, and embraced "Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality." His reign saw victories over Persia and the Ottoman Empire, and the suppression of the Polish November Uprising. Russia's cultural landscape was marked by Pushkin's death in 1837, followed by the opening of the Moscow-St. Petersburg railway in 1851. Russia's conflict with Britain and France in the Crimean War led to a harsh peace treaty. Alexander II, succeeding in 1855, abolished serfdom in 1861, earning him "The Liberator" title, though economic struggles persisted. Russia expanded in Central Asia, clashing with Britain in "The Great Game." In 1867, Russia sold Alaska to the U.S. for $7.2 million. After defeating the Ottomans in 1877-78, Alexander II was assassinated by "The People's Will" in 1881, frustrated by slow reforms.

Part 2 of our timeline of America's first 44 Presidents, from Benjamin Harrison to Barack Obama.

Catherine the Great's reign marked Russia's cultural and territorial expansion, including annexing Crimea and partitioning Poland. She settled Novorossiya and welcomed European migrants, but distanced herself from liberalism after the French Revolution. Her son Paul's rule, though marked by military successes against France, ended in his assassination. Alexander I introduced reforms and faced Napoleon's invasion in 1812, which ended disastrously for the French. Alexander also expanded into Finland, the Caucasus, and the Balkans, and became King of Poland.

Here’s a condensed version under 1000 characters: Russia, emerging from the Time of Troubles, is liberated from Polish forces by Prince Pozharsky and Kuzma Minin. The Zemsky Sobor elects 16-year-old Mikhail Romanov as Tsar, starting the Romanov dynasty. Under the Romanovs, all peasants become serfs, and Patriarch Nikon's reforms split the Russian Orthodox Church. The Thirteen Years War (1654–67) brings Smolensk and Kiev under Russian control, while Stenka Razin leads a rebellion. In 1689, Peter the Great takes power, modernizes Russia, builds a navy, and reforms government, industry, and education. He wins major victories against the Ottomans and Sweden, including the famous Battle of Poltava. Later, Empress Anna sponsors Bering’s exploration of Alaska, and Empress Elizabeth leads Russia to victory in the Seven Years War. Catherine the Great seizes power after overthrowing her husband Peter III, expanding Russia and cementing her legacy.

Here’s a further condensed version under 1000 characters: In 1918, Woodrow Wilson proposes his 'Fourteen Points' for peace. Russia exits the war with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, freeing German troops for Ludendorff's Spring Offensive. Despite early success, it's halted at Amiens by British and Australian forces. In April, the Red Baron is killed. US troops arrive, winning at Cantigny and Belleau Wood. The Allies' Hundred Days Offensive breaks the Hindenburg Line, defeating Germany. In the Balkans, victory at Dobro Pole forces Bulgaria to surrender. In the Middle East, British forces win at Megiddo, occupying Damascus and Aleppo. The Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary soon sign armistices. Revolution in Germany leads to the Kaiser’s abdication, and an armistice on November 11. The 1919 Treaty of Versailles imposes harsh penalties on Germany, creating resentment later exploited by Adolf Hitler.

World War One: 1916' covers the great battles of Verdun and the Somme on the Western Front, as well as Russia's Brusilov Offensive on the Eastern Front. In the Middle East, British forces surrender at Kut, while the Arab Revolt begins in the Hejaz. But unbeknownst to Arab leaders, the British and French have secretly agreed to carve up the Middle East after the war in the secret Sykes-Picot Agreement. The war's only great naval battle is fought at Jutland, while the Italians face crisis after the surprise Austro-Hungarian attack at Asiago. In the Balkans, Romania joins the war on the Allied side, but is soon overrun by the Central Powers. CORRECTION: 13.10 - Karl was the great-nephew, not the son, of Emperor Franz Josef I.

Russia Part 1 traces the origins of modern Russia and Ukraine among Slavic tribes, Viking raiders, and the medieval kingdom of Kievan Rus. Mongol hordes brought death and destruction, but under the first Tsars, a strong Russian state slowly emerged. Смотреть по русски: • История России. Начало пути Mira este video en Español • Historia De Rusia - Parte 1 A note on 'Ivan the Terrible' - in Russia Ivan IV has the epithet 'Гро́зный', meaning 'Great' or 'Formidable'. So why is he called Ivan 'the Terrible' in this video? Because he was evil or useless? No, it is because 'Гро́зный' was first translated into English many years ago as 'Terrible', when the word commonly meant awesome or formidable (see definitions 3 & 4 here: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/terr.... And in English, Ivan IV has been known as Ivan the Terrible ever since.

Epic History TV brings you a blow-by-blow account of the entire Waterloo campaign in 14 minutes, with animated maps and artwork, plus rarely seen photographs of survivors of Napoleon's army. In 1815, eight miles south of Brussels, two of history's greatest generals met in battle for the first and only time: Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French, and the Duke of Wellington. The result was an epic, brutal battle that would decide the fate of Europe.