Inside the Vatican

This documentary explores what's behind the doors of the Vatican that are closed to the public, and shows the daily routines of the people living and working there, in the service of the church and pope.

(update: unfortunately, you know the story, this series of videos were removed from YouTube)

Snowball Earth

Could the Earth once, over 600 million years ago, have been completely covered by ice? Convention tells us that there should always be some parts of the Earth that are ice-free even in the worst of ice ages. But geological evidence tells us that even the equator was at that time covered by glaciers.



Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 || from 2001

The Secret Life of Caves

Deep caves are the subject of this documentary from BBC called the Secret Life of Caves, which are really very dangerous in countless ways, including the fact that they contain poisonous gases. Despite the conditions, life is to be found everywhere. Life which literally helps shape the caves themselves.



Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 || from 2003

Rainforest: Beneath the Canopy

A look at a South East Queensland rainforest's wildlife. I have to say it's almost a shame to view this one in the low resolution that YouTube can offer, but it's very interesting and the scenes are so beautiful to see. This is nature as it is when it's untarnished by human interference.



Part 2 | Part 3

Barbarians (series)

A series called Barbarians on the History Channel, about various peoples known for their barbaric ways. Here are three episodes.

First, a look at vikings, their often barbaric ways but also their trading and exploration, and their influence on Europe, and the world.



Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 || from 2004

(update: unfortunately, the History Channel strikes once again, so the videos about the Goths were removed from YouTube)

And then the Huns, coincidentally another enemy of the Romans. They had their origins in Asia, and migrated west to Europe because of the Chinese. At first, they had an unsteady alliance with Rome, but under the leadership of Attila the Hun, they became a force that could have taken Europe.



Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 || from 2004

The Dark Side of Everest

Climbing the highest mountain on earth is tremendously dangerous, and the Dark Side of Everest, produced by the National Geographic channel, is about how extreme situations on Mount Everest forces some people to take drastic decisions, and not always the morally right ones. Saving someone who might die on the mountain is also dangerous for the potential rescuer.



Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 || from 2003

Colosseum - Rome's Arena Of Death

The story of Rome's Colosseum, told from the perspective of Verus, one famous historical gladiator. It follows him from the time of his capture and enslavement to his time as a gladitorial hero.



Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 || from 2003

The Dinosaur Feather Mystery

A documentary about whether or not dinosaurs were the first to have feathers. This one is not so much entertaining as it is interesting. Fossils from Europe and China tells us much to answer the question. The question of how flight evolved is possibly answered with this.



Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Ancient Chinese Inventions

From a series on the Discovery Science channel called What the Ancients Did for Us. This episode is about the inventions that the ancient Chinese contributed to the world. Among other things, they invented the iron plow, pound locks for canals, hot air balloons, or prototypes thereof. And possibly even golf and football.

(update: unfortunately, this series of videos were removed from YouTube)

Building the Great Pyramid

Building the Great Pyramid, a BBC program depicting a fictional account of how it could have been for one of the labourers that built the Great Pyramid of Giza during construction of it.



Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

In the footsteps of Alexander The Great (series)

Another historical ruler, this time about Alexander the Great from BBC series in four episodes. It tells of his life and what he did to shape history, including conquering the Persian empire. Host Michael Wood follows in Alexander's footsteps over 32000 km. Telling his life story, it is not easy to tell what is myth and what is historical fact, and it is always fascinating to see historians get so passionate when they retell history. Here is the complete series (!).

Episode one, "Son of god":



Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8

Episode two, "Lord of Asia":



Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

Episode three, "Across the Hindu Kush":



Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

Episode four, "To the ends of the earth"



Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10

Genghis Khan

A BBC documentary about Mongol ruler Genghis Khan's life and the empire he created. We find out why he set out to conquer the land that he did, one of the largest lands in history.



Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10

Stephen Fry and the Gutenberg Press

A BBC program about Johannes Gutenberg and his printing press. Stephen Fry is the host, and among other things, he tries to recreate a medieval printing press.

(update: unfortunately, this series of videos were removed from YouTube due to copyrights claims by the BBC -- I will try to find it again sometime)

Mayan civilization (2)

There are many nice documentaries put up on the History Channel's YouTube site. Here are two about the Mayan civilization. The first one called the Maya: Death Empire, and deals with the rise and fall of the empire.

(update: unfortunately, the History Channel strikes again, so this series of videos were removed from YouTube)

Information about the documentary

Human Weapon (series)

First off, a series on the History Channel about various martial arts. The series follows two american mixed martial artists as they set out to learn about different styles of martial arts, and then to try to compete against one or more virtuoso in the styles. Here are three of the episodes.

(update: unfortunately, this series of videos were removed from YouTube due to violations of the terms of use -- oh well)

Introduction

The blog is my place that I use as my collection of whole documentaries or programs that I've found on YouTube that interests me. And maybe someone else will find this and discover something they were interested in. I am interested in history, culture, religion, nature, architecture and martial arts, but also other things.