The Secrets to Civilization

Modern science reveals the environmental forces that have shaped human history. This series explores how cutting-edge science is changing the way we think about the ancient past - restoring the environment to its place as a key driver of human history. Throughout the series, top historians and archaeologists share with us how new collaborations with the scientific community, and a host of new data on the state of our planet, is providing them with fresh insights on how climate, disease and vulcanism have affected the course of human history.

The 1st Millenium BCE in the Mediterranean is the birth of the modern world. We'll explore the environmental conditions that made this possible and how people working with new technologies took advantage of a favorable climate to create a classical civilization.

With the help of top scientists and historians including Kyle Harper author of bestseller The Fate of Rome we look into what science is now telling us about the impact of disease in toppling the Roman Empire.