Ancient Discoveries
Ancient Discoveries is a television series that premiered on December 21, 2003, on The History Channel. The program focused on ancient technologies. The show's theme was that many inventions which are thought to be modern have ancient roots or in some cases may have been lost and then reinvented. The program was a follow-up to a special originally broadcast in 2005 which focused on technologies from the Ancient Roman era such as the Antikythera mechanism and inventors such as Heron of Alexandria. Episodes of the regular series expanded to cover other areas such as Egypt, China and East Asia, and the Islamic world.
Ancient Discoveries was made for The History Channel by Wild Dream Films based in Cardiff in the UK. Much of the filming was on location across the world. The series used contributions from archaeologists and other experts, footage of historical sites and artifacts, computer generated reconstructions, and dramatized reconstructions along with experiments and tests on reconstructed artifacts.
Episodes
Series 1 (2003)
Michael Carroll was the initial narrator of the series for The History Channel.| No | Title | Subject | Original airdate |
| 1x01 | Ancient Computer? | This episode investigates the Antikythera Mechanism, a computer-like device that may have been used to calculate the movements of stars and planets. It also highlights ancient inventors Archimedes and Ctesibius. | December 21, 2003 |
| 1x02 | Galen, Doctor to the Gladiators | This episode discusses ancient medical devices and procedures, and profiles the Greek physician Galen, who practiced eye and brain surgery 2,000 years ahead of his time. | December 21, 2003 |
| 1x03 | Heron of Alexandria | This episode discusses Heron of Alexandria, who created automatic doors and coin-operated machines. | December 21, 2003 |
Series 2 (2005)
Phil Crowley was narrator of this series of episodes and for all subsequent episodes for The History Channel.| No | Title | Subject | Original airdate |
| 2x01 | Ships | The lake Nemi ships, large Roman vessels that were salvaged from the lake in the 1930s and burned in 1944, are discussed, including technological discoveries from the ships. | August 21, 2005 |
| 2x02 | Warfare | Warfare technology is examined, including the Helepolis, a square fortified tower on wheels; and "Greek Fire," an incendiary liquid that stuck to people and objects and couldn't be extinguished with water. | August 21, 2005 |
| 2x03 | Machines II | Ancient mechanical devices are examined: A jar that appears to be an electric battery, a flour mill in France that is run by waterwheels, and Archimedes use of solar power to defeat the Romans. | December 11, 2005 |
Series 3 (2007)
This was the first series of episodes presented in wide screen format on The History Channel.| No | Title | Subject | Original airdate |
| 3x01 | Siege of Troy | This episode reconstructs the legend of the Trojan War in Turkey. Achilles' duel against Hector and the sailing of the vast Mycenaean fleet are discussed. | January 23, 2007 |
| 3x02 | Cars & Planes | This episode examines transportation technology that existed in the ancient world. It discusses a Greek railway, Chinese wind-powered vehicles, and possibility of flying machines in Greece, Egypt and China. | January 30, 2007 |
| 3x03 | Machines of the Gods | Examining Greek and Roman technology designed for use in religious temples to create illusions that seemed miraculous. Included: an iron chariot that appeared to be suspended in mid air at the Temple of Serapis in Alexandria. | February 6, 2007 |
| 3x04 | Super Ships | Extraordinary sailing vessels are examined, including the Khufu funeral ship in Egypt made entirely without metal nails; and a warship that could hold 7000 crewmen. | February 13, 2007 |
| 3x05 | Mega Machines | Examining ancient machines used in the large-scale engineering projects of the ancient world, particularly in Greece and Egypt. Included: machines used to transport 3-ton limestone coffins in Greece. Also: the building of the Parthenon. | February 20, 2007 |
| 3x06 | Egyptian Warfare | Egyptian warfare and weaponry are examined, including revolutionary weapon-making techniques; and the grand scale of their battles. | February 27, 2007 |
| 3x07 | Chinese Warfare | Exploring the military innovations of ancient China, including gunpowder, flame throwers, rockets, automated crossbows, siege machines, and the grand scale of their battles. | March 6, 2007 |
| 3x08 | Machines III | Chinese technology such as cosmic machines, hydraulic hammers, water-controlled clocks and mass production plants powered by water. | March 27, 2007 |
| 3x09 | Robots | An examination of ancient robotics includes a look at the automata of ancient China, the Hellenistic engineers Heron and Philon, the Kurdish engineer Al-Jazari, the Byzantine Empire, and Leonardo da Vinci. Also includes reconstructions of ancient inventions. | April 17, 2007 |
| 3x10 | Machines of the East | Examining the inventions of Kurdish engineer Al-Jazari, who lived in what is now modern Iraq and Turkey in the 13th century. His designs include automated water-lifting mechanisms, water-based clocks, and a variety of geared mechanisms. | April 24, 2007 |