Video Documentaries

Ancient Apocalypse seeks to explain how human achievements were destroyed by the forces of nature. Throughout the ages, civilisations have risen up and then disappeared. Traditionally, the disappearance of certain ancient civilizations has been left to the theologians and historians to explain. Now scientists have entered the fray. In this series geologist, archaeologists and climatologists explain their findings. Ancient Apocalypse Part 1: Death on the Nile Professor Fekri Hassan attempts to determine why the Egyptian Old Kingdom, the civilisation of the great pyramids, collapsed around 2200 BC. Can science show that terrible forces of nature were to blame - even driving people to cannibalism? Clues come from the remote deserts of southern Egypt, the glaciers of Iceland and a dramatic and unique archaeological find in the Nile delta. Ancient Apocalypse Part 2: Mystery of the Minoans A look at how the Minoan civilisation, situated on the Mediterranean island of Crete, was wiped out 3,5

Professor Fekri Hassan attempts to determine why the Egyptian Old Kingdom, the civilisation of the great pyramids, collapsed around 2200 BC. Can science show that terrible forces of nature were to blame – even driving people to cannibalism? Clues come from the remote deserts of southern Egypt, the glaciers of Iceland and a dramatic and unique archaeological find in the Nile delta. Scientists gather for a new series attempting to explain the dis-appearance of ancient civilisations. This first investigates the abrupt end of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, 4,200 years ago. Conventional wisdom cites a political struggle. Professor Fekri Hassan demurs. He has found hieroglyphics stating that 'The entire country has become like a starved grasshopper... everyone has taken to eating their children'. Another expert calls this 'typical Egyptian rhetoric'. However, in 1996, the remains of 9,000 bodies were discovered in the Nile Delta, with evidence suggesting a famine. Old Kingdom of E