Ancient Greece is known as the cradle of Western Civilization. But why did so much amazing culture develop in this region? Acclaimed classical scholar Bettany Hughes travels to the country and visits some astonishing sites in this compelling history documentary on BBC Select. She encounters an underground snake pit used for healing and an ancient theatre that is still acoustically perfect.

The tiny island of Malta is absolutely crammed with ancient treasures. But why is there so much good stuff in this one spot? Historian Bettany Hughes visits a place that has endured travelers, and invaders, for centuries, as this documentary on BBC Select reveals. As well as sites of antiquity, Bettany explores tunnels used in World War II and the Queen and Prince Philip's romantic hideaway.

Get ready to embark on a glorious Mediterranean voyage, without leaving your armchair. Classicist Bettany Hughes takes to the high seas in this intriguing history documentary on BBC Select. Along the way she explores ancient shrines, volcanic Roman thermal baths and a recently discovered mysterious Medusa mask. But what exactly is 'The Invention of Summer' and how did it help fruit to grow?

Ancient treasures don't get much more ancient than the world's first evidence of Neanderthal art. But that's exactly what acclaimed historian Bettany Hughes unearths in this fascinating documentary on BBC Select. This tiny Mediterranean region also features astonishing rock formations and remarkable military artifacts. But where does James Bond creator Ian Fleming fit into Gibraltar's story?

Istanbul is a wonderland for history buffs, teeming with ancient artifacts. Bettany Hughes explores some of the city's most remarkable locations in this history documentary on BBC Select. She follows in the footsteps of Byzantine empress Theodora and uncovers evidence of the city's earliest inhabitants during an archaeological dig. But what used to be held in Europe's largest wooden building?

The Arabian Peninsula is a magical place that was once at the centre of the ancient world. Acclaimed classicist Bettany Hughes explores this crossroads between East and West as this extraordinary history documentary on BBC Select concludes. Starting deep in the desert of Saudi Arabia, she discovers that this inhospitable but beautiful environment contains messages from the past all around her.