Genius of the Modern World

TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today.

American Masters is a PBS television series which produces biographies on enduring writers, musicians, visual and performing artists, dramatists, filmmakers, and others who have left an indelible impression on the cultural landscape of the United States.

Don Wildman unearths relics from the world's greatest institutions to reveal secrets from the past. He examines each artifact to illuminate history's most incredible triumphs, sensational crimes and bizarre encounters.

In a quest for world domination, the Nazis built some of the biggest and deadliest pieces of military hardware and malevolent technology in history. This is the stories of the engineers who designed them and how these structures sparked a technological revolution that changed warfare forever.

Morgan Freeman presents his quest in order to find how most religions perceive life after death, what different civilizations thought about the act of creation and other big questions that mankind has continuously asked.

Actor Zac Efron journeys around the world with wellness expert Darin Olien in a travel show that explores healthy, sustainable ways to live.

Explore American cinema through the decades and the cultural, societal and political shifts that framed its evolution.

Journalist and writer Graham Hancock travels the globe hunting for evidence of mysterious, lost civilizations dating back to the last Ice Age. He attempts to prove that a climatic event 12,000 years ago wiped out an entire civilization far more sophisticated than the simple hunter-gatherers some archaeologists believe lived at that time.

Investigates a wide range of historically compelling topics and the mysteries surrounding each including the Titanic, D.B. Cooper, Roswell, John Wilkes Booth, and more. Fresh, new evidence and perspectives will be showcased, such as never-before-released documents, personal diaries and DNA evidence.

Come one, come all to The Circus. This real-time documentary series pulls back the curtain on the current political stories, revealing the intense, inspiring and infuriating stories behind the headlines. Key characters and events are presented in real time, as they are happening.

Motoring programme featuring reviews of and reports about cars of all types.

The fascinating cases of every day, seemingly average moms, wives and girlfriends accused of murder. Did they really do it? And if so, why?

This docuseries captures the remarkable rise and unprecedented success of one of the most dominant and iconic franchises in professional sports. Featuring exclusive access to the Buss Family and probing, revealing interviews with players, coaches, and front office execs, this series chronicles this extraordinary story from the inside – told only by the people who lived it.

Gadget Man shows the world's collection of handy gadgets throughout the ages, from today's smart devices to decades old electronics to even older mechanical devices.

Chris is on a mission to live better for longer. With the help of top scientists, he takes on six epic challenges to test mind and body to the max.

The fascinating stories of the families behind the food that built America, those who used brains, muscle, blood, sweat and tears to get to America's heart through its stomach, those who invented new technologies and helped win wars.

A four-part series featuring four champions who ushered in a boxing renaissance. The series showcases the dominance of Roberto Duran, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard and their battles in and out of the ring.

A documentary on the American Civil War narrated by Ken Burns, covering the secession of the Confederacy to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Executive producer Jon Favreau invites the cast and crew of The Mandalorian to share an unprecedented look at the making of the series. Each chapter explores a different facet of the first live-action Star Wars television show through interviews, never-before-seen footage, and roundtable conversations hosted by Favreau himself.

Steve Martin is one of the most beloved and enigmatic figures in entertainment. Dive into his extraordinary story from two distinct points of view—past and present—as Martin reflects on how his beginnings led to his unexpectedly fulfilling life today.

What it felt like to live through the collapse of communism and democracy. A series of films by Adam Curtis.

Mafia Connection exposes old and new mafia organizations threating Italy.

Once voted out, written off countless times, convicted multiple times – and unstoppable. The comeback of the century: Trump is transforming the USA. And perhaps even the world? This documentary tells the story of an American president who stirs up and unsettles Europe with deals and harsh words. What is his strategy and what has he achieved with it so far? How is Germany responding? How is Europe faring? And what will become of the America we knew? Will the “system crasher” Trump merely dismantle bureaucracy and inefficiency – or democracy itself?

Crushed, flooded and exploded into life – Europe is a battlefield of Nature. Discover the extraordinary and shocking geological story of how Europe was created by nature’s most titanic forces.

Using the very latest in drone and aerial photographic technology, tour across countries and their seasons, getting a unique view from above.

This three-part investigative documentary follows former members of Russian intelligence who reveal how the Kremlin’s spy networks operate. Through insider testimony and expert analysis, it examines recruitment methods, covert missions, cyber operations, and the mechanisms used to silence opposition and project influence abroad under Vladimir Putin’s rule.

A journey along Europe’s most spectacular night train routes, uncovering hidden natural stories along the way — stories of landscapes, wildlife, and the ecosystems that shape them.We meet people on board and along the routes. What unites them is a special connection to nature. Traveling through the night and into the early hours of morning, our routes take us across Germany, Scandinavia, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, and almost the entire Balkan Peninsula, all the way to the outskirts of Istanbul.

Monty Don conducts his personal 'grand garden tour' around Italy, including the retreats of the affluent north and horticultural gems of the south.

The European Union has been beset by a series of comings and goings over the last few years, each triggering its own brand of crisis. The civil war in Syria created the biggest wave of refugees to hit Europe since World War II, sparking contested debates on how to divvy up tens of thousands of refugees across E.U. countries. Meanwhile, in the U.K., Britain's vote in favor of Brexit added to the turmoil. Go behind the scenes with firsthand accounts of Europe's tumultuous last decade and its impact around the globe.

A Cleveland grandfather is brought to trial in Israel, accused of being the infamous Nazi death camp guard known as Ivan the Terrible.

Colorized historical footage in ascending order of World War 1. Not only the relatively known Flanders and France battles, but also the generally unknown Italian-Austrian, German-Polish-Russian, Japanese-German, Ottoman Empire- Allied and African German Colonies, and other unknown or forgotten fronts and battles.

They're not just fire chiefs, inspectors, or skilled technicians, but also buddies, athletes, fathers, soccer fans, and amateur chefs. This series follows the firefighters of Station 4 in Stuttgart in their daily lives, revealing the individuals behind the helmets—their diverse personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. In their demanding and dangerous job, these men must rely on each other completely. They can only overcome the challenges together as a team. When the alarm sounds, absolute concentration is required. But how do they cope with stressful impressions and experiences? And do arguments sometimes arise within the team?

As the war in Ukraine grinds into its fourth year and Russia steps up provocations along NATO’s borders, the West finds itself at a pivotal moment in history. Threatened by Russia’s renewed belligerence and amid growing uncertainty over President Trump’s commitment to defending Europe and the Western Alliance, the stakes could not be higher. With exclusive access to the inner workings of NATO throughout 2025, this landmark series takes viewers deep inside the rooms, command centres and trenches where Europe’s fate is being decided. From underground command bunkers in Naples to the frozen forests of Estonia, from British convoys hauling a fully operational land army thousands of miles across Europe to marines storming beaches from air and sea, cameras follow the soldiers, commanders and support teams preparing for a conflict with Russia that feels closer by the day.

12 friends travel together to Italy over the summer and experience various small adventures and everyday mishaps.

Mussolini seized power in Italy in 1922, after his March on Rome. He would hold it in his grasp until his death in 1945, establishing a dictatorship that lasted more than 20 years. Long considered a buffoon and a second-rate dictator, Il Duce invented fascism that was imitated by Hitler, who viewed the Italian as his political master. He wanted to transform his country into a warrior nation and promised Italians a return to the grandeur of the Roman Empire. He governed by violence and trickery and was one of the first populist leaders of modern times, leading his country into the catastrophe of the World War II. But who was Mussolini, this former teacher who came from the extreme left to become a newspaper editor and creator of the Fascist Party? Why did he ally himself with Hitler? Were the Italians really behind him? With archives and interviews with the last-surviving witnesses of the era, this portrait takes a look back at one of the most notorious dictators of the 20th century.

Alice embarks on her most ambitious journey to date, in search of the Roman Empire, travelling 1300 miles through Italy, France and Spain to discover the origins and secrets of Rome’s success.

Between storms and towering waves, in sunshine or in the dead of night: Sea rescuers from the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) risk their lives for people in distress on the high seas! The documentary series "The Sea Rescuers" accompanies these heroes of the seas up close during their spectacular missions on the North and Baltic Seas.