Three of the Seven New Wonders of the World are featured in this program. Mexican archaeological site Chichén Itzá has some of the most impressive structures of the Mayan competing city-states; China's Great Wall is the largest man-made structure on earth; and a statute of Christ the Redeemer stands atop one of Rio's several peaks. More Details

This program introduces the 14 wonders of the world—seven ancient and seven new—and places them in historical context. Explores the only ancient wonder still standing: the Great Pyramid at Giza. More Details

This program features two of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The Incas, who built Machu Picchu high in the Andes Mountains, were amazing engineers. Rome's most famous and infamous building, the Colosseum, was built to provide Rome's restless populace with such violent entertainment as gladiator contests and bloody sacrifices of Christians and animals. More Details

This program features two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. To celebrate their victory over invaders, the Greek islanders of Rhodes built a statue of the sun god Helios, so large it was dubbed the Colossus. The towering Lighthouse, or Pharos, of Alexandria was the first skyscraper in the world's first metropolis, which was the first attempt to establish a world culture. More Details

This program features two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Located in present-day Iraq, the Hanging Gardens were said to have been built by King Nebuchadnezzar for his wife to remind her of her mountainous homeland. The statue of Zeus at Olympia, site of the first Olympic Games, was the crowning achievement of Phidias, the most famous sculptor in 5th Century Hellenic Greece. More Details

Two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are featured in this program. One Persian governor, Mausolus, designed, and was buried, in a building so influential that all such structures are now called mausoleums. The largest Classical marble temple at Ephesus in Asia Minor was a huge, yet beautifully proportioned, center of worship for the pagan people of its time. More Details

This program features two of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The Taj Mahal is one of the world's most beautiful and iconic buildings. Shah Jahan was a 17th Century Mughal ruler who married a Persian princess. Petra, in present-day Jordan, was carved out of sandstone walls by Arabic ancestors called Nabbateans as an oasis refuge on the famous Silk Road. More Details

The Egyptian pharaohs tried to create immortality for their god-king legacy. They attempted it with mummification and huge tombs, but most were destroyed by grave robbers and the passage of time. More Details

Like the Phoenicians, the Greeks were a collection of city states during their great Hellenic period. And even though they often made war on each other, every four years, during the Olympic Games, they sublimated their violence into a fusion of mind and body worship dedicated to their chief god, Zeus. More Details

Like the Romans, the Incas conquered a large number of cultures, binding them together with a network of roads. The Incas also showed remarkable engineering skills in buildings and terraced farming fields, as at Machu Picchu. More Details

The Khmer Empire, now modern Cambodia, was largely unknown until the nineteenth-century discovery of the ruins of Angkor Wat, an astonishing temple complex. Long abandoned, its huge and beautiful symmetry reveals it as an attempt to create a Hindu concept of Heaven, here on earth. More Details

The Mayan Empire was supported by sophisticated mathematical and astronomical knowledge. These ideas were integrated with their religious sacrificial practices, as in their life-or-death ball games. More Details

The Minoans, a prosperous, peaceful island people in the Mediterranean region, influenced the Greeks, as seen in the Greek Minotaur and Theseus myth. Minoan art suggests a peaceful life without war, with violence sublimated in their bull-worship rituals. More Details

The Phoenicians did not create an empire, but several city-states such as Byblos and Carthage. They were very successful seafaring traders. Their most influential legacy is the creation of a simple alphabet for business transactions. More Details

The Romans ruthlessly conquered Carthage and the rest of the Mediterranean region, but also gained the allegiance of most of the people they subdued. How? By giving them citizenship and including them in the benefits of empire, best exemplified by one of Rome’s good emperors, Hadrian. More Details

Waterloo is always connected with Napoleon, but its significance was far greater than one man. It determined the future peace of Europe for 100 years, until World War I. Napoleon had almost conquered Europe and made it his empire. He was an offensive genius and inspirer of soldiers, but the Duke of Wellington’s cool defensive skills finally defeated him. More Details

Drinking water pollution can cause many deadly diseases, especially in children of poor countries around the world. Learn how student fundraisers and field scientists from the U.S. have helped indigenous peoples develop water treatment systems using their own technologies. More Details

A huge bottled-water industry has recently emerged, with the U.S. its largest consumer. A blind taste test by young students suggests that most people cannot tell the difference between tap and bottled water. This program poses questions to the theory that bottled water is better for us and the environment. More Details

In the U.S., polluted waters can have damaging economic and social effects, as well as destroy environmental habitats. The Chesapeake Bay is one of the most polluted watersheds in America, but Baltimore-area students are working with commercial crab catchers and scientists in the Baltimore area to help restore its health. More Details

The Rio Grande is one of our longest rivers, its Texas section forming a natural border between the U.S. and Mexico. Competing human claims for it are viewed through the eyes of two young women: a whitewater rafting guide in upstream New Mexico and a teenager downstream near El Paso. More Details

Fair distribution of water has long been a worldwide problem. The Great Lakes contain 20% of the world’s fresh surface water, but that water is currently available to only a small portion of our population. Should other water-scarce regions have access to this water? What effect would the piping of Great Lakes water to other areas have on the lakes and on Midwestern environments? More Details

Despite its wonders, Earth's water cycle does not spread water evenly around the planet. The Ogallala Aquifer’s huge underground reservoir of water gives states such as Nebraska a large but limited irrigation source. Experience how one progressive farm family uses technology to conserve water while producing higher food yields and profits. More Details

Argentina's name derives from the Spanish word for silver, which brought the early Europeans to this land. The stark, spectacular beauty of the Patagonia and the Tierra del Fuego wildernesses is contrasted with the cosmopolitan capital city of Buenos Aires. More Details

Canada has a relatively small population, but it is the world's second largest country in geographical size. Viewers will experience the diverse economic, scenic, and cultural features of the provinces and territories. More Details

Please review before showing in the classroom. Martin Sheen narrates this compelling look at Cambodia, a land of great beauty, but whose history is one of unimaginable pain and suffering. Explore Cambodia's spiritual and cultural heart with a visit to the magnificent ruins of Angkor Wat. More Details

Brazil comprises 50% of the landmass and population of the South American continent. It's five distinct regions are covered. Brazil is a country with great potential, but facing serious challenges. More Details

Australia is a country and the world's smallest continent, with impressive cities around its fertile coastal areas, largely unpopulated except for aborigines and a few ranching and mining communities. Explore Australia's diverse heritage in this program. More Details

China has the world's fastest growing economy, yet is also has many ancient traditions. Beginning in Bejing, and proceeding through China's rural villages, we see the many ancient and modern traditions that influence Chinese culture. More Details

Cuba's tumultuous history and rich culture are vividly presented in this concise overview. Key events and personalities that shaped modern-day Cuba, including the Spanish American War, Jose Marti, and Fidel Castro, are covered. More Details

One of the world's most enduring civilizations, Egypt now plays an important role in the Middle East. In Cairo, the capital, sleek office buildings tower over ancient alleys, bustling bazaars, and many mosques. More Details

London, a world-class city where tradition and modern life co-exist side-by-side, sets the stage for this overview of the vital island nation of England. The southwest coastal fishing villages of Cornwall and Devon are contrasted with many regions to the north. More Details

The cultural richness and the geographic variety of France are revealed, along with many historical influences. The intensity of Paris is contrasted with diverse rural economies and traditions, and France’s many contributions to the world are shown. More Details

Detailed maps make clear how early Roman towns grew into parts of the medieval Holy Roman Empire, and then into various states that eventually formed the German nation. From the southern Bavarian Alps to the Baltic Sea ports, and from former communist to western regions, geographical, cultural, and economic characteristics of a reunified Germany emerge. More Details

Hungary is a land of Baroque palaces and cobblestone streets echoing with gypsy rhapsodies. Budapest, on the Danube River, reveals the historic richness, mixed with modern free enterprise, emerging after the Communist era. More Details

India is one of the most diverse nations on earth, the result of many historical invasions that brought new peoples and cultures. How these influences have impacted modern India, and how it reacts to influences from other modern cultures is discussed. More Details

From the metropolis of Jakarta to the reefs around Sumbawa Island, Indonesia offers a great variety of cultures and ways of life. This huge nation is spread along thousands of islands, and its history has generated many traditions, and varied religious and national influences. More Details

Iran (formerly Persia) is a land of contrasts— ancient and modern. Informative maps pinpoint Iran's major cities. Archival footage, artworks, and artifacts chronicle Iran's tumultuous past, while contemporary footage reveals how ancient traditions and modern ways coexist. More Details

Israel's historical significance can be felt at the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and Al-Aqsa Mosque, holy places of three religions. In Israel, ancient and new exist side by side in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and in the ruins of several civilizations. More Details

From its Roman roots to ultra-modernistic styles in Milan, this program explores Italy’s people, history, and geography. The contributions of Rome, Florence, and Milan have left profound marks upon the world. More Details

Japan enjoys a prominent place on the world stage as an economic power. It is both traditional and modern, making it one of the most fascinating countries in the world. More Details

Jordan is a monarchy and one of the key countries of the Middle East. Its history includes many influential events that continue to influence its peoples' lives. Part of it is the land of the Old Testament, but the capital, Amman, reveals western influences along with Arabic and Islamic faces and cultures. More Details

Morocco bridges European, North African, and Arabic cultures. Some of these historic traditions can still be seen in old marketplaces, striking mosques, welcoming oases, urban water vendors, and desert camel herders. More Details

From the arid deserts of northern Mexico to the Lacandon rainforests of southern Mexico, this program introduces the richness of Mexico's geography and history. Spanish language and culture dominate Mexico City and elsewhere, but 22 existing indigenous populations preserve traditional languages and cultures. More Details

Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg were known as the Low Countries, because they were small, flat, and surrounded by seas. They have contributed much to the historical, political, cultural, and economic history of Europe and the world. More Details

Martin Sheen narrates this illuminating program that explores Myanmar's tumultuous history. He profiles key figures, including the late, feared ruler General Ne Win, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, and presents rare footage of this profoundly Buddhist country's cultural treasures. More Details

One of the most beautiful countries in the world, this two-island nation varies from Alpine landscapes in the South to breathtaking coasts in the North. The British heritage of the settlers is very much in evidence, as is the native Maori culture, intermingling in seeming harmony. More Details

Its Inca heritage makes Peru one of the most important Latin American countries. Millions of westerners continue to visit the runs of Machu Picchu. But Peru's Spanish heritage can be seen in cities like Cuzco and Lima. More Details

Its history as a Spanish colony and shifting relationships with and influences from America give the Philippines unique characteristics in Southeast Asia. Its Spanish past can be seen in many places, but its 7,000 islands retain many indigenous cultures in a terrain of great variety. More Details

Poland has been invaded and occupied by many other countries, yet it has maintained its own proud historical heritage. Warsaw, the capital, is being restored, and other cities, such as Krakow and Gdansk, show off this country's rich culture. More Details

After countless rulers, seven decades of Communism, and domination of Eastern Europe as the power behind the former USSR, Russia fascinates as do few other countries. Viewers will witness Moscow's importance, as well as major cities such as Volgograd and St. Petersburg. More Details

The "north countries" of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway have varied and beautiful landscapes, high standards of living, and the remains of significant histories. The character of these countries in their major metropolises, rural economies, cultural heritages, and natural wonders is captured. More Details

Visit Spain's most important regions and cities. In the southern region of Andalusia, the rich contributions of the Jewish and Moorish (Muslim) peoples to Spain are seen. Barcelona, Spain's second largest city is also visited. More Details

One of the most interesting and beautiful countries in the world, Switzerland is also a small one. Important for its banking and other business and technical endeavors, its cities, such as Zürich, Bern, Lausanne, and Geneva, reveal both history and modernism. More Details

The former Siam has a rich history and imperial culture. Bangkok is sometimes known as the "Venice of the East," due to its labyrinth of canals. Also visited are the hill tribes in the north of Thailand, where silk weaving, orchid farming, and traditional arts and crafts thrive. More Details

Look beyond the images of a mythical Shangri-la to reveal the often harsh reality of Tibet. Witness how the 1959 Chinese invasion, as well as modernization and the arrival of Chinese residents, threatened the Tibetan way of life. Buddhism has shaped the gentle, but tough, character of the people of Tibet. More Details

The ancient and the modern intermingle in this country of rich agriculture, Orthodox religious traditions, communist-era monuments, and resilient people. Its greatest city, Kiev, has its own historical treasures and renown. More Details

Collective images of Vietnam have come from war movies, but there is much more to Vietnam's story. Martin Sheen narrates this incisive and fresh look at the emergence of a new and independent Vietnam. More Details

Zimbabwe's rich history and culture come to life in Great Zimbabwe's architectural remains. The thriving capital city of Harare reflects the culture and economy of the British colonial settlers, along with the contemporary African population. More Details

This program is about the air that is covering the earth. Air’s weight pressing on the Earth is called atmospheric pressure, and it contributes to weather patterns, as does the sun; together they “drive” the process of weather and make life on earth possible. More Details

Today, two-thirds of the world’s humans live near coasts. The Mediterranean coastal climate is so mild that many civilizations were born here, and still thrive. But summer’s dryness often results in fierce fires. More Details

Desert regions have hot, dry climates where rain sometimes comes only once every few years. Subtropical climates can also be dry and hot, such as in the thorny Australian bush country. More Details

The tropics are the region of rainforests and savannahs. Tropical rainforests are very warm and humid throughout the year. In a savannah, there is also little variation in seasons. But the dry climate means fewer trees and more grass, so savannahs are home to herds of large animals. More Details

The weather changes every day. Climates also change, but slowly—over centuries or even millennia. The earth has had cycles in which ice ages alternate with periods of warmth. These cycles have always been natural phenomena, but humans may be responsible for the current bout of global warming. More Details

Explore the adaptations that people, plants, and animals have made to survive in the harsh climates of mountains and steppes. In high mountainous regions there is snow cover for many months of the year, but some plants and animals have adapted to this frigid environment. More Details

Oceans act as temperature regulators, bringing mild weather to coastal areas. The moderate temperatures and moisture-laden winds of coastal and island environments are optimal conditions for living things, so islands have been widely colonized by plants, animals, and humans. More Details

This program explores the Earth's polar and subpolar regions and describes the people, plants, and animals that live there. Computer animations show how the angle of the earth’s axis produces the “land of the midnight sun” and how the planet's magnetic field causes the aurora borealis, or northern lights. More Details

Live-action film footage, maps, and computerized animations help explain the reasons for the summer monsoon season in South Asia. Both the positive and negative effects of the monsoon are covered, life-giving water for the region's rice crops and misery for the many people who are flooded out of their homes. More Details

With the aid of computer animations, this program explains how cumulonimbus clouds develop into thunderstorms and how cyclones or hurricanes form over tropical oceans. Tornadoes occur over landmasses—especially in the United States—and cover a much smaller area than cyclones or hurricanes. More Details

Live-action film footage, maps, and computer animations introduce the climate of temperate regions in Europe and compare them the continental regions of both Europe and North America. More Details

Humidity has helped life develop on Earth. The water cycle, the process of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, leads to the formation of clouds and to water falling as rain, snow, fog, mist, drizzle, and other solid or liquid types. More Details

Explore the causes of global winds, including the daily rotation of the earth on its axis, the changing seasons, and the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface by the sun. A section on weather forecasting stresses the importance of accurate observations and explains the pivotal role of satellite imaging and computer modeling in predicting the weather. More Details

The program reminds viewers that not all prayers are benign; some promoted slavery. For unwilling African American slaves, their prayers and other cultural practices did not elicit conflict so much as an intense expression of suffering. More Details

In the 20th century, civil rights movements led by César Chávez and Martin Luther King Jr. were informed by unique religious values and prayer practices. More Details

America’s prayer practices are so diverse and multicultural that they may at times, like religions themselves, divide as well as unite. More Details

Many American public schools began the day with organized public prayer until 1962, when the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed this practice as a violation of the Constitution’s Establishment Clause, causing an ongoing controversy. More Details

Faith-based reform movements have a long history in America, some focusing on the individual and some on broader social issues. More Details

Some people have wanted scientific proof of prayer’s effectiveness, and some studies suggest that prayer and ritual may positively impact humans. More Details

This powerful history of religion and politics features an explanation of how Christian Rome rose under Constantine and fell around Augustine. More Details

This program traces medieval Christianity's evolution into the Renaissance. More Details

Scientific advancements and the printing press pushed the medieval world toward modernism and individualism. More Details

Legend says the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople inspired Russia’s adoption of Eastern Orthodoxy. More Details

This program shows how Latin American Catholic and Pentecostal traditions evolved. More Details

The U.S. has more Christian diversity than any country in the world, yet the first Puritans yearned for a theocracy until the arrival of more and more settlers made unification under a single religion impossible. More Details

Although Christianity came to India with the Portuguese, it continued to influence the dominant Hindu culture and Indians such as Gandhi. More Details

Christianity in Africa had an uneven history after being brought to the continent by Europeans: white missionaries, returned slaves, and apartheid did not offer much promise for a better future. More Details

This program shows the 7 wonders of the ancient world, including: the Great Pyramid of Cheops, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria. More Details

Rome, 2000 years ago and the magnificent Colosseum. More Details

Relive Mount Vesuvius' volcanic eruption, its devastation on the people and town of Pompeii, and its later excavation. More Details

Showing the daily life and customs of Athens. The evolution of the Acropolis and monuments such as the Parthenon and the Erechtheion are described in detail. More Details

The programs explores most famous ancient Greeks places, such as the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, the great city of Corinth, the Temple of Zeus (home of the Olympic Games), Delphi's Temple of Apollo, Agamemnon's Mycenae, and the island Santorini, perhaps the site of the Atlantis myth. More Details

The architecture history of the magnificent Great Pyramid and Sphinx and its representation to the Egyptian culture. More Details

The culture and civilization of the Egyptian nation along the Nile. Some of the examples of the dying cultures were the Karnak and the Great Temple of Abu Simbel. More Details

Explore the Aztecs culture and artifact as remainders of the earliest Mexican civilizations. More Details

Looking back through time at the pyramids and monumental cities built by the Yucatán people of Mexico. Explore the history of the Mayan culture. More Details

The astonishing man-made constructions designated as the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the Seven New Wonders of the World are a window into past civilizations. This definitive series explores the histories and examines the mysteries surrounding all 14 wonders. More Details

Through dramatic re-creations, 3D animations, insightful scripts, and worldwide location footage, this series connects both action events and key concepts that shaped each of the great Ancient Civilizations. More Details

Six case studies show how young students and professionals are helping to solve the growing problems of widespread overuse and abuse of our planet’s most precious and limited resource: water. Both the positive and negative scientific and social implications of water's utilization are explored in this cross-curriculuar resource. More Details

American students retain geography and history information better when they experience living images of world cultures. These 37 programs about some of the world’s major countries help students understand other peoples’ environments, values, and significant historical contributions. More Details