History

Periyar joins the Indian struggle for independence after being disgusted by the injustices of the Hindu caste system. Later, he begins fighting for the rights of Tamilians.

A historical recreation of the experience of Canadian soldiers in World War One, with a cast of descendants of the people who participated in it.

An examination of the life of great Russian author Leo Tolstoy, who penned the 1877 novel Anna Karenina.

On April 25, 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick published their groundbreaking discovery of the double helix structure of DNA. But their crucial breakthrough depended on the pioneering work of another biologist, Rosalind Franklin. 50 years later, NOVA investigates the shocking truth behind one of the greatest scientific discoveries and presents a moving portrait of a brilliant woman in an era of male-dominated science.

The 1975 Fall Classic matched the Reds against the Boston Red Sox in a seven-act performance that enthralled the nation. After an extra-innings defeat in Game 6 the night before, the Reds trailed 3-0 in Game 7, but like true champions, they battled back to win the game and take home the series. The taut drama of the previous season's finale was replaced by an awesome display of professionalism and dominance in the 1976 World Series as the Reds swept the star-struck New York Yankees. Fourteen years later, the Reds again swept their opponent, but this time it was a significant upset. The defending champion Oakland Athletics were out-pitched and out-played over four games as the Red Legs completed their wire-to-wire season with their fifth championship in franchise history.

The Freemasons claim to be a civic-minded fraternity bound together by harmless rituals, yet throughout their long history, they have been accused of plotting to take over the world, as well as being devil worshipers who stole King Solomon's treasure. This dramatic reenactment, interspersed with expert interviews, tells the Freemasons' central myth concerning Hiram Abiff, the mythical builder of Jerusalem's Temple of Solomon. Features historians Stephen Bullock Dan Burstein, Brent Morris Akram Elias, and author David Shugarts. But will a rational view reveal the Freemasons as an important and honorable thread in the fabric of America?

Like old soldiers everywhere, they are fading away, but these German veterans of World War Two have an incredible and sometimes shocking story to tell. This is a unique opportunity to see and hear the last testimonies of Hitler's armies. These are remarkable personal accounts of Germany's rise and fall from the inside. Learn how those responsible for the maelstrom sent their armies to conquer only to see them crushed as the world united against them; of men seduced by the siren call of Hitler only to pay a very heavy price.

After Debbie Smith was raped, she didn't take the law into her own hands. She wrote the law... Based on a true story. In 1989, Debbie Smith was living a quiet life as a housewife with her police officer husband, Rob and their two kids, but one day it's all shattered. While her husband slept upstairs, Debbie was dragged from her kitchen in broad daylight and brutally raped in the woods. After going through the dehumanizing rape-kit, she waited with fear and paranoia. Six years later, her rapist was caught through a chance DNA test. After learning how many rape-kits go untested and how long women wait to get justice, Debbie makes it her mission so no more women will suffer the long wait to get justice.

This documentary chronicles General William Tecumseh Sherman's fabled "March to the Sea" through Georgia and the Carolinas, utilizing state of the art production techniques including CGI, special effects and historical re-creations.

Benjamin Woolley presents the gripping story of Nicholas Culpeper, the 17th century radical pharmacist who took on the establishment in order to bring medicine to the masses. Culpeper lived during one of the most tumultuous periods in British history. When the country was ravaged by famine and civil war, he took part in the revolution that culminated in the execution of King Charles I. But it is Culpeper's achievements in health care that made him famous. By practicing (often illegally) as a herbalist and publishing the first English-language texts explaining how to treat common ailments, he helped to break the monopoly of a medical establishment that had abandoned the poor and needy. His book The English Physician became the most successful non-religious English book of all time, remaining in print continuously for more than 350 years.

In São Paulo, in the late 1960s, the convent of the Dominican friars became a trench of resistance to the military dictatorship that governs Brazil. Moved by Christian ideals, frets Betto, Oswaldo, Fernando, Ivo and Tito came to support the guerrilla group Ação Libertadora Nacional, commanded by Carlos Marighella.

Our story takes place in a small frontier town that is a real cross-section of the dreaded terror of the 1950s. On October 23, 1956, the ÁVÓ is throwing a ball for the birthday of the daughter of the local Russian commander. At this ball, the young people plan a clash with the local armed forces. The plan is foiled when the ball is interrupted by news of the outbreak of the Budapest revolution. By this time, Juli, the daughter of the local caretaker commander, and Robi, the son of an actor who has been deported from the capital, are in love. In this revolutionary situation, can the two opposing hearts of love be for each other?

The political drama "Zincirbozan" was written by journalist Avni Özgürel, and depicted the period between 1979 and 1983, the most tumultous years in the recent Turkish history. Zincirbozan shows a chronology of the most significant events in this period , such as the assassination of the famous journalist Abdi İpekçi, the escalating terrorism in the run up to the 1980 military coup, the futile attempts of politicians to stop the turmoil and terror on the streets, the military taking over the government, and the exiling of the political figures, and depicts the period with new insights into its less known aspects. The movie is named after the Zincirbozan military complex in the city of Çanakkale, where the leading politicans of the period were interned.

The Scorpions were a Serbian paramilitary unit that gained notoriety for their involvement in war crimes during the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s. By using the statements of former members of the Scorpions unit, and the materials recorded by the unit itself in the course of its campaignes, this film demonstrates the functioning of a typical combat unit organized by the security service to do dirty jobs in the Balkan wars. Including their treatment of Bosnian Serbs; from refusing them water to the stomach-wrenching murders of six Bosnian Muslim men, some of whom were minors, in Srebrenica in July 1995. Archival footage used in this film includes materials of Humanitarian Law Center, International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia.

With the help of state of the art special effects, this National Geographic documentary attempts to recreate what civilization looked like during the first 8,000 years that human beings lived on Earth.

Banned from the Bible II continues from the original documentary Banned from the Bible. The documentary introduces several books that were excluded from the biblical canon. Scriptural scholars and archaeologists spotlight books omitted from the New Testament.

Heizo "The Demon" investigates the shop of Toshimaya the swordsmith, where 280 ryo was stolen and twelve people murdered. This particular group of theives are most dangerous because of the willingness to kill for money, but what about this mysterious unibrow, who is he? What is he up to?

Steam engines may not be anywhere as fast as today's modern high speed trains, but these powerful machines rekindle memories of a more romantic form of travel. Throughout their colourful history the steam locomotive has always held a very special place in the hearts of millions of people. This information over view of the development of the steam engine introduced and scripted by Nigel Harris, brings vividly to life "The Story of Steam". From the early days through the exciting development of the steam engine right up to today's surviving preserved and working steam railways. Using a unique blend of newsreed, archive film and contemporary action this programme traces the development of the great steam engines from 'Rocket' to 'Evening Star'. We also visit some more exotic and remote parts of the world, including Cuba and China, where steam locomotives can still be seen at work in the 21st Century.

Assigned to accompany two priests on a mission to convert the court of Kublai Khan to Christianity, Marco Polo is abandoned in the mountains when the priests, doubting the very existence of China, turn back. Polo eventually pushes bravely forth alone toward the fabled country where he is accepted as an envoy into Khan's court. Marooned on the far side of the world, Polo, accompanied by his servant, Pedro, advances as a Mongol grandee for twenty extraordinary years. What he eventually brings back with him to the West is a chronicle that changed history forever.