This Week on History Channel International

[Sir William Marcus]

Friday, September 19, 2008

9-10pm -- Egypt Decoded -
What drove the ancient Egyptians to build some of the most magnificent
monuments on earth? Accepted views are that they were for dead
pharaohs. Now, renowned expert on ancient Egypt, Robert Bauval
contests conventional ideas with a theory that could reignite the
debate of the era known as the "time of the gods." Using the latest
astronomy computer software, Bauval reveals that the entire landscape
of ancient Egypt was created along with a long-term plan to turn Egypt
into a "Celestial Kingdom" where time would cyclically recur and the
cosmic order obeyed.



Saturday, September 20, 2008


8-10pm -- Quest for Dragons -
A spirited exploration of the history, science, and legend of the
world's most notorious beast--the dragon, the best-known creature that
never was. Throughout history, dragons influenced wars, science, art,
and religion. They appear in almost every culture and many still
believe in dragons. How could different cultures, isolated by geology
and millennia, all invent the same creature? If the dragon is simply
the product of our imagination, how could distant peoples, with no
knowledge of each other, all invent the same beast? One of the reasons
dragons are a perennial favorite is that even though they are the
ultimate predator and antagonist, it's also fun to identify with them.
In the end, we want to be the dragon as much as we may want to slay
the dragon.

10-12am -- Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed -
The story of Anakin Skywalker's descent into darkness and his son
Luke's quest to conquer evil has spellbound audiences for 30 years.
The reason for this is simple: the saga of Star Wars is universal and
firmly rooted in the mythology and the political history of the entire
planet. May 2007 will mark the 30th anniversary of George Lucas' space
fantasy that grossed billions worldwide. For the first time take a
profound look at the serious subtext behind Lucas' six film milestone.
The influence of ancient mythology from Greek legends to King Arthur
is visible; but also more recent historical influences, from the
political rise of Napoleon to the machinations of Adolf Hitler can be
seen.


Sunday, September 21, 2008

7-8pm -- Lost Worlds - The Pagans.
In the late Stone Age, the pagan people of the British Isles
constructed some of the greatest monuments of the ancient world.
Fabulous constructions of wood, earth, and stone arose. In this hour,
we enter the world of their builders. We travel from the ancient stone
villages of the Orkney Islands, off the north coast of Scotland, to
Stonehenge, in Southern England. We reveal a startling new theory
about the role this extraordinary structure played in the lives of the
pagans. With computer animation, we reconstruct the monument as it
appeared to them. We then trace a forgotten ancient pathway to
Stonehenge's lost twin--Woodhenge, explore the secrets of Silbury
Hill, the world's largest man-made mound, and visit Maiden Castle, a
fortress that witnessed the pagan world's end.



Monday, September 22, 2008

8-10pm -- The Templar Code -
For nearly two centuries, the Knights Templar were the medieval
world's most powerful order, a fearsome and unstoppable Crusader
militia. Then came accusations of unspeakable crimes. Who were the
Templars, really? How did they become so powerful, so fast, and why
did they fall just as quickly? Evidence hints that the Templars
excavated under Jerusalem's Temple of Solomon. What did they find
there? Was it, as The Da Vinci Code suggests, the true identity of the
Holy Grail--the bloodline of Christ? Or an unimaginable treasure,
documented in the Dead Sea Scrolls, buried 1,000 years before Christ's
birth? We explore the Templar's origin, how they lived, trained,
fought and became a medieval world power, and the suspicious
circumstances behind their sudden downfall. Plus, we reveal why these
warriors, dead for seven centuries, and their treasure still populate
Hollywood blockbusters. Narrated by Ed Herrmann and featuring
preeminent Templar authors.

[Anna Iram]

Great lineup. Thanks for the heads up.

[Sir William Marcus]

Saturday, September 27, 2008
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7-8pm -- Engineering An Empire - The Persians
The Persian Empire was one of the most mysterious civilizations in the
ancient world. Persia became an empire under the Cyrus the Great, who
created a policy of religious and cultural tolerance that became the
hallmark of Persian rule. Engineering feats include an innovative
system of water management; a cross-continent paved roadway stretching
1500 miles; a canal linking the Nile to the Red Sea; and the creation
of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Mausoleum of Maussollos.
The rivalry between Persia and Athens led to a 30-year war known as
the Persian Wars, the outcome of which helped create the world we live
in today. Peter Weller hosts.

8-10pm -- Last Stand of The 300 -
After Custer, Thermopylae is the most famous last stand in history. In
a narrow pass in Northern Greece, seven thousand Greek soldiers await
an onslaught of epic proportions. They will soon face the largest
fighting force ever assembled--the war machine of the mighty Persian
Empire, estimated at over a million men. The Greeks are led by three
hundred of the most ferocious warriors of the ancient world--the
Spartans. Their leader is the fearless King Leonidas, who after this
battle would be catapulted into legend. When it is over, every Spartan
in the pass will have sacrificed his life for freedom. Creating a
fresh visual style and using new technologies we will dramatically
recreate the significant events that lead to Thermopylae and the clash
of arms.

10-12am -- Indiana Jones and the Ultimate Quest -
Throughout history there have been legendary artifacts that have
captured the imagination of adventurers everywhere. While belief in
their existence seems to fly in the face of reason and science, there
have been those who have devoted their lives to their discovery. One
man has looked for some of these remarkable treasures. He is Indiana
Jones--professor of archeology and an adventurer who has uncovered
some of the world's greatest mysteries. But Dr. Jones is just a
fictitious character and it's widely assumed that the artifacts he
searched for were also figments of a writer's imagination. But were
they?


Sunday, September 28, 2008
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7-8pm -- Lost Worlds - Ramses' Egyptian Empire
1300 BC. The mighty Egyptian civilization is in its golden age. Its
ruler is Ramses II, a man who intends to be the greatest of the
Pharaohs. He will make his mark by building: vast statues; towering
obelisks; temples carved from the living rock. Ramses is a giant of a
man, dominating his kingdom for 67 years, pushing it on to ever
greater glory. The ruins of what he built still stand, and with the
aid of new research and cutting edge graphics technology, the true
scale of his ambition can now be fully revealed. We reconstruct the
grand hypostyle hall at Karnak; explore the technical innovation and
engineering skill that produced the temple at Abu Simbel; we rebuild
the Ramesseum as he would have seen it, and uncover how the
extraordinary tomb that Ramses built for himself would have looked
when his body was finally laid there.

Monday, September 29, 2008
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8-10pm -- Angels: Good or Evil -
Winged messengers have mesmerized humans since the dawn of
civilization. Isis, Hermes, Mercury, and Asmodeus set the stage for
monotheism's angels--Gabriel, Michael, and Satan. Hebraic, Christian,
and Muslim scripture all describe angels and demons that were invoked
in magic spells, immortalized in art, trivialized as decorative
accessories, and dismissed by science. We see how their legacies
shaped religion and art and hear from those who testify to firsthand
encounters with these curious creatures.

[Sir William Marcus]

Saturday, November 1, 2008
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7-8pm -- Engineering An Empire - The Byzantines
As much of the world descended into the Dark Ages after the fall of
Rome, one civilization shone brilliantly: the Byzantine Empire. With
ruthless might and supreme ingenuity, the Byzantines ruled over vast
swaths of Europe and Asia for more than a thousand years. It was
Byzantium that preserved the classical learning and science that would
one day give rise to the Renaissance. The Byzantines constructed the
ancient world's longest aqueduct, virtually invincible city walls, a
massive stadium, and a colossal domed cathedral that defied the laws
of nature. Watch with host Peter Weller as we learn how the
engineering feats of this great empire would betray them as an ancient
light was extinguished in the glare of modern warfare.




Sunday, November 2, 2008
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7-8pm -- Lost Worlds - Knights Templar.
They defended the Holy Land through bloodshed and prayer. Founded in
the 12th century, these Christian warrior monks reigned supreme for
nearly 200 years before suffering a spectacular fall from grace. Tried
for heresy, they were disbanded and their Grand Master burned at the
stake. We'll search behind the legend for their lost world. We
recreate the city they knew as Tortosa--now hidden among modern homes
in the Syrian city of Tartus. We reveal secrets of their headquarters
at Temple Mount in Jerusalem, with magnificent underground vaults that
could stable 1,000 horses. And we visit the circular church in London
built to resemble the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and
the site of the Templar's mysterious initiation rites. We bring to
life the hilltop fortress that Lawrence of Arabia called "the finest
castle in the world", and return to the Mediterranean island where the
Knights Templars made their last stand against Moslem enemies.





This Monday, November 3, 2008 on..
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8-9pm -- Knights Templar -
The Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon, founded to
protect Christians on pilgrimage, quickly belied its name becoming the
most powerful and wealthiest religious order, rumored to possess the
Holy Grail. Yet, in the end they stood accused of devil worship. Were
the Knights Templar betrayed by the Pope or their own greed?


Be There!

[Sir William Marcus]

Saturday, November 15, 2008
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7-8pm -- The Worst Jobs in History - The Middle Ages.
Host Tony Robinson once again slides down the career ladder as he
takes on some of the most disgusting jobs of the Middle Ages. First he
finds out what it was like to be an Arming Squire for a Knight--a
combination of a valet and washerwoman. And cleaning up a Knight after
battle was quite messy. Being an archer was also horrible--if you were
captured after battle, your fingers were sliced off. Next, Tony checks
out the medical profession, and with the Black Death sweeping through
the success rates were low. Tony becomes a leech collector, a
barber-surgeon, and a wise woman. Wait until you see some of the
cures! Since medieval cathedral building provided work for whole
communities of craftsmen, he checks out the life of a stone mason,
lime burner, and treadmill worker. But the worst job was wool fuller.
A fuller took woven wool and trod on it in large vats filled with
human urine for at least two hours to soften the cloth!



Sunday, November 16, 2008
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7-8pm -- Lost Worlds - The Vikings
The Vikings were fearsome warriors from Denmark and Norway who burst
upon Western Europe, raiding and plundering at the end of the 8th
century. They first targeted coastal monasteries, but later they
constructed magnificent ships that could sail up rivers and sack
inland towns. These raids resulted in the Viking invasion of Britain
and Northern France. Many of the sites of the most crucial events in
world history are now lost. Follow a team of historical detectives who
use evidence from recent excavations, scientific studies and
historical documents to see what these locations looked like. Computer
graphics allow viewers to fly over, enter the streets and peer into
these lost worlds.

[Sir William Marcus]

  Sunday, November 30, 2008
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7-8pm -- Lost Worlds - Pirates of the Caribbean
During the heyday of piracy, fearsome buccaneers sailed the Caribbean
in search of booty. Fortresses are raided, swords are drawn and
galleons clash in an incredible story of glittering treasure and
swashbuckling adventures. From the icy docks of Bristol to the
tropical paradise of the Caribbean, discover the incredible world of
the buccaneers. Follow a team of historical detectives who use
evidence from recent excavations, scientific studies and historical
documents to piece together clues as to what the pirate world looked
like.

[Sir William Marcus]

Monday, December 15, 2008
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10-12am -- The Plague -
It began like the common cold. Then fever, baseball-sized black
swellings on the neck, coughing of blood. Few lived more than two
days. The year--1347. It was history's worst biological disaster and
almost half of Europe's population died within three years. Visit the
plague ships' rat-infested holds, witness the terror that swept
through the towns, and walk with the religious flagellants. Follow a
princess as she travels into the center of the plague, a doctor who
struggles to understand what is happening, and a Jewish merchant
caught up in violent attacks. Hear the actual words of the victims,
taken from diaries and journals. From the Pope's palace to the humble
huts of medieval peasants, watch as people live and die in the
unforgiving grip of fear and death, and wonder how we would act if
such a terrible event happened today.

[Sir William Marcus]

Sunday, December 21, 2008
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7-8pm -- Lost Worlds - Braveheart's Scotland.
At the end of the 13th century, Scotland was a country under attack.
Defeat seemed inevitable. But from nowhere emerged a man who became
Scotland's greatest hero--William Wallace, commonly known as
Braveheart. Rising from obscurity in a violent age, he became an
inspirational leader and national symbol of patriotism and survival.
Now, new research allows us to journey back to his world. Traveling
down secret pathways that still lie beneath Scotland, we rediscover a
surprisingly sophisticated culture that hasn't been seen for 700
years--a world Braveheart died to protect. Uncovering the mysteries
beneath Eldersie, we reveal the town that gave rise to the Guardian of
Scotland. Restoring the Castle of Lanark to its former glory, we visit
the place where he sought revenge for the murder of his wife. And
rebuilding Stirling Bridge, we relive Wallace's famous battle against
the English army--a turning point in the history of Scotland and the
life of its champion.

[Sir William Marcus]

Tuesday, January 6, 2009




8-9pm -- The Revolution - 06 - Forging an Army.
George Washington's losses are adding up and some in Congress begin to question his leadership. Washington's main concern, however, is sustaining and rebuilding his ragged, starving, and dwindling army through the frigid winter at Valley Forge. With the help of Baron von Steuben and Nathanael Greene, the Continental Army becomes a more professional fighting force. And Washington rebuilds his reputation by holding back the British at the Battle of Monmouth. Join us for this 13-part look at the birth of America--from the Boston Tea Party to the ratification of the Constitution.


10-11pm -- Engineering An Empire - Greece: Age of Alexander
438 BC. The Parthenon is complete. This masterpiece is the crowning achievement for the Greek people. Without Alexander the Great, it is possible Greece's Golden Era would have been just a footnote in history. Tens of thousands would die during Alexander's relentless attacks on Persia and Egypt, yet, his armies carried Greek life, culture and values far abroad and this empire became known as the "Hellenistic" world. Greece's amazing engineering achievements and ideas are still with us today.




Wednesday, January 7, 2009


8-8:30pm -- The Naked Archaeologist - Joshua.
Joshua succeeded Moses as the leader of the Israelites and was one of the Bible's greatest generals. The Bible says he conquered Canaan, the land God promised the Israelites. From Joshua came Israel, from Israel Jesus, from Jesus, Christianity and much of the Western World. But did the Old Testament's fiercest warrior even exist? It's hard to find traces of Joshua--he didn't build temples or cities to leave behind. He knocked them over, or burnt them, or put them to the sword. The Naked Archaeologist takes the challenge, searching for Joshua through the stones, bones and miracles surrounding Joshua, the myth and the man.



8:30-9pm -- The Naked Archaeologist - Who Wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls?
In the 1950s a Bedouin shepherd's sheep stumbled upon some ancient scrolls in a cave on the shores of the Dead Sea. This accidental find would prove to be the greatest archaeological discovery of the twentieth century. Who wrote these scrolls? Join host Simcha Jacobovici as forensic analysis of their ancient toilets may finally answer this question once and for all.




9-10pm -- Bloodlines: The Dracula Family Tree -
When a team of Dracula hunters, notably members of a family linked to the real-life Prince Vlad Dracul, tries to unearth the truth about the tyrant, they are haunted by mystifying events, misfortune, and tragedy 500 years after the 15th-century prince died.

[Sir William Marcus]

Tuesday, January 13, 2009
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8-9pm -- The Revolution - 07 - Treason & Betrayal.
Heroic General Benedict Arnold turns his back on his cause and country in an act of pride, sealing forever his legacy as a traitor. George Washington takes his war to the frontier, burning the Iroquois Indians out of New York State and leaving a wake of destruction and devastation.


Wednesday, January 14, 2009
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8-8:30pm -- The Naked Archaeologist - 21 - Babes, Brothels and Baths
Prostitution: the world's oldest profession. The Hebrew Bible mentions prostitution in lots of places, but the juiciest sex story involving a prostitute is the one about Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38--where prostitution is the lynch pin to the whole plot. So how do you go from prostitution and non-marital sex not prohibited in the Bible, to the prudery of the New Testament. Is there anything archaeology can tell us about this shift? Simcha Jacobovici hosts.


8:30-9pm -- The Naked Archaeologist - 22 - The Beloved Disciple
Who was the Beloved Disciple? Mentioned five times in the gospel of John, but never named, scholars have speculated about the identity of the "disciple whom Jesus loved" for centuries. Could it be John himself, or Peter, or even Mary Magdalene? Or is it a code for a disciple whose identity had to remain secret? It's a two thousand year old mystery, and host Simcha Jacobovici is on the case.

[Sir William Marcus]

Thursday, January 15, 2009
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10-12am -- Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed -
The story of Anakin Skywalker's descent into darkness and his son Luke's quest to conquer evil has spellbound audiences for 30 years. The reason for this is simple: the saga of Star Wars is universal and firmly rooted in the mythology and the political history of the entire planet. May 2007 will mark the 30th anniversary of George Lucas' space fantasy that grossed billions worldwide. For the first time take a profound look at the serious subtext behind Lucas' six film milestone. The influence of ancient mythology from Greek legends to King Arthur is visible; but also more recent historical influences, from the political rise of Napoleon to the machinations of Adolf Hitler can be seen



Saturday, January 17, 2009
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8-10pm -- The Templar Code -
For nearly two centuries, the Knights Templar were the medieval world's most powerful order, a fearsome and unstoppable Crusader militia. Then came accusations of unspeakable crimes. Who were the Templars, really? How did they become so powerful, so fast, and why did they fall just as quickly? Evidence hints that the Templars excavated under Jerusalem's Temple of Solomon. What did they find there? Was it, as The Da Vinci Code suggests, the true identity of the Holy Grail--the bloodline of Christ? Or an unimaginable treasure, documented in the Dead Sea Scrolls, buried 1,000 years before Christ's birth? We explore the Templar's origin, how they lived, trained, fought and became a medieval world power, and the suspicious circumstances behind their sudden downfall. Plus, we reveal why these warriors, dead for seven centuries, and their treasure still populate Hollywood blockbusters. Narrated by Ed Herrmann and featuring preeminent Templar authors.




10-12am -- The Kings: From Babylon to Baghdad -
The history of the hotspot now known as Iraq was written in blood. Ancient kings leading the world's first armies fought for total control of the fertile lands of Mesopotamia. Their cities and empires, the earliest on earth, rose and fell through warfare, invasion, and conquest. In the modern age, Iraq provided a stage for European imperialism and more recently, a focal point in U.S. foreign policy. Our 2-hour look at this historical ground zero recounts its story through its leaders, from Sargon the Great to Saddam Hussein, and brings its history to life with compelling dramatic recreations, captivating location photography, and archaeological artifacts. Notable historians, scholars, experts, and policy makers draw connections and relevance between ancient and modern Iraq through its government, culture, and religion.

[Sir William Marcus]

Tuesday, February 17, 2009
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8-9pm -- Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire - The First Barbarian War
It is 113 BC. Rome is a republic, a small empire clinging to the rim of the Mediterranean. Though it is a democracy in name and spirit, a man there still must be rich and from the noble class to hold the highest offices, both political and military. The system has worked well for three centuries. But now a barbarian horde known as the Cimbri smashes through the northern imperial border. One humiliating defeat follows another, with losses of hundreds of thousands of Roman legionaries. Terror grips Rome and drives her into the arms of General Marius. Though a commoner, Marius has a brilliant military mind. To defeat the Cimbri, he will transform the Roman army and shake the Republic's political foundations to the core. It is a turning point for the Republic. Faced with the savage Cimbri, Rome must decide between dictatorship and annihilation.

9-10pm -- Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire - Spartacus
When Roman generals Pompey and Crassus, lead their mighty legions of soldiers and mercenaries into the lands surrounding Italy, neither could anticipate the turmoil caused by one bold mercenary: a Thracian warrior named Spartacus. Spartacus deserts the Roman army, but is captured and enslaved, forced to fight as a gladiator. Then in 73 BC, the untamable barbarian leads a slave revolt of 70,000 gladiators against the Roman Republic. Though the brutal and conniving Roman General Crassus is finally able to suppress the revolt, his rival, the more popular Pompey, takes all the credit, sparking a division within the Republic itself that will ultimately spell its demise.

10-11pm -- Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire - Julius Caesar
It is 60 BC. Over-powerful generals and money corrupt the Roman Republic. The empire churns with civil war, and violence and murder run rampant. Julius Caesar, desperate for fame and honor, embarks on a brutal decade-long campaign to annex Gaul and build his own reputation. His aristocratic rivals try to stop him, but he is an expert manipulator. His propaganda and extravagant victories against bloodthirsty barbarians thrill the public. In 49 BC, he crosses the Rubicon intending to claim his rightful place as the chief man of Rome. It sparks a new civil war that pits him against Pompey the Great and sounds the final death knell for the Republic.

[Sir William Marcus]

Tuesday, February 24, 2009
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8-10pm -- Rome: Engineering an Empire -
For more than 500 years, Rome was the most powerful and advanced civilization the world had ever known, ruled by visionaries and tyrants whose accomplishments ranged from awe-inspiring to deplorable. One characteristic linked them all--ambition--and the thirst for power that all Roman emperors shared fueled an unprecedented mastery of engineering and labor. This documentary special chronicles the spectacular and sordid history of the Roman Empire from the rise of Julius Caesar in 55 BC to its eventual fall around 537 AD, detailing the remarkable engineering feats that set Rome apart from the rest of the ancient world. Featuring extensive state-of-the-art CGI animation, and exclusive never-before-seen footage shot on a diving expedition in the water channels underneath the Colosseum.

10-12am -- Roman Vice -
The flowering of the Roman Empire saw incomparable power and civilization - and at the same time corruption, cruelty and depravity on an unparalleled scale. Emperors from Augustus to Tiberius and Nero built the biggest empire the world had ever seen, while presiding over a way of life riddled with violence, deviancy and excess. This special visits the archaeological sites of ancient Rome, talks to leading historians world-wide and uses stylish

[Sir William Marcus]

Wednesday, February 25, 2009
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8-9pm -- Lost Worlds - Atlantis.
Field investigators using the latest research, expert analysis, and cutting-edge technology take us back to ancient Greece, to a peaceful island that exploded with devastating force. But, at the dawn of the 20th Century, the remains of a palace were discovered on the island of Crete, preserved beneath volcanic ash. Could the ruins be home to the ancient civilization of Atlantis? Our investigators find that a Cretan palace and a town on Santorini are linked by unique engineering of their buildings. Rebuilding towns, temples, and the palace of Atlantis as described by Plato, we reveal the majesty and mystery of this lost world. The builders of the original palace achieved a level of engineering excellence not matched for centuries. With its massive scale, complex water-management systems, and sparkling gypsum walls, the engineering of this extraordinary palace connects it to Plato's descriptions of Atlantis.

9-10pm -- Lost Worlds - Athens-Ancient Supercity
In the 5th century BC, one man leads his city to greatness and paves the way for western civilization. The city is Athens and Pericles is not a king or prince, but an elected man. He will mastermind the most costly and ambitious construction campaign undertaken in the western world--creating a model city of temples, houses, market places, civic buildings, and a highly innovative sanitation system. But Pericles' decision to raid the Greek treasury and take the money set aside to defend all the city states will lead to the downfall of Athens and Pericles himself. It took 30 years to build, but it was brought down in one generation by war and disease. Now, 2,500 years later we restore Athens to its former glory--the first senate house, the terrifying power of the Greek navy, and one of the world's most advanced water systems. We also reveal the magnificence of the Parthenon--a building often hailed as the most perfect building ever completed.

10-11pm -- Lost Worlds - Knights Templar.
They defended the Holy Land through bloodshed and prayer. Founded in the 12th century, these Christian warrior monks reigned supreme for nearly 200 years before suffering a spectacular fall from grace. Tried for heresy, they were disbanded and their Grand Master burned at the stake. We'll search behind the legend for their lost world. We recreate the city they knew as Tortosa--now hidden among modern homes in the Syrian city of Tartus. We reveal secrets of their headquarters at Temple Mount in Jerusalem, with magnificent underground vaults that could stable 1,000 horses. And we visit the circular church in London built to resemble the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the site of the Templar's mysterious initiation rites. We bring to life the hilltop fortress that Lawrence of Arabia called "the finest castle in the world", and return to the Mediterranean island where the Knights Templars made their last stand against Moslem enemies.

[Sir William Marcus]

Monday, March 2, 2009
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8-10pm -- The Crusades: Crescent & the Cross - #1.
The shadow of war between Christian and Muslim hangs over us today, but it is a war that began nearly a thousand years ago. By the close of the 11th century, Jerusalem had been in Muslim hands for over 400 years. In 1095 Pope Urban II launched an unprecedented military campaign to seize it back--a "Crusade" to purge the Holy Land of "the infidel". Over 60,000 Christian warriors would journey 3,000 miles and for almost three years to reclaim the Holy City in the name of God. But their adversaries, the Turkish warlords of the Middle East would resist them every step of the way. In a series of epic battles and bloody massacres, tens of thousands would die as the crusaders inched ever closer towards Jerusalem.

10-12am -- The Crusades: Crescent & the Cross - #2.
In 1099 the Crusaders took Jerusalem in the bloodiest of battles, wrenching it back from the Muslims for the first time in 400 years. But, over the decades that followed, the Islamic world dreamed of fighting back. In 1144 the Muslims seized the city of Edessa from the Christians. The news reverberated back to Europe, and the Pope called for a Second Crusade. But this Crusade was a disaster. It failed to expand the Christian empire, and strengthened the resolve of the Muslims. Under their great leader, Saladin, the Muslim swept through the Christian Kingdom taking town after town. In 1187 he took Jerusalem. This shocked the west into responding, with a Third Crusade. Led by Richard the Lionheart they defeated Saladin and marched on Jerusalem. Richard failed to take the city and the Third Crusade failed.