Browse - Most popular shows on Smithsonian Channel

In 90 A.D., ancient Rome played host to a sporting spectacle that attracted crowds three times the size of the Colosseum's gladiator games: chariot racing. Every week, 150,000 fans packed the massive Circus Maximus, not just to cheer on the speed, fury, and danger of the races, but to witness the champion charioteer, Flavius Scorpus. Examine his improbable rise from young slave to arguably the most successful competitor in the sport's history.

Each year, two million visitors flock to Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC. But beyond a popular attraction, the zoo is an eminent research center dedicated to studying the 2,000 animals under its roof, many of which are endangered. Go behind the scenes with these rare creatures and their caretakers. From discovering a scientific breakthrough in canid conservation to caring for a sloth bear with high blood pressure, we bring you a remarkable look into the complex relationships between animals and the humans who protect them.

An inside look at the HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest and most powerful warship ever built for Britain's Royal Navy.

Witness the Second World War like never before. From the clear waters of the Mediterranean to the darkest forests of Poland, few places in Europe were spared the brutality of the Second World War. And on WWII by Drone, these sleeping battlefields come to life as never before.

Meet five inventive, courageous, and hardworking entrepreneurs, who led the charge during one of the most exciting eras in economic history. Levi Strauss, Henry E. Steinway, William E. Boeing, John Jacob Astor and Henry J. Heinz changed the way the world eats, dresses, plays and travels. They each left Germany hoping to find a better life in America and they succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. Relive the tragedies and the triumphs that made them millions while leaving a major imprint on American culture.

Western Mexico reveals the country's most iconic images; from the birthplace of tequila and mariachi to the world's busiest border; golden sands border the aquarium of the world while volcanic craters mirror lunar landscapes.

Every day, pilots and astronauts face life-or-death situations when they risk their lives to test the capabilities of physics and science. With limited time, harsh conditions and the pressure of survival, they must do everything they can to make it back on the ground safely. Survival in the Skies tells the stories behind incredible pieces of space and aviation technology, from the invention of the parachute to the development of space suits. The series features stories of the people who created these amazing breakthroughs and the men and women who relied on them when their survival hung in the balance.

From the spectacular shores of the Red Sea to the scorching heat of the Negev desert, Israel boasts a diverse array of natural landscapes. Explore the vast kaleidoscope of animal and plant life that populate its dramatic topography.

The evolutionary journey of life on Earth spans millions of years - and the results are as diverse as they are jaw-dropping. Travel through time as we explore the amazing adaptations that help certain species excel within their environments.

Two young scientists work around the clock gathering data on large predators, a dangerous activity that puts their lives at risk. Meanwhile, an elephant orphanage is giving new hope to baby calves rescued from poachers. Enter into a brave new world of conservation, one that's fraught with peril and hope.

Angkor Wat is the largest temple on the face of the Earth and is a symbol of one of the greatest empires in the history of Southeast Asia. And yet, for centuries, the sacred structure remained lost within the tropical forests of Cambodia, along with the history of the young king who built the temple. Discover the story of Suryavarman II and how he ushered in the golden age of the Khmer Empire. See how Angkor Wat was constructed over four backbreaking decades, and witness the monument in its true glory and splendor, as it appeared 900 years ago.

Discovering the Cosmos is an awe-inspiring TV series that takes you on a journey through the vast expanse of space, exploring the mysteries of the universe. Join us as we delve into the latest scientific advancements and technological breakthroughs, unleashing your imagination and inspiring you to reach for the stars.

On the edge of London stands Hampton Court, one of Britain's biggest palaces and most popular tourist spots, attracting almost a million visitors every year. Spanning 750 acres of grounds, it boasts 1,300 rooms and 23 courtyards...along with a host of secrets and historic stories. This two-part special provides an exclusive and intimate look at life inside the court today for the people keeping Henry VIII's world alive in the modern age, and also explores what life was like in the palace where the private world of the Tudors began.

Rooted is the story of five iconic trees in found in a Southern Africa. Each tree is located in a completely unique habitat, and hosts, feeds and shelters an array of insects, birds and animals in the bows of its branches.

Historians look at the reign of Genghis Khan, the khagan who united Mongolian tribes and exerted military force to build one of the largest empires in human history.

Enter a world filled with the most spectacular freaks of nature on the planet. Here you will find a weird and wonderful collection of leaping spiders, snot-casting fish, blood-sucking bats, flesh-boring bugs, and other bizarre creatures occupying our land, sea, and sky. Join us as we celebrate oddities of all shapes, sizes, and species, giving an up-close view of them in their natural habitat, and revealing how these misfits of nature have developed their strange adaptations over tens of millions of years.

The stakes were simple. Win the Battle of the Atlantic, win the war. For six years, an undulating warzone spanning 2,800 miles was the setting for one of the most bitterly fought battles of World War II. German U-boats ravaged convoys of British Canadian supply ships, sending thousands of merchants to a watery grave, along with millions of tons of vital supplies. Britain was cut off and on the brink of surrender, an act that would give Hitler control of Europe. Britain had to somehow turn the tide. The outcome of World War II depended on it.

Embark on a safari to a diverse and astonishing wilderness, like no other on Earth. From the mangrove forests of southern Africa to the natural abundance of the Okavango Delta, this series is a powerful testament to the amazing ability water has to spark life where none existed before.

The Pantanal is the world's largest tropical wetland, a lush environment where a tangled web of lives comes together. Tree-dwelling capuchin monkeys, gravity-defying Piraputanga fish that leap out of the water to pluck fruit from trees, and over 650 species of birds call this ecosystem home. Wade into this wonderland of biodiversity and uncover its natural rhythms.

Cleopatra reveals how this capable sovereign survived a murderous and incestuous dynasty, securing her future by seducing one of Rome's greatest leaders, and how her fall from grace and ultimate death meant history would never forget her legacy. The series draws on dramatic reconstructions and evidence from key experts to tell the real story behind Egypt's most well-known, enigmatic ruler.

Uncover the secrets of the vast Great Lakes region, which extends from the Canadian border to the American Midwest. It's a place of breathtaking natural beauty, with a unique set of challenges threatening its delicate environmental balance.

In each episode, the presenter, Christy Kenneally begins by posing a key question that is fundamental to our understanding of Christianity. He then sets out to find the answer to this question, investigating and decoding the signs, symbols, iconography, myths and miracles of Christianity. He seeks out the sources that hold the key to understanding our initial question and thus comes closer to decoding Christianity itself. Over six episodes, the presenter's quest takes him to far-flung corners of the earth: from the primitive frescos in the catacombs of Rome, to the massive, colourful pilgrimage at Kulubi in Ethiopia, to the extraordinary Hill of Crosses in Lithuania, we are taken on a journey into Christianity in all its fascinating and colourful manifestations.

Take a journey back in time and immerse yourself in a 150-year-old battle that nearly split our nation in two. This three-part series explores famous and little known aspects of the Civil War, from the perspectives of the Union, the Confederacy and the millions of enslaved people struggling for freedom. Hosted by Ashley Judd, Trace Adkins, and Dennis Haysbert, all of whom had ancestors greatly affected by the war, this series delivers fresh insights and untold tales, brought to life through dramatic recreations and the Smithsonian Institution's vast collection of artifacts.

Meet the experts who make the Smithsonian Gardens a stunning living museum year round. See how our horticulturists work tirelessly to overcome urban conditions and freezing temperatures. Learn how all gardeners, from amateur to seasoned, can use their secrets to make their own gardens grow.

For the dedicated staff at the Toronto Wildlife Center, caring for an ill or injured animal and returning them to their natural habitat as soon as possible is its own reward. Watch as their amazing stories of compassion and triumph unfold.