Sunday

The French Revolution, just four years earlier, has left France vulnerable to attack by other European nations who want to crush the Republic and restore a monarch to the French throne. Napoleon, a 28-year-old rising star, leads troops against the Austrian army, which is gathering in northern Italy, ready to strike. Napoleon sees that his enemies, although more numerous, are scattered. He counters with what will become his trademark tactic: he assumes the central position by getting in between separated enemy forces and then defeats them, individually. The success of this first campaign vaults him to international prominence.

It's 1990. General "Stormin" Norman Schwarzkopf has been watching Saddam Hussein maneuver in the Middle East. He knows the Iraqi dictator has a massive army. He knows Hussein is capable of extreme brutality. Now, Schwarzkopf sees signs that the dictator is about to launch a massive invasion.

It was to turn into the bloodiest and most heroic chapter in the history of the US Marine Corp. During WWII, this tiny well-fortified island acted as an advance Japanese airbase, able to identify and attack American bombers on their way to Tokyo. As the Americans advance across the Pacific, it is seen as a critical stepping-stone to the attack on mainland Japan. Garrisoned by 21,000 soldiers and fortified with a network of underground bunkers, it proves to be impervious to bomber attack. General Holland M. “Howlin’ Mad” Smith’s battle-hardened Marines to clear hidden pockets of resistance. By the time the island is finally cleared and the American flag flies unchallenged over Mt. Suribachi, only 212 Japanese survive.

Each episode contains an event in history that has never been conclusively solved. In every episode, a team of scientists tries to solve the case.

Throughout this history, France built brilliantly innovative, widely influential masterpieces that have given the world some of its greatest feats of engineering. They include: The massive and majestic Notre Dame de Paris, the greatest of medieval cathedrals that brought the Gothic style to fulfillment and became the model for cathedrals throughout Europe. A system of star shaped fortresses built by the brilliant military engineer Sebastian Vauban that created defenses so impregnable they lasted for centuries.

After the fall of Rome, Italy slowly fell into a dark sleep. It wasn't until the 11th century when the Holy Roman Empire loosened its grip on Italy, that it reawakened. Autonomous city-states emerged, and though ravaged by waves of the plague, these tiny republics began to revitalize their cities and build on a massive level not witnessed since the rise of the Rome.

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. A bridge to antiquity, it was Byzantium that preserved the classical learning and science that would one day give rise to the Renaissance. Led by rulers who exercised absolute power and architects who pushed beyond Rome's engineering marvels, 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.

The Persian Empire is one of the most mysterious major civilizations in the ancient world. Persia became an empire under the Achaemenid king, Cyrus the Great, who created a policy of religious and cultural tolerance that became the hallmark of Persian rule. Among the engineering feats of the Persian Empire were an innovative system of water management accomplished with simple tools; a cross-continent paved roadway stretching 1500 miles that made travel safe and communication possible; a canal linking the Nile to the Red Sea, a forerunner of the modern Suez Canal; and the creation of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Mausoleum of Maussollos.

At its pinnacle, the British empire spanned every continent and covered one quarter of the Earth's land mass. Through the centuries, the rulers of this enormous powerhouse used extraordinary engineering feats to become an industrial and military titan, loaded with riches. Some of their many pioneering accomplishments include the world's first locomotive, a superhighway of underground sewers, the imposing and grand Westminster Palace, and the most powerful and technically advanced navy in the age of sail. Using cutting edge CGI, we'll take a look at the key leaders of the British empire--and explore the mark each left on society. Peter Weller hosts.

After its founding at the end of the seventh century B.C., Carthage soon grew into one of greatest civilizations of the Ancient World - a remarkable city-state that dominated the Mediterranean for nearly 600 years. Over that span of time, Carthaginian engineers harnessed their extensive resources and manpower to develop some of the ancient world's most groundbreaking technology. Like the Egyptian masters before them, they built colossal structures able to withstand the ravages of time and man.

For over 4000 years, the world's greatest empires have come and gone. Only one has survived the test of time: China. Century after century, China's regal emperors mobilized immense peasant armies to accomplish engineering feats unparalleled in human history. Among the groundbreaking innovations of the ancient Chinese were the world's longest canal, its most complex and effective irrigation system, and a naval fleet mightier than all those of Europe combined. But, none can compare to the colossal 4,000-mile wall that stands as the most ambitious construction project ever built. From such heights came spectacular death spirals, as dynasty after dynasty, consumed by vanity and greed, was stripped of power by the people it had ruled.

The Ancient Maya - at the height of its glory, this mysterious civilization ruled a territory of 125,000 square miles across parts of Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Belize. What began as a modest population of hunters and gatherers expanded into more than forty flourishing city-states built within lush rainforests and ruled by dynasties of mighty kings. In an extraordinary burst of creativity from 250 AD to 900 AD, without the use of metal, pack animals or even the wheel, the Maya engineered sky-high temple-pyramids, ornate palaces and advanced hydraulic systems - all to appease their gods and support their growing populations.

Africa is home to some of the most lethal and powerful animals on the planet. From the crushing jaws of the spotted hyena, to the lethal venom of the Black mamba, we examine the weaponry of these master predators.

Brazil's dark and steamy Amazon harbors some of the most lethal animals known to humankind. Nature's Deadliest: Brazil explores the tactics and weaponry of these predators, and why humans can never tame the Brazilian jungle.

Death comes in many varieties in the African wild: from the tiny black widow to the massive Hippo that's responsible for the most human deaths. We examine the impressive killing techniques of the animals that must kill to survive in the African continent.