Summary
Sometimes, there’s nothing better than settling down and feeding the gray matter with a good documentary. Except they can feel thin on the ground as the old documentary channels give way to sensationalist shows likeAncient Aliens. Is it really difficult to learn how ancient civilizations built their monuments and lived their lives without injecting little gray men into them?
Luckily, where TV may have failed, streaming services can succeed. Each one has some strong contenders to deliver solid facts about the past. But here arethe best ancient history documentariespeople can find across the different streaming services out there.
Updated June 08, 2025, by David Heath:Since this article was last updated, there have been more than a few changes to streaming platforms. Many have lost their old lineups and have gotten new shows in their place. In turn, old documentaries have found new homes on other services, some of which may cost less or even be free of charge.
As such, this list has been tweaked to show where its original entries can now be found, how much those streaming services cost, and if they have any free trials. It’s also received a few new entries to offer ancient history fans more variety, and to make up for the few that have been left in limbo. Overall, these are more of thebest ancient history documentarieson streaming services.
18Egypt: The Temples Saved From the Nile
IMDB Score: N/A
When it comes to monuments, there are few (if any) places that can beat Egypt. Its Sphinx, Great Pyramids, and grand temples have stood for thousands of years. But when the country erected the Aswan dam across the Nile, its waters threatened to swallow up the legendary sights at Abu Simbel and Philae.
Luckily, as the title ofEgypt: The Temples Saved From the Nilesuggests, the temples were secured. But it took an international effort to do so. The documentary goes over the measures it took to save the temples, as well as its history from its first carvings to its completion. If viewers don’t already have a MagellanTV subscription, the documentary can be seen for free on Tubi.
17First Emperor: The Man Who Made China
Ancient Egypt is fairly well-trodden ground, as this list offers plenty for fans of the period to check out. But there are other places with equally rich histories, like China. Before Rome became an Empire, King Zheng of the state of Qin unified the warring states into one nation. He’d become itsFirst Emperor: The Man Who Made China.
The documentary goes over Qin Shi Huang Di’s achievements, like his grand tomb and the Terracotta Army. It also doesn’t shy away from his notorious sense of brutality, and his quest for immortality. It can be found on MagellanTV and XiveTV, but viewers with a keen interest in monarchs can find this documentary and more on True Royalty TV, a whole service dedicated to kings, queens, and more.
16Africa’s Great Civilizations
IMDB Score: 7.2/10
The problem with history shows is that they focus a lot on the same old things. There are tons of sources about the Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans. But they rarely cover places like Africa beyond its Pharaoh-ruled territory because people assume there wasn’t much to talk about. Just tribes living humbly until colonizers came to upset things. But that’s far from the case, asAfrica’s Great Civilizationsaims toshow.
Hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr, this 6-part series goes over the continent’s 200,000 years of history. The latter three episodes cover its relatively more modern events. But the first three focus on its lesser-known ancient history, from Mitochondrial Eve to the spread of religion. That’s not to mention its own monuments and empires, like the Nubian Pyramids and the Mali Empire. With one PBS subscription, viewers can discover a whole new world to learn about.
15Colosseum: The Whole Story
IMDB Score: 6.8/10
The Colosseum is one of the most iconic sites in the world. Originally known simply as the Amphitheatre, it was the largest of its kind ever built and is the largest one still standing today. The building didn’t gain the ‘Colosseum’ name until people associated it with a statue of the late Emperor Nero in the style of the Colossus of Rhodes that stood outside it. The statue was reworked, moved, and eventually scrapped, but the Colosseum name stuck.
These facts and more can be learned fromColosseum: The Whole Story, a 2-part documentary that goes into the history of the Colosseum, of Rome’s other notable amphitheaters, and its restoration, which has had its own ups and downs over the centuries. Viewers can find it on their MagellanTV subscription, but it’s also available for free on Tubi, Pluto, and Freevee.
14Kurdistan: The Untold Story of Mesopotamia
Archeology isn’t usually as thrilling as theIndiana JonesorTomb Raiderseriesmake it out to be. But it can be just as dangerous. For example,Kurdistan: The Untold Story of Mesopotamiafollows a team as they look into the sights and ancient cities of Mesopotamia. Specifically, the ones in Iraq via its Kurdistan territories. As fascinating as they are to look at, detailing one of humanity’s earliest civilizations, Iraq on its own isn’t a safe place to be.
Aside from being close to ISIS-controlled areas, Kurdistan is the center of a war between Iraq and Turkey. Using drone footage, satellite imagery, and more, the team details 3,000 years of history while trying to keep them safe. It’s a fascinating watch on MagellanTV, but it may be more economical to watch on Curiosity Stream. Viewers can pay for its $4.99 monthly plan, or opt for the annual $39.99 plan, which works out to $3.44 per month.
13Africa and Britain: A Forgotten History
IMDB Score: 8.1/10
Also known asBlack and British: A Forgotten History,Africa and Britainisn’t strictly about ancient history. Consisting of four 50-minute episodes, the latter three cover comparatively more modern events like the transatlantic slave trade, Queen Victoria’s black god-daughter, and the African kings who stood up to the British Empire. Fascinating, but not ancient.
However, the first episode reveals that ancient Britain, and Europe as a whole, was much more diverse than people would care to admit. Africans had settled across the continent and in England via the Roman Empire since the early CE years, and still maintained a presence throughout the Dark Ages and Medieval period. Historian David Olusoga delves into these Black Britons' stories to learn how they were discovered, how they made it to the UK, and why they moved there.
12Hannibal: The Man Who Hated Rome
IMDB Score: 8/10
For something more definitively ancient,Hannibal: The Man Who Hated Romecovers Carthage’s most famous general and his campaign against Rome. It’s a pretty old documentary, so its claims to use the latest 3D technology aren’t as exciting now as they were in 2003. Yet it’s still an enjoyable and informative source on how even Hannibal’s enemies grew to respect him as well as fear him.
The documentary can be found on Roku, but it’s more easily accessible on Amazon Prime. Regular Prime too, so viewers don’t have to pay extra for a channel add-on like History Vault or PBS Documentaries. If anyone would rather stick to one service,Hannibal’s a good advert for sticking with Amazon.
11Ancient Egypt: Life and Death in the Valley of the Kings
IMDB Score: 7.7/10
The lives of the Egyptian Pharaohs, and their reigns through their different empires have inspired tons of movies, TV shows, and other documentaries. But 2013’sAncient Egypt: Life and Death in the Valley of the Kingsaims to examine just how the average ancient Egyptian lived. What were they doing while their kings and queens had their squabbles? The documentary examines their rituals, culture, and their remains to find the answers.
XiveTV costs $4.99 per month on top of a $14.99 Prime subscription, past the requisite 7-day and 30-day free trials respectively. However, the documentary can also be seen on Pluto, which is completely free! So, unless viewers already have Amazon Prime and XiveTV, Pluto is the most economical option of the two.
10Horrible Histories
IMDB Score: 8.7/10
Okay, this one isn’t strictly about ancient history, nor is it really a serious documentary show. Based on the book series by Terry Deary,Horrible Historiesis a BBC show that teaches history through the power of skits and songs. While it’s primarily for kids, it doesn’t skimp on detail for the sake of sanitization. It just presents them in a way that’s meant to be entertaining for the young and old alike.
It covers a broad range of ancient cultures too, from the Savage Stone Age to the Awful Egyptians. Groovy Greeks to Rotten Romans, Angry Aztecs to Incredible Incas. Its streaming situation has also changed a lot over the past few years. Viewers on Hulu can catch its best seasons, but it’s also available across a range of free services, with Pluto also offering the show’s prime run.
9Rome: Rise and Fall
Not to be confused with the BBC drama seriesAncient Rome: Rise & Fall of an Empire, theRome: Rise and Falldocumentary miniseries focuses onthe history of Romefrom its first barbarian war to its last. Through its thirteen 1-hr episodes, the series covers Rome’s biggest players in Spartacus and Julius Caesar, to its lowest moments with its internecine conflicts and eventual fall to tribes like the Visigoths.
The DVD set can be bought for $35 from Amazon. Or by paying an extra $4.99 per month on top of an Amazon Prime subscription by checking out the History Vault on Amazon Prime. They even offer a 7-day free trial, so viewers with time to spare could binge right through it.
