Behind the Lost Empires

Burma and Buddhism are intertwined, thanks to centuries of ancient mythology and thousands of golden monuments of worship. It all began with the Pagan Kingdom about 1,000 years ago, when Anawrahta, a great king, and Shin Arahan, a Buddhist monk, together incited one of the greatest religious reformations in Asian history.

Throughout Burma, temples, stupas, and statues of gold pop out in the lush, green landscape. This golden architecture has become Burma¢‚¬´s calling card, but how and why did that become the standard here?

In China's Valley of the Kings, there stands a tall, carved stone. It honors the resting place of a woman named Wu Zetian, who rose from concubine to become China's only female emperor.

China, as we know it today, would not exist without the Han Dynasty. About two millenniums ago, its emperors ruled for over 400 years, and yet, few visible remains of this period exist above ground.

A great metropolis has been discovered, buried beneath the pastures of the Danube. Archaeologists claim that the lost city of Carnuntum was a place where men trained, fought, and died as gladiators.

Join us as we use the latest mapping technology to rebuild the city of Pompeii before it was buried in volcanic ash.