pre-history

National Geographic explores the building techniques at Machu Picchu. Temples, altars and residences of this steep mountain city have resisted torrential rains, landslides and earth tremors since being abandoned by the Incas. (46 min)

This episode is all about primates and how the modern human gained the upper hand in nature’s game of survival. (45 min)

From about 250 Ma to 150 Ma, there were likely multiple global catastrophic events that changed the dominant life forms, mammals being the latest. (44 min)

This episode follows our ancestors from the shallow saltwater seas to the freshwater rivers, then discusses the colonization of land. Mainly Devonian and Carboniferous periods. (44 min)

What if life on Earth began in outer space? This updated History Channel documentary explores evidence of super-human influences on ancient man and embarks on an around-the-world search for answers. (90 min, 9 segments)

This episode mainly focuses on the two Snowball Earth events in the Mid-precambrian period, and the effect they had on life. There’s a similar occurrence in the modern day in Greenland. (44 min)

From a BBC documentary series, this episode shows the awesome power of nature seen through amazing time lapse computer animation. (58 min, 5 segments)

This episode chronicles the early stages of the earth’s history, from formation to the mid-Precambrian. There’s an excellent simulation of a 500 km wide asteroid collision, similar to those that formed the proto-planets.