Summary:

A television documentary miniseries that originally aired on the History Channel. The series explores the engineering and/or architectural feats that were characteristic of notable societies and cultures.

Full Episodes

How to Use it:

• “Build an Empire” Simulation: Students form teams to design and present their own empire, complete with a map, resources, innovations, and governing system.

• Time-Traveler Report: Students create a presentation or video as if they traveled back in time to interview one of the empire’s engineers.

• Engineering Timeline: Create a classroom wall timeline connecting innovations across empires.

• Pair the video with a hands-on STEM challenge inspired by that empire (e.g., build a Roman arch, test aqueduct flow using tubing, design a trebuchet, etc.). 

Learning Topics:

• History

• Engineering

Discussion Questions:

Understanding and Analysis

1. What problem or challenge did this empire’s engineers face, and how did they solve it?
   
   

2. How did geography and available resources shape their engineering choices?
   
   

3. What role did technology play in maintaining or expanding the empire’s power?
   
   

4. What innovations from this empire are still used or echoed in modern engineering?
   
   

Cause and Effect

5. How did engineering contribute to the success—or downfall—of the empire?
   
   

6. Were these projects built mainly for function, power, or legacy?
   
   

7. How did leadership (emperors, kings, etc.) influence what was built?
   
   

Critical Thinking and Reflection

8. Which innovation do you think was the most impactful, and why?
   
   

9. What ethical or environmental questions might arise if these same projects were built today?
   
   

10. What parallels can you draw between the challenges ancient engineers faced and those faced by engineers today?