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The Explorers: Introduction

The Incas rose from an indigenous tribe to an empire that dominated almost the entire western region of South America. However, their empire was weakened by disease and tribal infighting, which made it an easy target for the Spanish conquistadors.


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Princess Diana Wedding Dress Designers

Princess Diana Wedding Dress Designers (2:08)

Watch this video from Reuters about Princess Diana's wedding dress designers on HowStuffWorks. The image of Princess Diana on her wedding day has been etched in the minds of the world. Designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel documented the making of... More »

Conquerors: Napoleon

Conquerors: Napoleon (27:00)

Unlike the monarchs in Vienna, London and St. Petersburg, Napoleon Bonaparte did not have birthright authority. Rather, he seized control by virtue of brilliant military strategy and excellent timing. Learn more about Napoleon in this program.

Peter the Great: A Man of Progress

Peter the Great: A Man of Progress (1:20)

Peter the Great put Russia on a path towards increased power and global influence.

Peter the Great: Final Conflict

Peter the Great: Final Conflict (1:37)

Peter the Great thought his son Alexis was too weak to be a good ruler.

Peter the Great: Defeating Swedish Enemies

Peter the Great: Defeating Swedish Enemies (1:20)

Sweden attacked Russia, but lost the battle and -- as a consequence -- power over the Baltic Sea.

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Age of Reason: Isaac Newton's Scientific Revolution

Age of Reason: Isaac Newton's Scientific Revolution (4:48)

Isaac Newton revolutionized contemporary science by theorizing a new scientific approach based on observation and experimentation. His studies lead to a new understanding of force and motion, as well as the concept of gravity.

The Age of Discovery: Conquering Mexico and Peru

The Age of Discovery: Conquering Mexico and Peru (1:50)

Cortez conquered Mexico and defeated the Aztecs. Pizarro defeated the Incas to bring Spanish rule to Peru.

The Age of Discovery: The First Voyage Around the World

The Age of Discovery: The First Voyage Around the World (2:02)

Magellan proved that the earth is round when he made his three-year voyage around the world.

The Age of Discovery: The New World

The Age of Discovery: The New World (1:40)

Vespucci recognized he had found a "new world," as he explored the Caribbean. John and Sebastian Cabot explored the east coast of Canada.

The Age of Discovery: Prince Henry the Navigator

The Age of Discovery: Prince Henry the Navigator (1:58)

Prince Henry the Navigator founded a school of navigation based on astronomy and mathematics.

The Explorers: Conquest of the Inca

The Explorers: Conquest of the Inca (4:39)

In 1531 Pizarro discovered the Inca empire, kidnapped the emperor Atahualpa and ransomed him for gold and silver. When the Incas paid, Pizarro went back on his word, executed the emperor and conquered the whole empire.

The Explorers: Spanish Exploration

The Explorers: Spanish Exploration (2:33)

In 1513, Francisco Pizarro accompanied Vasco Núñez de Balboa to search for what they called the Southern Sea. They crossed Panama and were the first Europeans to see the Pacific Ocean from the eastern edge of the land.

The Explorers: The Inca Religion

The Explorers: The Inca Religion (1:47)

The Incas worshipped deities of the sun, water, and earth and many of their religious rituals were conducted for the purpose of divination. Llama sacrifice was common, while human sacrifice was only resorted to during desperate times.

The Explorers: Inca Agriculture and Building

The Explorers: Inca Agriculture and Building (3:32)

Much of the land the Incas controlled was filled with mountains and valleys, so they built irrigated terraces on steep cliff walls and used llamas, which were indigenous to the Andes.

The Explorers: The Inca Empire

The Explorers: The Inca Empire (2:55)

The Incas expanded their empire from the Andes mountains to the southern rainforest and west coast. They maintained control over their citizens by intermingling loyal subjects and newly conquered people, and connected their empire with a system of... More »