By Dr. Gus Casely-Hayford. Now home to a billion people, Africa produced powerful art, stunning architecture, and vibrant cultures long before the first Europeans arrived. Join Dr. Gus Casely-Hayford as he investigates the continent’s great "forgotten" civilizations. Visit the spectacular monuments of Nubia, explore the mysterious ruins of Great Zimbabwe, and discover the art and technology of ancient Benin. See magnificent Ethiopian monasteries carved out of solid rock, and hear spellbinding stories drawn from the silent objects of the past.

This eye-opening, four-part series reaches back, long before written history, to expose realms that rivaled Egypt, buildings as inspiring as medieval cathedrals, and art that still speaks to us across the centuries. Most of all, the series casts new light on a long-neglected part of our world’s cultural heritage. Athena (2010), Rated: NR (Not Rated), Color, Widescreen, English, DVD discs: 2, Run Time: 216 minutes.

Special features: 16-page viewer’s guide includes questions to consider; stories about the mysteries of Meroë, Great Zimbabwe, and the kingdom of Benin; Ethiopia and the Rastafari movement; and much more.

    Biographies of prominent precolonial Africans

    Profiles of Sudan, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria today

    SDH subtitles