East Meets West: The Birth Of Civilization

Recent findings in the Middle East have radically changed our understanding of the birth of mankind and the spread of civilization across the globe. Join us on a 12,000-year journey uncovering how this region became a vital link between continents and lead the world's religious, scientific, and cultural enlightenment. On-location excavations and expert testimonies bring to life this epic journey of discovery from the East to the West.

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Created By
Status	Ended
Original Name	East Meets West: The Birth Of Civilization
First Air Date	September 29, 2014
Last Air Date	October 20, 2014
Seasons	1
Episodes	4
Episode Runtime	1h 0min
Language	English
Original Language	English
Production Countries	—
Production Companies
Networks	Smithsonian Channel

S01E04

The Story Of The Ottoman Empire

Excavations in southern Turkey have recently uncovered evidence of the world's first sacred temples, providing amazing insights into the birth of organized religion. In this episode, we explore man's creation of a belief system to make sense of our bewildering world. Then we'll reveal how the pantheon of pagan gods that ruled in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome were ultimately overthrown by a revolutionary idea: monotheism. Discover the story of how the belief in one God was born in the East and how it came to dominate the Western world.

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