“Civilisations: Rise and Fall” follows on from “Civilisation” hosted by Kenneth Clark in 1969 – for many, the highwater mark of public service broadcasting – and “Civilisations” with Dame Mary Beard, David Olusoga, and Simon Schama in 2018 and carries that weight of responsibility to deliver. Don’t worry, it does…
Here’s how to watch “Civilisations: Rise and Fall” online from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for FREE
‘Civilisations: Rise and Fall’ – Dates, time, channel
“Civilisations: Rise and Fall” lands on BBC Two at 9.00 p.m. GMT on Monday, November 24. It will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
• WATCH FREE — BBC Two / BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
• U.S./ Canada — Britbox (Tues., Nov. 25)
• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk free
The series majors on the civilisations of Ancient Rome, Cleopatra’s Egypt, the samurai of Japan and the lost world of the Aztecs and, in particular, the spectacular fall that followed their incredible rise. But this is not just history in isolation.
In our own uncertain times, there is a certain degree of alarm as we discover that these once great human endeavors collapsed due to reasons as familiar as pandemic, inequality, migration, climate change, warfare and poor leadership.
Read on to find out how to watch “Civilisations: Rise and Fall” online, on TV and from anywhere.
How to watch “Civilisations: Rise and Fall” for FREE in the U.K.
How to watch ‘Civilisations: Rise and Fall’ abroad
Thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network), “Civilisations: Rise and Fall” should be available to Brits no matter where they are. The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you find yourself. Our favorite is NordVPN.
Using a VPN is incredibly simple.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we’ve said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you’re away from the U.K. and want to view a U.K. service, you’d select U.K. from the list.
3. Sit back and watch the show. Head to BBC iPlayer to watch “Civilisations: Rise and Fall” online and on-demand.
How to watch ‘Civilisations: Rise and Fall’ around the world
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Can I watch ‘Civilisations: Rise and Fall’ in the United States?
“Civilisations: Rise and Fall” is available on Britbox in the U.S. from Tuesday, November 25.
However, if you are a Brit in the States for work or on vacation you can catch the show for FREE by using a VPN such as NordVPN, choosing U.K. from the list and selecting BBC iPlayer.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Watch ‘Civilisations: Rise and Fall’ online and on-demand in the U.K.
“Civilisations: Rise and Fall” premieres on BBC Two at 9.00 p.m. GMT on Monday, November 24 with subsequent episodes every Monday at the same time. It will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer shortly after broadcast.
And, you don’t have to miss it if you a Brit exiled abroad because you can unblock BBC iPlayer with a VPN. We recommend NordVPN.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Can I watch ‘Civilisations: Rise and Fall’ online or on TV in Canada?
As with the U.S., “Civilisations: Rise and Fall” is available on Britbox in Canada from Tuesday, November 25.
However, if you are a Brit in the Great White North for work or on vacation you can catch the show on your own domestic streaming platform by using a VPN such as NordVPN.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Can I watch ‘Civilisations: Rise and Fall’ online in Australia?
At the time of writing there has been no announcement about if or where “Civilisations: Rise and Fall” will be broadcast in Australia but given its availability on Britbox in the U.S. and Canada, it will almost certainly end up on Britbox in Australia very soon. Check back here for details.
However, if you are a Brit working or on vacation Down Under and you want to catch the show on the BBC you can do so by using a VPN such as NordVPN.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Can I watch ‘Civilisations: Rise and Fall’ online in New Zealand?
There are currently no plans to air “Civilisations: Rise and Fall” in New Zealand but if that changes you’ll read about its release date here first, so check back.
Remember, if you are a Brit currently in the land of the kiwi for work or vacation you can catch the show on BBC iPlayer by using a VPN such as NordVPN.
‘Civilisations: Rise and Fall’ – Contributors
- David Gwynn (Associate Professor in Ancient and Late Antique History, Royal Holloway, University of London)
- Baroness Amos (Master, University College Oxford; Politician and Diplomat)
- Richard Hobbs (Senior Curator of Roman Britain & Late Roman Collections at the British Museum)
- Shushma Malik (Associate Professor of Classics, University of Cambridge)
- Kate Cooper (Professor of History, Royal Holloway, University of London)
- Professor Kristina Sessa (Professor of Ancient History, The Ohio State University)
- Dr Luke Kemp (Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge)
- Peter Heather (Professor of Medieval History, Kings College London)
- Professor Alice Poletto (Classical Archaeologist)
‘Civilisations: Rise and Fall’ – Episode Guide
Season 01 Episode 01: “Rome” – At the turn of the fifth century, the Roman world faces its greatest crisis in 800 years: the sack of Rome in 410 AD. This seismic event marks the beginning of the end for the Western Roman Empire. In 395 AD, the child emperor Honorius inherits a vast but fragile empire. Guided by General Stilicho, he must control a fractured system plagued by rebellion, economic decline and elite corruption. Gothic peoples, having been recruited by the Roman state but subsequently mistreated, now march against Rome, led by their commander Alaric.
S01 E02: “Egypt” – A look at the rise and fall of one of history’s most bloodstained dynasties, the Ptolemies, the last pharaohs of Egypt. The 3,000-year-old civilisation of ancient Egypt faces disaster as civil war between Queen Cleopatra and her brother, a famine caused by the failure of the Nile’s flood cycle and the increasing dominance of Rome threaten its survival. Will Cleopatra become the last of the pharaohs?
S01 E03: “Aztecs” – At its height, the Aztec civilisation is a vast and well-organised society, ruled by Emperor Moctezuma II and centred on the spectacular island city of Tenochtitlan, which contains around 100,000 people. But in 1519, the arrival of a band of Spanish conquistadors, led by Hernan Cortes, becomes one of the most fateful moments in world history and exposes the fault lines within the Aztec world. Is the real threat from the enemy within?
S01 E04: “Japan” – A look at the dramatic collision between Japan’s samurai class and the industrialised west in the mid-19th century, explored through the characters of US naval commander Commodore Matthew Perry, eager to establish a US-Japan trade route; the shogun, the Japanese ruler, aiming to keep his grip on power; and the samurai Saigo Takamori, a Japanese warrior and reformer dedicated to protecting Japan’s independence.
‘Civilisations: Rise and Fall’ – FAQ
What has Alexander Leith (Exec Producer, BBC Studios) said about “Civilizations: Rise and Fall”?
Qu.: Can you unpack very briefly some of the layers and the bits of storytelling kit you were trying to balance and play with?
Alexander Leith: There are points of continuity and points of divergence with the previous two series (“Civilization” with Alan Clark in 1969 and “Civilisations” in 2018 with Dame Mary Beard, David Olusoga, and Simon Schama), the most obvious divergence being is there is no presenter. We wanted to use a range of expert contributors – historians, academics, curators from the British Museum, but also artists and writers and novelists and cultural commentators and politicians, all who bring different perspectives, I think.
Clearly it’s an Art series and the collaboration with the British Museum has been a key aspect; the British Museum has been fabulous, their Care & Collections teams gave us access in the most brilliant way and allowed us to film these remarkable artefacts in the kind of detail I’m sure Kenneth Clark would have been very approving of.
I think the biggest challenge that we had and another point of divergence from the previous two series are the drama visualisations – and they were a huge challenge. We had to build four of the most difficult worlds in drama.
We worked out the only way we could do this is by using what’s called virtual production, which is it’s actually how they shot big-budget TV series like “The Mandalorian”, where you build the interior sets and locations as 3D simulations/models in computer graphics, using software like Unreal Engine, and you create a 3D model, which you then put up on a vast LED screen in a studio, and you film against that.
What else can I watch on BBC iPlayer?
Lots – including “Riot Women”, “Mr Nobody Against Putin”, “Tár”, “Doctor Who: Joy to the World”, “Strictly Come Dancing”, “Outnumbered” and plenty more.
More from Tom’s Guide
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