Episode
NOVA: Human: Building Empires
Overview
Discover how Homo sapiens transformed from nomads to empire builders. Witness the innovations – from animal domestication to writing – that revolutionized ancient life and shaped our modern world.
Details
- Series
- NOVA
- Season
- Season 52
- Episode
- Episode 16
- Air date
- 2025-10-15
- Runtime
- 54 min
Episode context
Human: Building Empires is Episode 16 in Season 52 of NOVA. It aired on 2025-10-15. The runtime is 54 min.
Previous / Next
Episode 15: Human: Into the Americas
Follow ancient humans' perilous journey into the Americas, where a frigid Ice Age landscape, mammoths, and other fearsome beasts tested their resilience.
Episode 17: Ancient Desert Death Trap
Archaeologists investigate dozens of strange Stone Age megastructures in the Arabian desert. They're so big that their true form is visible only from the air, yet these giant structures were built by a mysterious people 9000 years ago.
More episodes from this season
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Episode 13: Human: Journeys
Follow Homo Sapiens as they venture across the world, farther than any other human species. See how they invented new tools to thrive in challenging environments - and meet the mysterious hobbit-like humans they may have encountered along the way.
Episode 19: Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build
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Episode 12: Human: Origins
Where did humans come from, and what makes us unique? Discover the remarkable origins of Homo sapiens, and the crucial moments of innovation, communication, and ritual that set us on our path.
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