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Dr Sam Willis journeys west to the ancient capital of Byzantium to discover how the eastern Roman Empire was ruled through silk.

Starting 18,000 years ago, melting polar ice caps began drowning 25% of Greater Australia, and New Guinea and Tasmania became islands.

Dr Sam Willis travels west to central Asia to discover the history of the Sogdians, a people whose role was pivotal to the Silk Road's success.

When the last ice age hit Australia 30,000 years ago, sea levels dropped 130 metres below today's level and deserts devoured 90% of the continent.

Tracing the story of the most famous trade route in history, Dr. Sam Willis reveals how an emperor's desire for silk spawned a network of trading paths that would span thousands of miles.

Over 50,000 years ago, people made the first open sea voyage in human history to discover Australia - a continent full of strange plants that had been evolving in isolation for 65 million years.

The Mekong discharges into the South China Sea via nine channels that split and shape the coastline, creating unique habitats for a variety of animals.

Afghan artists fight to bring their country's cinema to the world, revealing a lost history of their troubled nation.

Joanna recounts her adventures in Iran, along the Silk Road through Azerbaijan and Georgia, and in vibrant Haiti and Cuba.

In the final days of the Vietnam War, the US had only a skeleton crew left. With the clock ticking, a number of Americans took matters into their own hands to save as many South Vietnamese as possible.

Nourished by rich nutrients carried hundreds of kilometres downstream, the Mekong's delta region is a biological treasure trove that is bustling with life.

Joanna shares behind-the-scenes stories of her journeys through India, before taking us back to Uzbekistan, where she discovers the secrets of gem-making.