Department of History

The lives of the people of a Ukrainian farming collective are shattered by the invasion of the Germans during WWII. The occupying forces take food, property, and people for the war. What to do about it is a critical and fateful decision.

It began much like the common cold. Yet within a day, fever took over, black swellings the size of baseballs appeared on the neck, and finally a highly contagious bloody cough quickly sealed the victim's fate. During the worst biological disaster in the history of mankind, the so-called black death released an indiscriminate fury which shook the very foundations of human order. Religious hysteria began to break out, and in desperation, frenzied masses scrambled to find a scapegoat. When all was said and done, nearly one-third of Europe's population has been completely wiped out, and devastated survivors were left to contend with a world forever changed, both socially and economically. In this feature-length special, The History Channel investigates the origins of this devastating moment in human history and explores the many questions surrounding the terrifying possibility of a modern-day biological threat.

The romance and the reality of the Mexican Revolution 1910 to 1920.

A true, satisfying ingenious and provocativemedieval mystery with meticulous historical detail. The film revolves around the suspenseful unraveling of the idetity of the title character, Martin Guerre, who has disappeared as a young husband and resumes his marriage years later. The apparent changes Martin has undergone in his years away from the slender basis ofhis uncle's claim that this isn't Martin at all, but an imposter. A trial is demanded and not until the very last minutes of a tension-filled courtroom sequence is the situation resolved. Mr. Departdieu's closing speech becomes an unexpectedly stirring declaration. This Daniel Vigne film reveals much of human nature and the timeless elusiveness of truth.

EPISODE 1 Get Action (1858-1901) A frail, asthmatic young Theodore Roosevelt transforms himself into a vigorous champion of the strenuous life, survives the loss of one great love and finds another, leads men into battle and the rises like a rocket to become the youngest president in American history at 42. Meanwhile, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, brought up as the pampered only child of adoring parents, follows his older cousin's career with worshipful fascination and begins to think he might one day follow in his footsteps. EPISODE 2 In the Arena (1901-1910) Murder brings Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency but in the seven years that follow he transofrms the office and makes himself perhaps the best-loved of all the men who ever lived in the White House - battling corporate greed and building the Panama Canal, preserving American wilderness, carying the message of American might around the world. FDR courts and wins Eleanor Roosevelt, the shy orphaned daughter of Theodore Roosevelt's alcoholic brother, Elliott. Together, they begin a family and Franklin enters a law firm, but when he is offered a chance to run for the New York state senate he jumps at the chance - after making sure his Republican cousin has no objection to his running as a Democrat. EPISODE 3 The Fire of Life (1910-1919) Theodore Roosevelt leads a Progressive crusade that aplits his own party, undertakes a deadly expedition into the South american jungle, campaigns for American entry into World War One - and is made to pay a terrible personal price. Franklin masters war time.

Sexy Demi Moore (Disclosure, Indecent Proposal) heats up this powerfully sensual story of illicit love! In a time when adultery is punishable by death, Hester Prynne (Moore) becomes involved in a risky and scandalous affair with her town's handsome minister (Gary Oldman - Murder in the First). But when their secret passion results in a child, Hester is confronted with the town's overwhelming scorn...and is condemned to forever wear the scarlett letter "A" as a public brand of shame! A highly provocative retelling of the classic tale of forbidden love, The Scarlett Letter combines a sizzling story with exciting stars and delivers must-see entertainment!

Though they were celibate, they are the most enduring religious experiment in American history. They believed in pacifism and feminism, freedom from prejudice, natural health and hygiene, and for more than 200 years insisted that their followers should strive for simplicity and perfection in everything that they did. Through diaries, archival photographs, music and stunning cinematography, Ken Burns creates a moving portrait of this particularly American movement, and in the process, offers us a new and unusually moving way to understand the Shakers.

An exuberant, plush and poetic geography-biograpy. Acclaimed writer and historian, Michael Wood's 'ten thousnad year epic' uncovers the fabulous sights, sounds, and dazzling achievements of the world's oldest and most influential civilization.In this captivating six-part adventure. Wood chronicles the history of the subcontinent, the incredible richness and diversity of its peoples, cultures and landscapes, the intense drama of its past and the originality and continuing relevance of its ideas.From the deserts of Turkmenistan to the Khyber Pass and the plains of Pakistan,from the Himalayas to the palm-fringed shores of Kerala, Wood discovers a land whose past is almost unimaginably rich and brings to life some of the most momentous and moving events in world history.