Lost Kingdoms of Central America
From the people who met Christopher Columbus to the culture that inspired the Mayans; from the vast temple pyramids to the world's oldest ball-game, Lost Kingdoms Of Central America reveals the true character of a stunning continent through its archaeology, art, people and landscapes.
- 2014-2014
- 1 season
- Documentary
From the people who met Christopher Columbus to the culture that inspired the Mayans; from the vast temple pyramids to the world's oldest ball-game, Lost Kingdoms Of Central America reveals the true character of a stunning continent through its archaeology, art, people and landscapes.
Season 1 Episode Guide
4 Episodes 2014
Episode 1
Kingdom of the Jaguar
60 mins
Dr. Jago Cooper explores the rise and fall of the forgotten civilizations of Central America. His quest takes him from the crystal-blue seas of the Caribbean to the New World's most impressive pyramids, flying over the smoking volcanoes of Costa Rica and travelling deep underground in the caves of central Mexico. He travels in the footsteps of these peoples to reveal their secrets and unearth the astonishing cultures that flourished among some of the most dramatic landscapes in the world. Jago begins by journeying through southern Mexico to investigate the rise and fall of America's oldest civilization, the Olmec, which thrived over 3,000 years ago. He encounters colossal stone heads and the oldest rubber balls in the world and descends deep inside an ancient cave network in search of a were-jaguar.
Episode 2
The People Who Greeted Columbus
59 mins
The Taino people of the Caribbean were the first people of the Americas to greet Christopher Columbus. But, as Dr Jago Cooper reveals, they had a multicultural society complete with drug-infused rituals, strange skulls and amazing navigation. In deep caverns and turquoise seas, Jago uncovers their hidden history.
Episode 3
Between Oceans and Empires
60 mins
Jago explores the forgotten people of ancient Costa Rica, who built a series of spectacular settlements among the rivers and volcanoes of Central America and whose enigmatic legacy - including hundreds of mysterious, giant stone spheres - is only now being unraveled by archaeologists.
Episode 4
The Place Where Time Began
Jago explores the ancient civilization of Teotihuacan that exploded into a position of dominance in the ancient Americas almost 2,000 years ago. For hundreds of years this great city state was the biggest in the New World. Its rulers built monumental pyramids and temples and then went on to build a vast empire that was maintained through force. Yet the identity of the people who led this civilization remains a mystery.