Bettany Hughes Dawn of Civilisations

The historian journeys across Turkey to uncover the origins of civilisation, tracing the birth of agriculture, religion, trade, urban life, myths, and empire. In Ephesus, Bettany explores a thriving port that gave refuge to Queen Cleopatra and her lover Mark Antony, before travelling deep into the Anatolian interior, exploring the lost worlds carved into the otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia.

In the concluding part of her journey across Turkey, Bettany goes back in time to the extraordinary Neolithic sites of Karahantepe and Göbeklitepe, where life-sized stone figures, which lay buried for 12,000 years, offer a glimpse into a world emerging from the last ice age. She also travels to Gordion, the legendary home of King Midas - the man with the golden touch - and on to Sardis, the seat of King Croesus, as she investigates the dramatic rise and fall of ancient civilisations, where myths and historical reality meet.