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Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire chronicles the story of one of history?s greatest empires from its first major battle to its remarkable military feats and through its eventual fall. Told from the point of view of the Roman people under violent attack, HISTORY? takes viewers inside the fiery battles of a civilization crumbling in the face of brutal invasions. From the first Roman-Barbarian War through the great empire?s collapse, HISTORY? follows each harrowing moment of the famed empire?s slow decline and the human cost.

Rome was not only a city of battles, but also one of incredible engineering feats. We take a close look at what set Rome apart from the rest of the ancient world, uncovering the hidden treasures and secrets of the city. 

Disc One

The First Barbarian War: It is 113 BC. A barbarian horde known as the Cimbri smashes through the northern imperial border. The losses for the Roman legionnaires number in their hundreds of thousands and terror grips Rome, who must now decide between a dictatorship under the notorious General Marius or annihilation.

Spartacus: A Thracian warrior, Spartacus deserts the Roman army, but is captured, made a slave and forced to fight as a gladiator. But in 73 BC, the untameable barbarian leads a slave revolt of 70,000 gladiators against the Roman Republic.

Julius Caesar: It is 60 BC. The empire churns with civil war, and violence and murder run rampant in the streets. Julius Caesar, desperate for fame and honour, embarks on a brutal decade long campaign to annex Gaul and build his own reputation.

The Forest of Death: As the Roman Empire expands its reaches into what is now Germany, its legions are faced with ferocious Germanic tribesmen. In 9 AD, their chieftain, Arminius, uses his Roman military training to slaughter the Roman General Varus' army. This landmark battle establishes the Rhine River as the frontier between the Empire, and its growing barbaric enemies.