Fair rating?Athens: Birth of Democracy
The United States has experimented with democracy for 250 years, but our system of government was once a radical idea, born in ancient Greece. Ravaged by civil war and tyranny 2,500 years ago, the city of Athens forged a revolutionary new system that gave power to the citizens. Witness the archaeological quest to unearth the ingenious tools and pivotal moments that shaped this unprecedented experiment in self-government. From mysterious fragments of ancient voting machines to mass graves and dramatic assassinations, discover the dark secrets and innovative solutions that defined the world's first direct democracy. What enduring lessons can this surprising historical journey offer us today?
Streaming on (US) 
See all
#4In Season 53of 8 rated episodes
#22All-timeof 287 rated episodes
−0.0vs season avgSeason 53 averages 9.3
2026First airedApril 29, 2026
Shows like NOVA
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Nature·History·MysteryCosmos1980–2020·National GeographicHosted by renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos will explore how we discovered the laws of nature and found our coordinates in space and time.
- 02Nature·HistoryPrehistoric Planet2022
Experience the wonders of our world like never before in this epic docuseries from Jon Favreau and the producers of Planet Earth. - 03Nature·History·ActionIn the Eye of the Storm2024–present·Discovery
In the Eye of the Storm Megastorms like 2021's Hurricane Ida and the 2023 Maui Wildfires were captured by onlookers who found themselves in the wrong place at the right time and boldly held up their camera phones to… - 04Nature·History·MysteryWhat on Earth?2015·ScienceWhat on Earth? is a documentary series using satellite images of strange geological occurrences and man-made structures on Earth to examine such matters as the planet's extreme locations, phenomena and species.
- 05Nature·History·MysteryThe Sky at Night1957–present·BBC FourOur team of astronomers tell us what's on view in the night sky.
- 06Nature·HistoryOur Universe2022–2022
Witness the remarkable story of our universe over billions of years and its inextricable link to life on Earth in this sweeping documentary series.
