Series synopsis
Africa's Great Civilizations is an American documentary television series that premiered on PBS on February 27, 2017. It ended on March 1, 2017. It stars Henry Louis Gates, Jr..
Henry Louis Gates Jr. takes a look at the history of Africa, from the birth of humankind to the dawn of the 20th century. A breathtaking and personal journey through two hundred thousand years of history, from the origins, on the African continent, of art, writing and civilization itself, through the millennia in which Africa and Africans shaped not only their own rich civilizations, but also the wider world.
Premise
Henry Louis Gates Jr. takes a look at the history of Africa, from the birth of humankind to the dawn of the 20th century. A breathtaking and personal journey through two hundred thousand years of history, from the origins, on the African continent, of art, writing and civilization itself, through the millennia in which Africa and Africans shaped not only their own rich civilizations, but also the wider world.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Henry Louis Gates, Jr. as Self - Presenter
Guest cast
- Richard Leakey as Self
- John Hawks as Self
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 6 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 6 | February 26, 2017 | March 1, 2017 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Origins Journey with Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. to Kenya, Egypt and beyond as he discovers the origins of man, the formation of early human societies and the creation of significant cultural and scientific achievements on the African continent. |
February 27, 2017 |
| 2 |
The Crescent and the Cross Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. charts the ancient rise of Christianity and Islam, whose economic and cultural influence stretched from Egypt to Ethiopia. Learn of African religious figures like King Lalibela, an Ethiopian saint, and Menelik, bringer of the Ark of the Covenant. |
February 27, 2017 |
| 3 |
Empires of Gold Henry Louis Gates Jr. uncovers the complex trade networks and advanced educational institutions that transformed early north and west Africa from deserted lands into the continent’s wealthiest kingdoms and learning epicenters. |
February 28, 2017 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | PBS |
|---|---|
| First aired | February 27, 2017 |
| Last aired | March 1, 2017 |
| Runtime | 53 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 21:00:00 |