The History Channel

On a unique planet, a unique species takes its first steps: Mankind begins. But it s a world full of danger. Threatened by extinction, we innovate to survive--discovering fire and farming; building cities and pyramids; inventing trade--and mastering the art of war. From humble beginnings, we become the dominant creature on the planet. Now the future belongs to us. A mysterious band of pirates plunders the Mediterranean coast--leaving destruction in its wake. Empires fall, but out of the chaos, we discover iron. Armed with this wonder metal, ordinary folk can overthrow tyrants and build a new world order. From the birth of democracy in Athens, to the creation of the Bible in Babylon--people power reshapes Mankind. (2 hours.)

Ride in style with the Pawn Stars when a limousine formerly owned by Jackie Gleason pulls up to the shop. Will this luxury ride really be "The Great One" or is the seller stretching the truth? Then, a football spirals into the shop signed by the winners of Super Bowl I. Including Vince Lombardi himself, can Rick push this deal into the end zone or will he get stymied by a tough defense? And later, Rick and the Old Man are presented with a commemorative plaque of Mount Rushmore. Made of pure silver, will they silver tongues to get a good deal or will the seller's price be set in stone?

The Pawn Stars feel their noses growing when some hand crafted Pinocchio dolls walk in the shop. Will the guys pull some strings and make this deal happen, or get tangled up in a rough negotiation? Then, a guy brings in a Cy Young baseball card from 1909. Potentially worth thousands, will Rick play hard ball for this rare item, or is this deal out of his league? And later, a guy comes in with a harmonica that once belonged to Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler. Can they make a deal with some Sweet Emotion, or will they tell the customer to Walk This Way right out of the shop?

The Pawn Stars call "shotgun!" when a 1918 Buick Touring Car journeys to the shop. Top of the line for its day, will the Old Man's soft spot for old cars make him loosen up his wallet? Then, Rick and Chumlee encounter a tennis racket signed by tennis legend Arthur Ashe. Can Rick serve up a monster offer for this rare piece of sports memorabilia, or is the price too far out of bounds? And later, a guy sneaks in with a set of fake books used to smuggle guns out of Germany after WWII. Will the guys try to conceal their interest, or is the seller trying to sneak one by?

The Old Man hopes to hit a home run when a baseball autographed by the 1951 World Series Champion New York Yankees comes into the shop but he'll need to verify its authenticity before he steps up to the plate. Then, Rick checks out a 25-piece Knights of the Round Table set but with all the kings' men accounted for, is it really worth its weight in gold? Finally, the Pawn Stars have a chance to buy a West Point Cadet jacket owned by a famous general in 1909--will they try it on for size, or send it to the Salvation Army?

The guys are on an assignment that's 150 years in the making. The Gettysburg Museum asks Mike and Frank to help expand its collection by hunting down some hard to find Civil War items. It's a daunting task made even harder with a limited budget. Danielle gets things rolling when she sends them to a previous customer who's a Civil War buff. Frank scores a Spencer Carbine. They next visit a collector, Keith, who doesn't want to sell, but they convince him to loan a rare Dog River Confederate sword to the museum. They also buy a Springfield musket and canteen. But their picking skills are put to the test when they spot a Union frock coat. It's at the top of the museum's wish list, but can they negotiate a sale and keep within the museum's tight budget? In addition, the guys experience a Civil War adventure when they sign up with a local re-enactment group. As Captains on opposite sides they go into battle, leading their respective troops.

Mike and Frank head to Ohio and decide to make the trip a little more interesting by bringing along a cup dispenser from an old train station to trade with their clients, hoping to make some cash. They meet Will, the son of an auctioneer who has inherited a house packed with his dad's collection and is coming to terms with letting the stuff go. The guys pick up tons of items, including an antique accordion on which Frank shows off his musical talents! Next, they truck to Indiana to meet a small town historian who takes everyone's collectibles for safe keeping. There, they purchase a St. Louis Cardinals vintage baseball poster and Frank falls in love with a pinball machine featuring Happy Days' the Fonz. Finally, Mike gets to experience his dream pick at a VW graveyard in Illinois, but Frank is the one who strikes gold when he buys a rare BSA motorcycle.

The Pawn Stars have a chance to buy a saddle that may have been used by Kevin Costner in Dances with Wolves. Will the gang pony-up and make the deal or will they let it ride off into the sunset? Then Rick looks to buy a late 1800s Winchester rifle that was one of first lever-action repeating rifles ever made. Can he load-up and make a big bang of a deal, or will this negotiation have too much of a kickback for him to handle? Then Corey meets a man hoping to sell his tattoo kit. Will Corey make the deal and get inked-up or will he pass on the deal and get ink-ed up anyway?

The Pawn Stars hope to capture a glimpse of the Old West when they are presented with an antique professional gambler's toolkit. Complete with every game of the trade and elaborately designed with a secret compartment for trouble, will they up the ante and make an offer or will they be forced to fold? Then, Rick and Corey look to buy rare pieces of 1896 U.S. currency known as the "Educational Series." Lavishly designed by the U.S. Treasury, will the bills receive high praises or will a series of bad reviews send to them back to school? And later, a man hopes to sell his 1950's radiation detecting Geiger counter. Will the shop emit some serious energy for this relic of the Cold War or will the deal force them all to duck and cover?

The Pawn Stars try to stay focused when a limited edition photograph of Albert Einstein comes in the shop. An iconic image from the cover of Time Magazine, if the price goes up, it must come down. Then, Rick and Corey are presented with a collection of confidential documents from the Pentagon. Possibly found at a yard sale, will Rick seal the deal on these Vietnam-era reports or will this classified treasure get him into hot water? And later, the Old Man takes the day off to tour a World War II era B-17 Bomber. With Chumlee along as his driver, will these two have the guts to fly in this 65-year-old Flying Fortress, or will they chicken out and keep their feet on the ground?

The Pawn Stars are presented with a mysterious whisky flask from the Civil War era believed to have come from a Confederate spy. Can they crack the code and make the deal or will this flask's secret compartment leave them all thirsting for answers? Then Chumlee and the Old Man meet a man hoping to sell his rare 19th Century English dueling pistols. Will the Old Man be cordial and make an honorable deal or will he be asked to step outside? And later, Corey has a chance to buy a piece of Rock-n-Roll history -- the original contract for The Who to play Woodstock. Can he afford to win this battle of the bands?

The Pawn Stars prepare to be boarded when a customer brings in a 1600's naval blunderbuss. A small weapon thought to be for a child, will this pint-size gun bring an adult-size price or will this deal end up shooting blanks? Then, Rick is presented with the ultimate Coca Cola collectible--a 1978 GMC Coke sponsored motor home. One of just five made for a promotional giveaway, will Rick drive this fabulous prize away or will a tough negotiation bring everything to a screeching halt? And later, a San Francisco 49ers cheerleader hopes to sell her 1989 Super Bowl ring. Will Corey show some spirit for this rare piece of football memorabilia or will a fumble on the play get him booed?

Looking for roadside relics in West Virginia, the guys pick an Appalachian village museum where Mike ups the ante to score a rare retro motor. The museum's octogenarian owners--The Perrys--have never sold anything before, and after sealing the deal on an odd electric peacock, Mike makes his move. In Nashville, Danielle is unimpressed with the pool of quirky candidates she's met to manage the new store. Dave's Ohio storefront is filled with cool bikes and scooters but his business plan is more show than sell. With every room packed to the gills, a father-and-son duo open the doors to their staggering collection where the guys find a giant Goliath head that bears a strange resemblance to Frank.

Turns out there s more to being President than just signing laws, naming judges, and kissing babies. Our comedians leave no corner of the Oval Office unexplored during this thorough examination of executive power. Learn the strange way Nixon wooed his future wife. Find out which one of our founding fathers liked swimming in the nude. And you ll never guess who put the "vice" in Vice President, getting so drunk at his inauguration he had to be pulled off the stage! Guaranteed to be funnier (and more informative) than all 156 episodes of The West Wing combined.

We all know that America is the greatest country in the history of the world, but did you realize it's even more awesome than you possibly imagined? Discover why American has always had the most awesome healthcare system in the world. Hint: It involves giving cannabis in a can. If you thought tailgating at football games was awesome, wait `til you hear about the people who picnicked at a Civil War battle! And if you believed the Star Spangled Banner was just a poem, you'll be surprised to learn that its creation was more exciting than a Bruce Willis action movie!

The squabble between east coast and west coast leaves the rest of the country stuck in the middle. It's a rivalry that has made its way into our popular culture, but is there any common ground in this continental tug of war?

The squabble between east coast and west coast leaves the rest of the country stuck in the middle. It's a rivalry that has made its way into our popular culture, but is there any common ground in this continental tug of war?

Jimmie and Tammie check out a 1960s voting machine, a customer comes in to sell his 1970 s Mego super hero action figures, and Jimmie tries to lock down a price on an old Mississippi prison ball and chain.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Best-selling author Brad Meltzer and his Decoded team examine claims that John Wilkes Booth actually escaped to freedom after murdering President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. The "official" version of events says federal agents cornered Booth and killed him just days after the assassination. But Brad and the team uncover glaring inconsistencies in that 150-year-old account: Why did the authorities hide Booth's body from public view? Why was Booth autopsy's conducted in complete secrecy in the cramped confines of an ironclad gunboat? Searching for answers to these and other troubling questions, the team finds startling evidence that strongly suggests Booth may indeed have lived into old age without ever facing punishment for his crime.

It was the largest manhunt in history--ten thousand federal troops, detectives and police hunted those responsible for the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The conspiracy was vast--an effort to decapitate the United States government at the end of the Civil War. The manhunt was intense--ending 12 days later in a fiery showdown with the man who pulled the trigger--John Wilkes Booth.

He is perhaps the most beloved president in American history. But in his lifetime, Abraham Lincoln was hated by so many that an envelope inside his desk marked "Assassination" was stuffed with 100 morbid letters. What led Lincoln to predict his own murder and handsome actor John Wilkes Booth to kill him?