The History Channel

Gold from Africa kickstarts the rebirth of Europe. Money flows into Venice, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs willing to take risks. In China, a new weapon--the gun--allows a peasant uprising to unify the country. Chinese innovations inspire Europe--leading to the printing press. Millions of books are printed. One of them will inspire a journey to the New World. America beckons.

All hail breaks loose in Texas, when Scotty and Reichart test a married couple's invention. It's designed to protect cars from damaging hailstorms. But, will it survive Scotty and Reichart's secret weapon? Then, the guys head to Maryland to meet an inventor with a million and one ideas. But will Scotty and Reichart find that one in a million that will lead the inventor to big bucks?

Scotty takes on a tornado of dust, debris and itchy crap to test a product that its inventor hopes will make him millions. Then Reichart turns up the heat when the guys blast the invention with a torrent of fire. Will the inventor get the deal he's looking for or will he walk away feeling burned? Plus, another inventor believes he's created a must-have product for campers. But with a shot a big manufacturing deal on the line, Reichart and Scotty let the snakes decide if this invention is a winner or a loser.

In this two-hour special historian and weapons expert Mike Loades will take us on a high energy, action filled, fact rich rampage through the medieval world. Along the way Mike will separate myth from reality and find out what it was really like to live, work, and fight through this extraordinary time.

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.

The crucifixion of Jesus gives birth to global religion, but Christianity may never have happened without the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire's vast network of roads and shipping lanes allows goods and ideas to flow across three continents, allowing Jesus' message to transform Mankind around the world. When Rome is sacked by barbarians, Europe enters a Dark Age. But from the fringes of the old empire, two new forces remake the world. The Arabs, funded by a gold rush, unite under the banner of Islam. The Vikings rejuvenate the cities of Europe, travel to America and become Christian knights. The stage is set for a clash of civilizations--the Crusades.

After taking a joyride on a rare 100 year old monster tractor, Mike and his brother Robbie take to a property packed with amazing steam engines and rusty relics. In Washington State, Robbie s bid on some heavy machinery leads to a high stakes lumberjack competition. Later, the guys head to Whidbey Island and find a graveyard of car grills and a 1947 Chevy pickup.

The Pawn Stars start a cola war when a 1950 s Pepsi Machine pops into the shop. An incredibly rare unit painted "Coke red" instead of "Pepsi blue," is this mysterious machine worth big bucks, or will the deal go flat? Then, a guy brings a copy of John Milton's "Paradise Lost." The first edition with engraved illustrations by Gustave Dor , has Rick found the holy grail of literature? And later, the guys challenge each other to a high stakes game of mini-golf. With the loser having to wash everyone else's car, how far will they go to win?

Hold steady and fire with Pawn Stars as Rick checks out a Japanese Knee Mortar. Used in WWII for fighting in the dense jungles of the Pacific, will Rick see the chance to make a deal, or does the seller not even have a leg to stand on? Then, Corey and Chumlee read the fine print when an original signed copy of Wayne Gretzky's NHL contract skates into the shop. Will the guys pass, or take off the gloves and fight for it? And later, Corey continues to push for a partner's stake in the pawn shop by betting Rick he can make bigger deals. Will the gamble pay off?

We're taking aim at the subject of war. We've enlisted a platoon of comedians to crack wise about history's weirdest weapons, craziest generals, and biggest battlefield blunders. Learn the secrets behind the CIA's classified cat-training program. Discover William Wallace's taste for human flesh. And go deep inside the mind of George "Blood and Guts" Patton. It's a walk through military history. Without the risk of getting trench foot.

The Pawn Stars look to purchase top-secret maps and battle plans for Iwo Jima. Will the gang storm the beach for this strategic piece of World War II history or will they be out-gunned and forced to retreat? Then the Old Man and Chumlee look to buy a 1967 Ford F-100 truck. Will they fire up all cylinders and hit the deal full throttle or will it run out of gas? And later, Corey and Chumlee have a chance to buy an 1860's ore cart from the mines of Goldfield, Nevada. Will they strike it rich or fall off the tracks?

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

You've seen the movie, now discover the full truth about the US Army's first black regiment. Covers the periods before and after the famous battle at Fort Wagner during the Civil War.

Our modern day landscapes are littered with the remains of ancient superstructures. Now, cutting edge archaeology is beginning to reveal that this century's most exciting discoveries actually lie at the bottom of the ocean.

It began like the common cold. Then fever, baseball-sized black swellings on the neck, coughing of blood. Few lived more than two days. The year--1347. It was history's worst biological disaster and almost half of Europe's population died within three years. Visit the plague ships' rat-infested holds, witness the terror that swept through the towns, and walk with the religious flagellants. Follow a princess as she travels into the center of the plague, a doctor who struggles to understand what is happening, and a Jewish merchant caught up in violent attacks. Hear the actual words of the victims, taken from diaries and journals. From the Pope's palace to the humble huts of medieval peasants, watch as people live and die in the unforgiving grip of fear and death, and wonder how we would act if such a terrible event happened today.