The History Channel

Investigate the fascinating truths behind Dan Brown's (The Da Vinci Code) first novel. From centuries-old secret societies to real-world cryptography, from the high-stakes intrigue surrounding the installation of a new Pope to the sometimes uneasy relationship between the Vatican and leading scientists, this special will thrill and inform viewers about this monumental time in world history. The clues Brown's hero Robert Langdon follows in frantic pursuit of the Illuminati will inspire further investigation--into religious conspiracies and the Freemasons, secret "codes" hidden in Roman architecture and artwork--as well as controversial theories about religious iconography. Features scenes from the new movie as well as interviews with renowned symbologists, art historians, religious scholars, scientists and other experts will help unravel the mysteries and expose the diabolical plot to destroy the Church.

In 1898, a Minnesota farmer clearing trees from his field uproots a large stone covered with mysterious runes. Now known as the Kensington Rune Stone, it details a journey of land acquisition and murder--in the year 1362. Thought by some to be a hoax, new evidence suggests it could be real, and a clue that the Knights Templar discovered America 100 years before Columbus, perhaps bringing with them history's greatest treasure...The Holy Grail. See how symbols on the Rune Stone match Templar ruins all over Europe. History tells us the Templar were massacred on Friday the 13th, but that a Templar fleet allegedly containing treasure was last seen off Scotland in the late 1300s. Stones with similar markings as the Rune stone have been found on islands across the Atlantic Ocean, as well as in Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Is it possible the Templar were leaving clues to an incredible journey to the New World?

For as long as humans have existed, so too has the belief in evil. Are there malevolent supernatural forces in the world at work against us? Can a demonic force actually overtake a human soul? And, if so, is an exorcism the only way to free someone from the devil's grasp? This two-hour special traces the history of the mysterious ritual of exorcism. It explores how the practice has evolved with the changing times--from a simple rite, to a political tool, to a form of modern-day therapy. Through dramatic recreations we recount several harrowing tales of the demonically possessed and the subsequent struggle by exorcists to save them. We'll also look at the medical and social perspectives. Can episodes of demonic-like behavior be explained by brain disorders or psychological factors? Includes interviews with experts in the fields of theology, history, medicine and the supernatural.

Is it the greatest story ever told--or the greatest story ever sold? A best-selling novel sparks a debate that could change Christianity forever. Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene married and co-leaders of their movement? Was Mary Magdalene, herself, the Holy Grail--the vessel said to hold Jesus's blood--and mother of his descendants? Did the early Church know this "truth" and deliberately mislead followers? Is there a secret, ancient society, the Priory of Sion, which still protects this bloodline? Have some of the most illustrious names in art and science been members? These are some of the questions that Dan Brown's best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code raises. We examine both sides of the story--the conventional view of Christianity and the "alternate history" proposed by Brown--so that viewers can decide.

Scott Wolter investigates a burial site in the mountains of Arizona, only to discover it may belong to a medieval Englishman.

Geologist and adventurer Scott Wolter explores a government-restricted site, and makes a startling discovery connecting the ancient Mayans with rural Georgia.

There is a quaint perception that Jesus spent his entire ministry--prior to going to Jerusalem where he was crucified--in northern Israel, walking along the shores of a tiny fresh water lake called the "Sea of Galilee". But is this historical reality or theological fantasy? It is explicitly stated in the Gospels that Jesus undertook an adventurous sea journey complete with a tempest, exorcisms and landfall in a place called "the land of the Gadarenes." Where is this place? Why did Jesus go there? And why has this story been covered up for over two millennia? Archaeological and historical sleuthing reveals a previously unknown journey across the Mediterranean to a mysterious location where we come face to face with people who still claim to be descendants of Jesus of Nazareth.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

History tells us that the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in the 4th century. But did Christianity conquer Rome or did pagan Rome conquer Christianity? Archaeology in Rome and Istanbul, along with previously ignored episodes in Constantine's life, reveals that the Emperor had the instincts of a marketing genius. Strategically combining many deities, Constantine "sold" Christ as an amalgamation of sun gods. By force of arms, the new religion suppressed the original Jesus movement and the hundreds of Christian alternatives that had sprouted around it. Constantine's Christianity is still the world's most successful brand.

In 1898, a Minnesota farmer clearing trees from his field uproots a large stone covered with mysterious runes. Now known as the Kensington Rune Stone, it details a journey of land acquisition and murder--in the year 1362. Thought by some to be a hoax, new evidence suggests it could be real, and a clue that the Knights Templar discovered America 100 years before Columbus, perhaps bringing with them history's greatest treasure...The Holy Grail. See how symbols on the Rune Stone match Templar ruins all over Europe. History tells us the Templar were massacred on Friday the 13th, but that a Templar fleet allegedly containing treasure was last seen off Scotland in the late 1300s. Stones with similar markings as the Rune stone have been found on islands across the Atlantic Ocean, as well as in Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Is it possible the Templar were leaving clues to an incredible journey to the New World?

For as long as humans have existed, so too has the belief in evil. Are there malevolent supernatural forces in the world at work against us? Can a demonic force actually overtake a human soul? And, if so, is an exorcism the only way to free someone from the devil's grasp? This two-hour special traces the history of the mysterious ritual of exorcism. It explores how the practice has evolved with the changing times--from a simple rite, to a political tool, to a form of modern-day therapy. Through dramatic recreations we recount several harrowing tales of the demonically possessed and the subsequent struggle by exorcists to save them. We'll also look at the medical and social perspectives. Can episodes of demonic-like behavior be explained by brain disorders or psychological factors? Includes interviews with experts in the fields of theology, history, medicine and the supernatural.