Planet Egypt / Dynasty Zero

Ancient Egypt. Cradle of Western civilization. Lasting more than 3000 years, the kingdom of the Nile is one of history’s greatest success stories. Until today the icons of Ancient Egypt are omnipresent: pyramids, mummies, Tutankhamen’s treasure of gold. But what do we know about the kingdom on the Nile apart from single buildings, graves and pharaohs? How did this unique state come into being? Where did the Ancient Egyptians originate from? And how could Egypt survive the phases of defeat, economic downturn, and climate change?

The four-part series will look at pharaonic Egypt as a whole – from its unification around 3000 BC until its decline. The films will highlight the birth of Egypt, the wars, the power of the temples and the death cult. The latest archaeological research from the Eastern Sahara to the Red Sea, elaborate animations of temples and cities, scenic re-enactments of the fates of great pharaohs and simple workers will lead the viewer through the millennia - always in search for answers to the question: What was the secret of Egypt’s success?

4 x 43’ / 4 x 44’ / 2 x 90’ / 4 x 47’
ZDF , History NYC , ARTE , ZDF-E