The development of the arts in Europe from the Middle Ages to the modern era is an astonishing record of cultural achievement, from the breathtaking architecture of Gothic cathedrals to the daring visual experiments of the Cubist painters. We all have our favorite artists, periods, or styles from this immensely rich tradition, but how many of us truly know the full sweep of European art? How many of us can connect the dots of influences and inspiration...

For 25 centuries the Parthenon has been shot at, set on fire, rocked by earthquakes, looted for its sculptures, and disfigured by misguided restorations. Now, a team of architects and engineers is investigating the many mysteries of this icon of Western civilization : How did the ancient Greeks design and build their masterpiece so quickly? How did they achieve such precision and perfection without modern tools and architectural aids that we take...

Visit modern-day Xi-an, formerly Chang-an, the starting point of the Silk Road and the world's largest city when it was capital of Tan Dynasy China in the 7th century. See the clay army of Emperor Qin Huang Di, the sculptures of Emperor Gao-zong's tomb, enter a Buddist temple, climb the Great Wall, and examine the underground murals of Princess Yong-tai.