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Human: Building Empires Preview

Preview: Season 52 Episode 16 | 30sVideo has Closed Captions

Discover how two revolutionary ancient inventions changed the course of humanity forever.

Discover how Homo sapiens transformed from nomads to empire builders. Witness the innovations – from animal domestication to writing – that revolutionized ancient life and shaped our modern world.

10/15/2025

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National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies and Viking Cruises. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

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Göbekli Tepe: The 11,500-Year-Old Mystery That Rewrote History

Video has Closed Captions

Clip: S52 Ep16 | 2m 47s | What archaeologists found here reveals one of the biggest turning points in human history. (2m 47s)

This Is Where the First Alphabet Was Born

Video has Closed Captions

Clip: S52 Ep16 | 3m 5s | It became the basis for most written languages, beginning 4,000 years ago in the Sinai desert. (3m 5s)

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National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies and Viking Cruises. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

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