Season 1

500 years ago, Thailand’s Ayutthaya was one of the world’s largest and most cosmopolitan cities. Curator and scholar Peter Lee charts its transformation from backwater state to global superpower.

900 years ago, the Bagan Empire united Myanmar and transformed into a world centre of Buddhism. Curator and scholar Peter Lee explores how it grew and how its legacy still echoes in the modern nation.

Curator and scholar Peter Lee visits Angkor to discover how, a thousand years ago, the ancient Khmer overcame nature to thrive, leaving behind iconic ruins that lie at the heart of Cambodian identity.

700 years ago, the Majapahit united Indonesia's isles to found a trading empire whose networks stretched across the globe. Curator and scholar Peter Lee charts its milestones and enduring legacy.