Stream now with KPBS Passport / Encore Wednesdays, Oct. 8 - Nov. 5 + 26 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV
Boasting unique access and state-of-the-art technology, host and historian Bettany Hughes investigates the most remarkable treasures of civilization that reveal the story of humanity. TREASURES WITH BETTANY HUGHES is armchair traveling at its most vivid and memorable, championing what ordinary people throughout time have achieved through the sheer force of will, inspiration, and collaboration.
EPISODE GUIDE:
Episode 1: “Treasures of Greece” Stream now with KPBS Passport / Encore Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 at 11 p.m. on KPB TV - Greece is the birthplace of an astonishing culture that changed the way the world thinks. Bettany starts her journey in Athens, the crowning achievement of ancient Greek civilization and a symbol of intellect and democracy the world over.
Episode 2: “Treasures of Malta" Stream now with KPBS Passport / Encore Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV - On this episode, Bettany discovers Malta as a cultural hub laden with some of the world's most precious treasures, where civilizations from East, West, North, and South have met and combined.
Episode 3: “Treasures of Gibraltar” Stream now with KPBS Passport / Encore Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV - There are few places on Earth with as much of an outsize influence on world history as the small British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. The peninsula may just be 2.5 square miles, but this iconic rock has loomed large in the human imagination since prehistory.
Episode 4: “Treasures of The Mediterranean Islands” Stream now with KPBS Passport / Encore Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV - The Mediterranean Sea, the lifeblood of civilizations across millennia, has been known by many names. This one body of water has experienced more interaction throughout history than any other on the planet.
Episode 5: “Treasures of Istanbul” Stream now with KPBS Passport / Encore Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV - In this fascinating ancient hub of the Ottoman and Byzantine empires, Bettany is allowed access to digs at Besiktas Metro Station, where a multi-layered Iron Age burial site has been discovered. A coin of Emperor Justinian (the husband of Bettany’s all-time history heroine Theodora) emerges from the Earth. This dig will finally reveal the identity of Istanbul's original inhabitants.
Episode 6: “Treasures of Arabia” Stream now with KPBS Passport - The magical landscape of the Arabian Peninsula, featuring stunning weathered rocks and deep desert sands, was once the frontier of mighty empires. Bettany discovers messages from the past all around her, from rock etchings from ancient inhabitants to other markings that lead to the present day.
Watch On Your Schedule: This series is available to stream now with KPBS Passport, a member benefit that unlocks exclusive shows and extra content on KPBS+, a new free streaming video app designed for ease and enjoyment everywhere you watch including Roku, smart TVs and mobile devices. It’s locally curated for San Diego by the KPBS programming team. With a clean and intuitive design, discovering and enjoying KPBS and PBS content on-demand has never been easier.
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Produced by Sandstone Global Productions Ltd. Distributed by American Public Television
