Best History TV shows
This page is updated regularly. Subscribe, so you don't miss new recommendations. The list of "Best History TV shows" contains films with the following parameters. Style: historical drama, costume drama, period drama, realistic, serious and captivating. Plot: costume, ancient, medieval, ancient rome, female nudity, intrigue, nude, society, male nudity and rivalry. Genre: Drama, History and Romance. Country: USA, UK and Canada.
Best History TV shows
TOP TV Shows: The Last Kingdom (2015), Domina (2021), The Tudors (2007), Rome (2005), Poldark (2015), Marco Polo (2014), Vikings (2013), Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011), Spartacus (2010), The Borgias (2011), Victoria (2016), War & Peace (2016), Isabel (2011), Knightfall (2017), I, Claudius (1976), TURN: Washington's Spies (2014), Chernobyl (2019), Frontier (2016), Rise of Empires: Ottoman (2020), Jamestown (2017).
List of Best TV Shows
Genre: Action, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
A show of heroic deeds and epic battles with a thematic depth that embraces politics, religion, warfare, courage, love, loyalty and our universal search for identity. Combining real historical figures and events with fictional characters, it is the ...
Style:
exciting, captivating, epic, serious, stylized ...
Plot:
viking, king, medieval, danger, battles, kingdom, castle, escapades, kidnapping, heroes, rivalry, political unrest ...
Time:
middle ages, 9th century, medieval times, future, 10th century
Place:
england, britain, chicago, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, History
Country: UK, Italy
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
Domina follows Livia’s journey from a naïve young girl whose world crumbles in the wake of Julius Caesar’s assassination, to Rome’s most powerful and influential Empress, driven by a deep desire to avenge her father and secure power for her ...
Style:
historical drama, costume drama, social documentary, period drama
Plot:
palace intrigue, roman empire, ancient rome, ancient, historical figure, high society, female nudity, wife, sexual abuse, historical character, affair, roman emperor ...
Time:
ancient times
Place:
rome italy
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: Ireland, Canada, USA, UK
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
The Tudors is a history-based drama series following the young, vibrant King Henry VIII, a competitive and lustful monarch who navigates the intrigues of the English court and the human heart with equal vigor and justifiable suspicion.
Style:
historical drama, captivating, stylized, sexy, soap opera ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
intrigue, tudors, queen, power struggle, historical character, royal family, british history, king, royalty, heir, monarchy, british royal family ...
Time:
16th century, middle ages, ancient times, medieval times
Place:
england, britain, ireland, europe
Is relevant?
202K
Genre: Action, Drama, Romance, War
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
A down-to-earth account of the lives of both illustrious and ordinary Romans set in the last days of the Roman Republic.
Style:
epic, exciting, period piece, sexual, costume drama ...
Plot:
roman empire, ancient history, ancient rome, historical character, sex, power struggle, antiquity, emperor, intrigue, roman soldier, warrior, ancient egypt ...
Time:
1st century, ancient times, 1st century b.c., 2000s
Place:
rome italy, italy, ancient greece, alexandria egypt, greece ...
Is relevant?
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40K
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
Britain is in the grip of a chilling recession... falling wages, rising prices, civil unrest - only the bankers are smiling. It's 1783 and Ross Poldark returns from the American War of Independence to his beloved Cornwall to find his world in ...
Style:
captivating, family saga, costume drama, period piece, realistic ...
Audience:
family friendly
Plot:
countryside, estate, love affair, rich and poor, couple relations, love and romance, society, master and servant, poverty, social differences, family relations, english countryside ...
Time:
18th century, victorian era, 1790s, 19th century, 1800s ...
Place:
england, cornwall, britain
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
An epic adventure that follows the early years of the famous explorer as he travels the exotic Silk Road to the great Kublai Khan’s court. But Marco soon finds that navigating the Khan’s world of greed, betrayal, sexual intrigue and rivalry will ...
Style:
exciting, atmospheric, epic, captivating, sexy ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
medieval, intrigue, culture clash, kung fu master, danger, barbarian, palace, conqueror, adventure hero, rivalry, warrior, lesbian interest ...
Time:
middle ages, medieval times, 13th century
Place:
mongolia, asia, venice, beijing china, china
Is relevant?
635K
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: Ireland, Canada
Duration: 45 min.
TV show
Story:
Vikings follows the adventures of Ragnar Lothbrok, the greatest hero of his age. The series tells the sagas of Ragnar's band of Viking brothers and his family, as he rises to become King of the Viking tribes. As well as being a fearless ...
Style:
exciting, atmospheric, heroic, captivating, historical drama ...
Audience:
boys' night, adult
Plot:
viking, battles, king, medieval, warrior, sword and shield, sword fight, legends and myths, myth, norse mythology, historical character, adventurer ...
Time:
middle ages, ancient times, medieval times, 7th century, 9th century ...
Place:
scandinavia, chicago, ireland, europe, greenland ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
Before Spartacus struck down his first opponent in the arena, there were many gladiators who passed through the gates onto the sand.'Spartacus: Gods of the Arena' tells the story of the original Champion of the House of Batiatus: Gannicus ...
Style:
epic, exciting, sexy, realistic, serious ...
Audience:
teens, boys' night
Plot:
ancient history, ancient rome, roman empire, gladiator, warrior, arena, roman, heroes, sword fight, slavery, slave, master warrior ...
Time:
ancient times, 1st century b.c., 1st century
Place:
hawaii
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
294K
Genre: Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
Spartacus is an American television series inspired by the historical figure of Spartacus, a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BCE led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic departing from Capua.
Style:
epic, sexy, historical drama, sexual, exciting ...
Audience:
teens, boys' night
Plot:
ancient rome, ancient history, roman empire, gladiator, sword fight, rebellion, battles, swords and armor, friendship between men, sex, slavery, medieval ...
Time:
ancient times, 1st century b.c., 1st century, 2000s
Place:
ancient greece
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, History, Romance
Country: USA, Hungary, Ireland, Canada
Duration: 50 min.
TV show
Story:
Set in 15th century Italy at the height of the Renaissance, The Borgias chronicles the corrupt rise of patriarch Rodrigo Borgia to the papacy, where he proceeds to commit every sin in the book to amass and retain power, influence and enormous wealth ...
Style:
serious, costume drama, epic, clever, captivating ...
Plot:
historical character, intrigue, sex scene, brother sister incest, siblings relations, medieval, renaissance, brother sister sex, incest, clergy, lust, power struggle ...
Time:
15th century, middle ages, ancient times, medieval times, 16th century
Place:
rome italy, italy, ireland, europe, florence
Is relevant?
34K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
The story of Queen Victoria, who came to the throne at a time of great economic turbulence and resurgent republicanism – and died 64 years later the head of the largest empire the world had ever seen, having revitalised the throne’s public image ...
Style:
historical drama, romantic, costume drama, period piece, realistic ...
Plot:
royal family, british history, royalty, monarchy, queen victoria, queen of england, british monarchy, european history, queen, british politics, female protagonist, british empire ...
Time:
victorian era, 19th century, future, 1800s, 1830s
Place:
britain, england, london, united kingdom, buckingham palace
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: UK
Duration: 63 min.
TV show
Story:
Sumptuous BBC mini-series following the fortunes and the rise and fall of five aristocratic families in the waning days of imperial Russia.
Style:
epic, historical drama, emotional, costume drama, captivating ...
Plot:
napoleonic wars, imperial russia, society, inheritance, love story, couple relations, tragic love, wartime life, couples, love and romance, illegitimate son, aristocracy ...
Time:
1800s, 18th century, 19th century, regency period, georgian era
Place:
russia
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, History
Country: Spain
Duration: 3038 min.
TV show
Story:
Charting the life of Isabella I of Castile, one of the most important women in Spain’s history, Isabel follows her passionate story from childhood to being crowned Queen. From her political struggles within King Henry IV's court to her ...
Style:
historical drama, serious, period piece, captivating, realistic ...
Plot:
royal family, spanish history, queen, royalty, aristocracy, throne, conquering, palace intrigue, heir, unfaithful husband, medieval, historical figure ...
Time:
15th century, middle ages, medieval times
Place:
spain, portugal, europe, new mexico
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
Go deep into the clandestine world of the legendary brotherhood of warrior monks known as The Knights Templar.
Style:
christian film, costume drama, breathtaking, historical drama, captivating ...
Plot:
medieval, crusader, knights templar, chivalry, crusade, religious faith, inquisition, relic, warrior, selflessness, battles, tradition ...
Time:
middle ages, 14th century, medieval times, 13th century
Place:
france
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 50 min.
TV show
Story:
Tracing the lives of several Roman emperors, this is an epic of ruthless ambition, shocking debauchery and murderous intrigue set in one of history's most fascinating eras. Bearing witness to the saga is Claudius, whose stutter and limp have ...
Style:
costume drama, political thriller, historical drama, clever, political ...
Plot:
roman empire, ancient, ancient rome, political intrigue, ancient history, intrigue, roman emperor, emperor, antiquity, ancient world, medieval, roman soldier ...
Time:
1st century, year 1976, 20th century, 50s, 1st century b.c. ...
Place:
rome italy, italy, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
The story of New York farmer, Abe Woodhull, who bands together with a group of childhood friends to form The Culper Ring, an unlikely group of spies who turn the tide in America’s fight for independence.
Style:
period piece, captivating, serious, suspenseful, realistic ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
american revolution, spy, colonial america, american history, george washington, espionage, political unrest, treason, rebelliousness, ambition, undercover, rivalry ...
Time:
18th century, 1780s, 1770s, georgian era
Place:
usa, new jersey, america, new york, connecticut
Is relevant?
1.0M
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
A dramatization of the true story of one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history, the catastrophic nuclear accident at Chernobyl. A tale of the brave men and women who sacrificed to save Europe from unimaginable disaster.
Style:
dark, atmospheric, harsh, realistic, thought provoking ...
Audience:
chick flick, boys' night
Plot:
radiation, nuclear power plant, nuclear holocaust, nuclear reactor, disaster, radiation poisoning, save the day, nuclear explosion, salvation, abandoned city, evacuation, nuclear threat ...
Time:
year 1986, 2010s, 80s, 20th century
Place:
chernobyl, ussr, soviet union, ukraine, europe ...
Is relevant?
26K
Genre: Adventure, Drama, History, Western
Country: Canada
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
The chaotic and violent struggle to control wealth and power in the North American fur trade in late 18th century Canada. Told from multiple perspectives, Frontier takes place in a world where business negotiations might be resolved with ...
Style:
suspense, atmospheric, harsh, exciting, historical drama ...
Plot:
medieval, trafficking, native american, rivalry, intrigue, competitor, showdown, fight for supremacy, society, rivals, struggle for survival, combat ...
Time:
18th century, 2010s, 1790s, georgian era
Place:
nova scotia, newfoundland, canada
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Documentary, Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 45 min.
TV show
Story:
Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II wages an epic campaign to take the Byzantine capital of Constantinople and shapes the course of history for centuries.
Style:
costume drama, epic, historical drama
Plot:
sultan, muslim, conquering, turk, medieval, battles, roman empire, sword, castle, christian, history lesson, turkish history ...
Time:
medieval times, 15th century
Place:
ottoman empire, turkey, constantinople, istanbul turkey
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
The early 17th Century story of three courageous, dynamic women who leave their dark pasts behind in England, and make the journey of a lifetime across the ocean for a new life in America.
Style:
suspense, costume drama, disturbing, period piece, historical drama ...
Plot:
colony, colonial america, settler, love affair, working class family, society, intrigue, rivals, love triangle, conspiracy, romantic triangle, life ...
Time:
17th century, ancient times, future
Is relevant?
9K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Canada
Duration: 127 min.
TV show
Story:
Explores the drama of power, political back-stabbing, war and murder and chronicles King Tut's rise to glory, his efforts to rule a chaotic empire and the enigma surrounding his death.
Style:
sexy, serious, captivating, stylized, realistic ...
Plot:
ancient egypt, ancient history, pharaoh, royal family, historical character, palace intrigue, brother sister incest, ancient, rise to the top, rivalry, head of state, state affairs ...
Time:
ancient times
Place:
egypt
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, History
Country: UK, Ireland, USA
Duration: 50 min.
TV show
Story:
Based on a true story, Aristocrats draws back the curtain on an 18th century English family near the summit of society, revealing a tapestry of romance, prejudice, infidelity, and revolution.
Style:
period piece, costume drama, captivating, serious, historical drama ...
Audience:
girls' night
Plot:
master and servant, family relations, royalty, aristocracy, rich and poor, high society, society, royal family, honor, politics, siblings relations, intrigue ...
Time:
18th century, 1780s, georgian era
Place:
england, ireland, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 280 min.
TV show
Story:
Three people's fates are interwoven in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 A.D., during which Germanic warriors halt the spread of the Roman Empire.
Style:
costume drama, captivating, realistic, serious, atmospheric ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
barbarian, roman empire, medieval, legends and myths, german history, mythology, native tribe, ancient rome, warrior, female warrior, myth, ancient ...
Time:
1st century, middle ages
Place:
scandinavia, europe
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama, History
Country: Austria, Germany, Hungary
Duration: 275 min.
TV show
Story:
In 1477 Charles the Bold dies, his only child is a girl which cannot rule without a husband. Meanwhile in Austria, Emperor Frederick III and his antagonist Louis XI France battle over said marriage prospects, battles ensue, tragedy falls.
Style:
erotic, period piece, serious, captivating, sentimental ...
Plot:
monarchy, female nudity, forbidden love, wedding planning, love and romance, couple relations, society, state affairs, scandal, royalty, prince, male nudity ...
Time:
15th century, middle ages
Place:
germany, austria, france
Is relevant?
Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama, Fantasy, History, Mystery, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
The series follows the "untold" story of Leonardo Da Vinci: the genius during his early years in Renaissance Florence. As a 25-year old artist, inventor, swordsman, lover, dreamer and idealist, he struggles to live within the confines of ...
Style:
exciting, intellectual, sexy, captivating, witty ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
renaissance, prodigy, leonardo da vinci, inventions and discoveries, talented, inventor, escapades, shrewd, historical character, sex scene, male nudity, medieval ...
Time:
15th century, medieval times, future
Place:
italy, florence, wales, europe, rome italy ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Romance, Western
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
TV show
Story:
Steven Spielberg executive produced this TNT miniseries about American Westward expansion during the 19th century. Told from both the perspective of the white Wheeler family and the Native American Lakota tribe, the 12-hour epic follows the clans as ...
Style:
epic, realistic, sincere, serious, atmospheric ...
Plot:
native american, american indian, wild west, old west, indian war, native american attack, wagon train, tribe, native american white relationships, gold rush, interracial romance, injustice ...
Time:
19th century, 1800s
Place:
south dakota, north america
Is relevant?
24K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Country: Italy, UK, France
Duration: 1314 min.
TV show
Story:
The story of the Medici family of Florence, their ascent from simple merchants to power brokers sparking an economic and cultural revolution. Along the way, they also accrue a long list of powerful enemies.
Style:
historical drama, political thriller, period piece, exciting, atmospheric ...
Plot:
renaissance, medieval, wealth, european history, politics, aristocracy, husband wife relationship, father son relationship, brother brother relationship, betrayal, secret, rise to power ...
Time:
15th century, middle ages, medieval times, ancient times, future
Place:
florence, venice, italy, tuscany
Is relevant?
127K
Genre: Crime, Drama, History, Western
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
The story of the early days of Deadwood, South Dakota; woven around actual historic events with most of the main characters based on real people. Deadwood starts as a gold mining camp and gradually turns from a lawless wild-west community into an ...
Style:
tense, serious, atmospheric, clever, period piece ...
Plot:
sheriff, old west, violence, power struggle, shooting, society, gold rush, gunfight, prostitute, dishonesty, lifestyle, profanity ...
Time:
1870s, 19th century, y2k, year 2004, victorian era ...
Place:
south dakota, usa, hawaii
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 50 min.
TV show
Story:
A disparate group of outcasts and dreamers battle to escape their pasts while navigating the brutal frontier hardships, competing interests, and tangled loyalties at the crossroads of civilization: the New World. Based on the novel by ...
Style:
costume drama, bleak, tense, suspenseful, suspense ...
Plot:
american indian, settler, showdown, indigenous people, colonization, murder investigation, land grab, rivalry, preaching, survival, power struggle, religion ...
Time:
17th century, 16th century
Place:
france, canada, quebec, north america
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: UK, France
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
Set against the backdrop of the Wars of the Roses, the series is the story of the women caught up in the protracted conflict for the throne of England.
Style:
sexy, costume drama, erotic, stylized, period piece ...
Plot:
royal family, queen, royalty, monarchy, royal court, aristocracy, throne, young woman, love and romance, medieval, tudors, king ...
Time:
15th century, middle ages, ancient times
Place:
england, britain, europe
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
