We Built This City

Tracing the development of urban centres, beginning with London. Architects and historians discuss the city's founding, while engineers including Chris Wise pay tribute to notable construction projects of the past 2,000 years. Presented by Peter Bazalgette.

A look at the history of New York. The city was originally founded by Dutch settlers in 1624, but then a series of hugely ambitious engineering projects was undertaken, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the largest suspension bridge in the world at the time. The technology behind skyscrapers is revealed. Featuring a computer simulation of what the unsettled Manhattan Island might have looked like.

The turbulent history of Paris, which since its founding in 300 BC has endured Roman conquest and attacks by the English and the Vikings. The city's fortunes were transformed by Napoleon, who embarked on ambitious projects to improve public health, and commissioned one of the world's most famous landmarks, the Arc de Triomphe, for his imperial capital. Developments have contributed to a city so magnificent the Nazi officer in charge of the World War Two occupation refused to obey orders to destroy it.