Ancient megacity

Carthage: in ancient times, the dazzling capital of the Mediterranean trading power, today a field of ruins in a suburb of Tunis. Why did this important metropolis fall?

Persepolis: an ancient metropolis that becomes a myth. In the 6th century BC, the king of the Persian Empire, Darius I, began building this royal city in present-day Iran. Darius designed majestic palaces. A sophisticated irrigation system transformed the area surrounding Persepolis into a fertile oasis—a wonder of the ancient world. How could Alexander the Great bring down such a powerful city?

Myth or legend? The city of Troy is said to have been the scene of a legendary conflict: Greeks versus Trojans. But did the Trojan War actually take place?