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This episode follows photojournalist David Adams as he investigates the historical reality of Alexander the Great’s campaign in Central Asia. Seeking the "Lost World" of the ancient Oxus civilization, Adams explores how extreme climate change and shifting riverbeds erased once-thriving trade routes and Greek-influenced metropolises. He proposes that the legend of Jason and the Argonauts originates from much older Neolithic migrations through a now-dry waterway connecting the Black and Caspian Seas. The narrative details a journey across war-torn Afghanistan, where the team identifies potential sites for the fabled capital of Bactra and the elusive Alexandria on the Oxus. Ultimately, the episode illustrates how Alexander conquered an already highly advanced civilization that was eventually reclaimed by the desert and seismic shifts. Moving through modern landscapes, the source highlights the enduring legacy of ancient trade and the fragile nature of human societies.
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". George Santayana
