500 years ago, Thailand’s Ayutthaya was one of the world’s largest and most cosmopolitan cities. Curator and scholar Peter Lee charts its transformation from backwater state to global superpower.
900 years ago, the Bagan Empire united Myanmar and transformed into a world centre of Buddhism. Curator and scholar Peter Lee explores how it grew and how its legacy still echoes in the modern nation.
Curator and scholar Peter Lee visits Angkor to discover how, a thousand years ago, the ancient Khmer overcame nature to thrive, leaving behind iconic ruins that lie at the heart of Cambodian identity.
700 years ago, the Majapahit united Indonesia's isles to found a trading empire whose networks stretched across the globe. Curator and scholar Peter Lee charts its milestones and enduring legacy.
Peter Lee travels to Japan to explore the traditions of the Tokugawa shogunate and how they have influenced Japan's identity.
Peter Lee explores how the Joseon Dynasty shaped modern South Korea, tracking down a fashion designer who revives traditional costumes for Gen Z, testing his Korean language skills and joining the rehearsal of a Pansori-inspired pop band.
Peter travels to the Ryukyu Islands, in southern Japan, to see how the ancient kingdom has influenced its vibrant identity. He visits a tattoo parlour that breathes new life into traditional art, rides horses and tests his kobudo skills.
Peter travels to Hokkaido, Japan, to learn more about the indigenous Ainu people, their crafts and their ability to survive and thrive. He visits a traditional village and goes on a hike looking for wild bears on the Shiretoko peninsula.