Journeys from the Centre of the Earth | Architecture (2 of 6)

Geologist Dr Iain Stewart presents a series showing how the rocks beneath our feet have shaped the human history of the Mediterranean. His whistle-stop tour takes in familiar tourist destinations in Egypt, Italy and Greece, but provides a unique geologist's insight which can't be found in the guidebooks.

He reveals how rocks influenced the Egyptians to build pyramids, the Greeks to build squares and the Romans to build perfect circles. It was how the rocks were formed millions of years ago that determined whether they were best suited as building materials for a pyramid, Parthenon or coliseum.