Join Singaporean scholar and curator Peter Lee as he examines four of history’s great Southeast Asian empires, charting their rise and fall and exploring their enduring cultural legacy, on Asia’s Ancient Civilisations (PBS May 3-6 at 7.30pm).

Thailand’s Ayutthayan Empire, Myanmar’s Buddhist Bagan, Cambodia’s ancient Khmer and Indonesia’s Majapahit would all play their parts in shaping the history of the region and beyond. The spectacular ruins they left behind – perhaps most famously, Cambodia’s astonishing Angkor Wat temple complex – are a testament to their prominence and power.

Visiting several such historic sites and revealing their hidden secrets, Peter also investigates how these mighty empires left a legacy of vibrant customs and traditions that continue to this day, while animated reconstructions bring their epic stories and legends to life.