Nightshift – Kurzgesagt After Dark

Season 2026

History teaches more than just facts or words. Certain history however, can only be discovered by thou is wise enough to understand it. Learn of it on adventures that will last forever. From the same creators of the scientific wonder.

Where to Watch Nightshift – Kurzgesagt After Dark • Season 2026

10 Episodes

The Most Powerful Pirate In History
E1
The Most Powerful Pirate In HistoryShe commanded 1,800 ships, led tens of thousands of pirates, and forced an empire to negotiate. This is the story of Zheng Yi Sao, the most powerful pirate in history. From her rise to power to the floating pirate confederation that ruled the South China Sea, we're exploring how one woman reshaped trade, war, and authority in the early 19th century.
Whale Hunting Was Absolutely Crazy
E2
Whale Hunting Was Absolutely CrazyFor centuries, humanity hunted the largest animals that ever lived. Not for food, but for light, machines, and profit. Whale oil powered cities, fueled industrialization, and pushed entire species to the brink of extinction. This is the story of commercial whaling, and what it reveals about progress and destruction.
The Final Days of Louis XIV
E3
The Final Days of Louis XIVFor 72 years, Louis XIV ruled as the most powerful king in Europe. He centralized power, reshaped the map of Europe, and turned Versailles into a glittering machine of spectacle and control. But no king can rule his own body. Behind closed doors, he lived at the mercy of his doctors, enduring the brutal limits of 17th century medicine. This is the tragic life of the Sun King.
The Gold Nugget That Changed America Forever
E4
The Gold Nugget That Changed America ForeverWhen gold was discovered in California in 1848, hundreds of thousands rushed west in one of the largest migrations in history. But while others chased fortune in the dirt, Samuel Brannan made himself the richest man in California.
The Bloody Origins of the Number Zero
E5
The Bloody Origins of the Number ZeroMore than two thousand years ago, one of the deadliest battles in Indian history changed the course of the entire empire. Instead of creating a legacy of conquest, it sparked an exchange of ideas, trade and knowledge.
The Crazy Story of the Opium Wars
E6
The Crazy Story of the Opium WarsIn the 18th century, the British Empire faced a growing demand for Chinese tea, but nothing they offered could convince their trading partner to offer them better terms. Finally, the British discovered a successful counter measure, a product China actually seemed ready to buy: opium. British traders built a massive opium trade that refilled the Empire's coffers and destabilized China’s economy and society. When Chinese officials tried to stop the flow, it set off a chain of events that escalated into war, opening the country by force and reshaping global power dynamics for generations. This is the story about the Opium War, and how a simple craving for tea led to a full scale war.
How the Last Queen of Egypt Lost EVERYTHING
E7
How the Last Queen of Egypt Lost EVERYTHINGCleopatra is often remembered as a seductive queen, but in reality, she was a highly skilled and ruthless political player, willing to eliminate anyone who stood in her way to secure the throne and shape the future of her kingdom... even her own family. This is the story of Cleopatra VII, the last queen of Ancient Egypt, and how she became the target of a final conflict, the one that would decide the fate of Egypt.
The Ninjas Didn't Exist
E8
The Ninjas Didn't ExistNinjas are one of the most famous warriors in history. But almost everything we think we know about them is wrong. The real shinobi of feudal Japan were not magical assassins in black outfits. They were spies, scouts, detectives, infiltrators, and samurai caught in the brutal wars that unified Japan. How did a small group of samurai become one of the most iconic legends in history?
This Sorceress Used Visions to Save Her People
E9
This Sorceress Used Visions to Save Her PeopleIn the late 7th century, the Arab Empire expanded across North Africa, defeating the Persians and humbling the Byzantines, and now they seemed unstoppable. But one ruler stood in its way: Dihya, a warrior queen remembered as a sorceress, rebel and liberator. She united tribes into one of the strongest forces of resistance, and fought a battle that transformed the history of North Africa. This is the story of Dihya, the mysterious queen who challenged one of the largest empires in history. Feared by her enemies and celebrated by her descendants, she became one of the greatest legends and symbols of resistance.
Why Being a Renaissance Queen SUCKS
E10
Why Being a Renaissance Queen SUCKSCould YOU survive a royal marriage? Henry VIII had six wives, but becoming Queen of England is only the beginning of the challenge. To survive this, you have to navigate religious upheaval, political games, shifting alliances, and the unpredictable moods of one of history's most notorious monarchs. Some lost their crowns, and some lost their lives, but only one outlived the king.