Divine Magic was a channel 4 documentary series consisting of 10 parts (the 5 I have available will be seeded on UK Nova) looking at the supernatural practices of various cultures and epochs.

This part (Voodoo) looks at a belief system born of African slavery, colonial plantations and the struggle to overthrow oppression. In Haiti, revolutionary leaders used Voodoo in battle to scare their opponents and motivate their supporters. This use of voodoo for political ends, as the programme shows, is not unique in the country's history

This part (Voodoo) looks at a belief system born of African slavery, colonial plantations and the struggle to overthrow oppression. In Haiti, revolutionary leaders used Voodoo in battle to scare their opponents and motivate their supporters. This use of voodoo for political ends, as the programme shows, is not unique in the country's history

This part looks at the Aztec culture and their belief in human sacrifice.

When the conquistadors arrived the practice may have been seen as barbaric, but as the Spanish converted the local people towards Christianity, both the conquerors and conquered drew parallels between the religions. Although the practice of human sacrifice claimed thousands of lives, the Spanish brought smallpox and destroyed the capital city of Tenochtitlan (buried under present day Mexico City), which at the time was one of the largest cities in the world, built in the centre of a lake like a larger version of Venice. Even contemporary observers wondered if the destruction and killing made the invaders any more civilized than the 'heathen' Aztecs.

Probably the jewel in the series, this part looks at the religious practices of the ancient Egyptians, at everything from the the magic 'wand' (used to protect the home and it's contents) to dream interpretation and the obsession with mummification (mice, birds, bulls, people). One section of the programme looks at the process of mummification by actually mummifying a human corpse, using the techniques and tools the Egyptians used. Unlike the other parts this documentary is fairly straightforward - an American archeologist talking direct to camera, explaining the meaning of tombs, symbols or practices.

As he explains, no wonder most tombs were robbed. If Tutankhamun was just a minor ruler who died suddenly without much preparation, then one can only wonder what the tombs of the great rulers contained. At the end of the 19th century a stash of mummies was found outside of the valley of the kings. For the first time royal mummies had been found - in fact a role call of some of the most famous Pharaohs in Egyptian history were found there. The fact the mummies had been secreted told a sad tale. Priests still loyal to the old beliefs had moved the mummmies for same keeping. Foreign and corrupt rulers saw over and increasing weak kingdom and the old religion, that had lasted thousands of years (far older than Christianity or Islam combined) was on the way out. With the collapse of the old religion, the mummies were no longer safe.

'The Witch Hunt' explores the witch craze that swept medieval Europe, looking at why it happened, what witches and witchcraft represented and who the women who were tortured and executed really were. The programme states that around 40,000 people died as a result of the great Witch Hunt.

The programme states that around 40,000 people died as a result of the great Witch Hunt.