Search - Birth of Civilization (Std Sub) on DVD

Accurate historical fiction that kids love!

Peter G Levine | 08/20/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am flummoxed as to why the other reviews on this movie are so poor.



I can tell you why I think it was a great movie:



My two children age 7 and 9, giving up a bit of summer vacation, watched the whole thing, were engaged and even a bit frightened. This movie encouraged them to think outside the "Pokémon/Wii" box and for days afterwards they asked me questions about the movie. Big questions.



I work in clinical research that is specific to stroke and stroke recovery. For years I have been trying to imagine what it would be like prehistoric individuals to have had a stroke. I have written about it in articles and in my book Stronger After Stroke, and I talk about it in seminars and lectures I do around the country. In this movie, there is the fictional story of a prehistoric man who was brain damaged but managed to make the connection between seed, soil, water and crop growing. This portrayal of a hemiparetic brain-damaged person is by far the best I've seen in movies. This is no easy feat. Sir Anthony Hopkins struggled with it in Legends of the Fall.



I am no expert, but this movie seems to be based on hunter gatherer culture, practices and philosophies that are still evident today. It is not very difficult to determine how little importance prehistoric man placed in ownership. It is also not difficult to understand how prehistoric man saw himself as no more important than anything else in nature. It's the same with the Yanomamö, some aboriginal tribes, Eskimo tribes, etc. etc.



All in all this was a thought provoking bit of historical fiction.

"

Unique portrait of evolution of social organisation and mind

Diana A. Maciel Hjørungnes | 03/01/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This item contains an interestingly presented history of the evolution of mindset of humanity from the first men to the first civilizations. Didatic, simple, informative and pleasurous watching. A whow DVD, despite its short duration. It can be used in schools for informative and easy language."

Good Historical Perspective

Chad Etsell | 07/19/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Takes a fictional path through early human history; showing nomads as they learn about sedentary life, the first cases of religion, love and power struggles, the development of agriculture, trade, and language, and the first corrupt government.

This is a great lesson in early microeconomics, and political theory on a similar micro-level.

This is a great show for someone looking to understand government and religion in civilization, and see them both for what they really are."

This was great

Joseph O. Evans Jr. | FL. | 08/29/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I think this is a great teaching tool. I teach World History in Florida and my students really loved this DVD I highly reccomend it."