The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization) on DVD

Empires Collection - The Dynasties
Egypt's Golden Empire / The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance / Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire / The Roman Empire in the First Century / The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization
Actors: Liam Neeson, Willy Bowman, Jeffery Dench, Vernon Dobtcheff, Bill Reimbold
Director: Cassian Harrison
Genres: Television, Documentary

NR 2005 16hr 30min

Empires Collection: The Dynasties (5 Disc Gift Set) - Empires Collection: The Dynasties is a compilation of five outstanding stories of some of histories greatest dynasties. Egypt's Golden Empire — In 1570 B.C., when Rome... more » was still a marsh and the Acropolis was an empty rock, Egypt was already 1000 years old. Although the period of the pyramid-builders was long over, Egypt lay on the threshold of its greatest age. The New Kingdom would be an empire forged by conquest, maintained by intimidation and diplomacy, and remembered long after its demise. Led by a dynasty of rich personalities, whose dramatic lives changed the course of civilization, Egypt's Golden Empire presents the most extraordinary period in Egyptian history: from 1570 B.C. to 1070 B.C., when the Egyptian Empire reached its zenith. The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance

The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance - From a small Italian community in 15th century Florence, the Medici family would rise to rule Europe in many ways. Using charm, patronage, skill, duplicity and ruthlessness, they would amass unparalleled wealth and unprecedented power. They would also ignite the most important cultural and artistic revolution in Western history- the European Renaissance. But the forces of change the Medici helped unleash would one day topple their ordered world. An epic drama played out in the courts, cathedrals and palaces of Europe, this series is both the tale of one family's powerful ambition and of Europe's tortured struggle to emerge from the ravages of the Dark Ages. Japan: Memoirs Of A Secret Empire

Commanding shoguns and samurai warriors, exotic geisha and exquisite artisans -- all were part of the Japanese "renaissance" -- a period between the 16th and 19th centuries when Japan went from chaos and violence to a land of ritual refinement and peace. But stability came at a price: for nearly 250 years, Japan was a land closed to the Western world, ruled by the Shogun under his absolute power and control. Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire brings to life the unknown story of a mysterious empire, its relationship to the West, and the forging of a nation that would emerge as one of the most important countries in the world. The Roman Empire in the First Century

Two thousand years ago, at the dawn of the first century, the ancient world was ruled by Rome. Through the experiences, memories and writings of the people who lived it, this series tells the story of that time - the emperors and slaves, poets and plebeians, who wrested order from chaos, built the most cosmopolitan society the world had ever seen and shaped the Roman empire in the first century A.D. The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization

The Greeks - Classical Greece of the 4th and 5th centuries, B.C. was a magnificent civilization that laid the foundations for modern science, politics, warfare, and philosophy, and produced some of the most breathtaking art and architecture the world has ever known. Through the eyes and words of the great heroes of ancient Greece, this dazzling production charts the rise, triumph, and eventual decline of the world's first democracy. Now, through dramatic storytelling and state-of-the-art computer animation, you witness history, art, and government with giants like Pericles, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

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Movie Details

Actors: Liam Neeson, Willy Bowman, Jeffery Dench, Vernon Dobtcheff, Bill Reimbold
Director: Cassian Harrison
Creators: Cassian Harrison, Amanda Burrell, Anthony Geffen, Brian Donegan, Carol Sennett, Greg Diefenbach, Patricia Wrobel-Thomson
Genres: Television, Documentary
Sub-Genres: Television, Documentary
Studio: Pbs Paramount
Format: DVD - Black and White,Color,Widescreen
DVD Release Date: 10/25/2005
Original Release Date: 02/09/2000
Theatrical Release Date: 02/09/2000
Release Year: 2005
Run Time: 16hr 30min
Screens: Black and White,Color,Widescreen
Number of Discs: 5
SwapaDVD Credits: 5
Total Copies: 0
Members Wishing: 3
Edition: Box set
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Languages: English

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Movie Reviews

A really good review of the 5 civilizations covered

Michael Okey | Tulsa, OK United States | 03/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've been reviewing areas of history that I don't usually cover to balance out my general knowledge. No video can compress into a couple of hours the libraries that have been written on these subjects, but I watched them with a pad nearby and started searching names and topics for further study. Then I added books on those areas to my wish list here on Amazon.

All in all, each disc is a great review if you're rusty or a place to start if you're moving into new areas of history."

Not informative, dumbed down

D. Campbell | Ithaca, NY USA | 09/02/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I had hoped for better from this collection. The "documentaries" are little more than highly costumed re-enactments that shed little light on their purported subjects. These are typical drivel, in that they show the same re-enacted scene repeatedly with non-informative voice-over unrelated to the ridiculous scene. There is no analysis, no real information beyond the most basic, lots of fighting and blood, lots of slo-mo and overacting, lots of camera "techniques", lots of costumes, lots of tense scoring. There's also lots of ridiculous dramatic set-up. For example, the Medici story tries to build up tension regarding the radical design of the Florence cathedral dome. Will it be built? Will it work? Is the architect mad? Is Cosimo Medici going to survive politically? It's ludicrous--we all know that the dome was built and that Cosimo survived (hence the Medici dynasty). It would have been way more interesting and informative to look at the challenges of the dome's construction with some illustrative models or animations, to hear some real analysis of the political situation in Florence. The "talking head" segments offer slightly more insight, but there's really not much to this collection. If you like actual documentaries, this will not satisfy."

A Dream Collection

S. L. Koziol | Chicago, IL U.S.A. | 11/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For those of you who love Ancient History and would like to know more about it this is the collection you must have.

When i first watched those programs i was astonished. The detail explanations of events and people really can make a person wonder.

In general this collection will proof a worthy buy, i recommend this for teachers, students and anyone interested in world history, you really CAN learn much by watching this, and as for me it will be of great help for my academic purposes.

If you get it you will NOT regret it!!"

Great series, great productions

A. Flanders | San Francisco, CA United States | 01/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This PBS series was way ahead of it's time for documentaries and taking it to the next level. I'm a big history buff and have enjoyed countless documentaries on these subjects, but the lavish productions, thorough scripts and thoughtful viewpoints are brought together in this great set. If you or someone you know is a history buff, get this series!"