Empires - The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization
by Cassian Harrison
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Liam NeesonDirector: Cassian Harrison
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 140 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-04-05
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: PBS Paramount
Movie Reviews of Empires - The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization
Movie Review: One of the best historical tapes I have ever seen
Summary: 5 Stars
At the end of the episode of the original Star Trek series titled "Who Mourns for Adonais", Captain Kirk laments having to destroy the power source of the being that calls himself Apollo. He states how the Greeks have given us so much, which is an understatement. The concepts of democracy, scientific thought, abstract mathematical thought, zoology and much of philosophy can all be directly traced back to the ancient Greeks.
While this tape mentions those things, the main focus is the history of the city-state of Athens, its rise to glory against the mighty Persian forces to their utter defeat by Sparta. When historians engage in historical "What-if" speculations, one of the speculations commonly engaged in are the consequences of an Athenian defeat. Quite likely more than any other thing, it would have changed the course of political, economic, scientific and mathematical history.
In only a few decades, Athens rose to the level of a mighty commercial empire, engaging in trade with places all over Europe, Africa and Asia. This led to a flowering of the arts, culminating in the building of the spectacular Parthenon. However, it took only approximately a decade for all of this to be destroyed. A failed strategy in their war with Sparta, the scapegoating and execution of generals by the political class and the resort to mob rule all combined to lead to an utter defeat. In this defeat, there was a rise to power. The philosopher Socrates was the last scapegoat and with his death, we see the rise of the greatest intellectual flowering ever seen.
All of this is explained in great detail, after seeing the remnants of the buildings of ancient Athens, both my wife and I vowed to visit Greece. The times described on this tape were truly historic; the repercussions were wide, deep and lasting. It is one of the best historical tapes I have ever seen.
Summary of Empires - The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization
The lavish and lengthy production of PBS's The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization is a fitting tribute to the glory of ancient Greece, telling the story of Greek democracy from its first stirrings in 500 B.C. through to the cataclysmic wars that virtually destroyed the empire. It concludes with a fascinating look at how the Greeks were defeated, yet their philosophy endured and changed the world forever. Beautifully photographed, and with intelligent narration delivered by actor Liam Neeson, this two-volume set goes into considerable detail while also being engaging to the eye as well as the mind. The photography at ancient sites is often spectacular and judicious use of actors filmed in re-creations of critical events provide immediacy. Much of the story relates how the Greeks essentially invented politics and democracy, and interviews with prominent scholars of classical history provide insight into the major characters, including Thales, Pericles, and Socrates. The stories of epic battles on land and sea and a thoughtful treatment of the Greek ideals of heroism are presented well. But the documentary particularly succeeds in the latter stages, when the story turns to the downfall of Socrates and a thoughtful explanation of how Greek philosophy transformed civilization. --Robert J. McNamaraDramatic stories and computer animation re-create Classical Greece, founder of modern science, politics, warfare, philosophy, and source of breathtaking art and architecture. This film charts the rise, triumph, and decline of the world's oldest democracy, witnessed through the eyes of Pericles, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. DVD GOLD version includes wide-screen capability, additional interviews, director's comments, and more.
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