Legacy - The Origins of Civilization

Legacy - The Origins of Civilization
by Peter Spry-Leverton

Legacy - The Origins of Civilization
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DVD Cover Information

Actor: Michael Wood
Director: Peter Spry-Leverton
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Color, NTSC, Subtitled
Running Time: 360 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-06-01
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Carlton

Movie Reviews of Legacy - The Origins of Civilization

Movie Review: Naive, slightly dippy, fun and five stars!
Summary: 5 Stars

This is a whirlwind tour of the history and origins of four distinct civilizations. Wood is a little too "aw shucksy" through the whole thing, if a Brit can be that, and very quick to laud the accomplishments of ancient civilizations and present them as a counterpoint to the excesses and short-sightedness of the West. At times his love-fest with the Eastern past is a little naive, overlooking the negative. It's a detailed yet shallow and unsophisticated reading of history, and the anti-Western slant is occasionally a little mean-spirited (but not necessarily incorrect). So why five stars?

It's still FUN. And a viewer can learn a lot. If you are a sophisticated viewer you'll immediately see through the series' limitations and still pick up some goodies. If the viewer is not so experienced in history it will make him or her re-examine their views of the ascendency of the West. In the end, as a counterpoint to the West's jingoism and ethnocentrism this series is a welcome and valuable contribution, despite or perhaps because of its rather hackneyed approach. Should be required viewing for all, if nothing else as a jumping-off point for discussion.

Summary of Legacy - The Origins of Civilization

Historian Michael Wood stands in the Iraqi desert amid crumbling ruins and dry desolation. He describes a once-thriving metropolis, where merchants brought their goods into the city over a network of lush canals. All that remains is a sea of golden sand, the once-large population drifted away, the comples society vanished. As the world approaches the 21st century, this new series reminds us that other nations and cultures prospered for hundreds or even thousands of years. Now all that remains is the legacy of their civilizations, present and influential in our own.

Shot on location on four contients, Legacy takes a different viewpoint from other series that concentrate primarily on the the Western view of history. Visiting China, India, Egypt, the Middle East, Greece and Meso-America, this series traces the rise of both Asian and western civilization.

This series results from an international effort, a co-production of Maryland Public Television and Central Independent Television, U.K. in association with NHK, Japan and the British Museum.

Hosted by historian Michael Wood ("River Journeys") and ("Travels"). Produced by Peter Spry-Leverton ("Making of Mankind") and ("Japan").

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