Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2266 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-04-18
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 4
• Running time: 650 minutes

Synopsis
In 1966 BBC Television embarked on its most ambitious documentary series to date. The eminent art historian Lord Clark was commissioned to write and present an epic examination of Western European culture, defining what he considered to be the crucial phases of its development. Civilisation: A Personal View by Lord Clark would be more than two years in the making, with filming in over 100 locations across 13 countries. The lavish series was hailed as a masterpiece when it was first transmitted in 1969.

From the fall of the Roman Empire to the Industrial Revolution and beyond, Clark's compelling narrative is accompanied by breathtaking colour photography of Europe's greatest landmarks. This 'history of ideas as illustrated by art and music' remains the benchmark for the numerous programmes it inspired. This four-DVD set includes a specially written 36-page illustrated booklet of viewing notes.

DVD extras: Sir David Attenborough remembers the making of Civilisation and a photo gallery of behind-the-scenes stills.

Customer Reviews

A Moment in Television History
I can add little to the previous reviews other than to say that 3/4's way through this series I considered it a real privilege to own this DVD set. Kenneth Clark provides great insights and speaks without partiality when dealing with works that touch upon the religious influences in and around the artist, being able to see it from a skeptics and well as believers perspective. The series doesn't pretend to cover the rise of Civilization throughout the world - the emphasis is very much on the rise of Western Christian Civilization with little in the way of look back to its roots and maybe this could have been better stated. The best of the BBC, a piece of television history.

Great, but watch with a pinch of salt
There is great detail and Clark is clearly very knowledgeable. If you are interested in art and the development of culture, then this box set is very good and of the quality that is not made these days. So 5 Stars.

The problem is that it really needs to be watched with a pinch of salt. This is because Clark struggles to convey history accurately. He has the idea in his head that Christianity=Civilisation. The truth is that the Islamic world was far in advance of our own and contact with them kick-started the Renaissance. He fails to see that the Greeks, that he reveres, took most of their culture, mathematics and ideas from Egypt, Crete, Asia Minor, Persia and China. It was these ancient cultures we should really look to as the birth place of civilisation. The "Ascent of Man" is very diverse and enjoyable and for a better history of the Mediterranean try "the first Eden" and also "Simon Schamas: A history of Britain" is good.

In conclusion, this is a superb exercise in the history of art, it is not however a truthful history of civilisation and hence 4 stars.

The top of the top
Today there is no time and money for this kind of deep intellectual program, describing the last 2000 years of western civilization in one breath. Kenneth Clarks view of the subject is personal and not everyone has to agree to it, still no one can ignore it.