Product Description

Disc 1. The Rise of the Roman Empire 1 x 100:00 min Two thousand years ago, one civilisation held the entire Western world in its grasp. From Northern Europe to Africa, it imposed laws, ideas and a single language. Rome was the super power and a colossal empire. Travel back in time and experience the exporting of the Roman world through the glory years of conquest to the longest peroid of stability the world had ever known. Disc 2. Legions of Conquest & Cult of Order 1 x 100:00 min They began as proud defenders of their city and became the most successful warriors in history. Romans conquered nation after nation and in doing so fashioned the greatest empire the world had seen. After centuries of Roman conquest and glory, resentment festered within. Repression and chaos replaced tolerance and order and dissent threatened to divide the empire forever. Disc 3. The Fall of the Roman Empire 1 x 100:00 min At the height of her powers, Rome's army controlled three continents and fifty million people lived under her laws. Her empire was the greatest political prize the world had known. This is the story of those who would do anything to win it. Rome had united vast lands and created more prosperity, stability and peace than ever before. But in the 3rd Century AD, civil war engulfed the empire land and, from every direction, enemies gathered in for the kill.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19780 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-06-04
• Rating: Exempt
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Running time: 142 minutes

Synopsis
Informative documentary utilising up-to-date archaeological research and innovative special effects to create an insight into the secrets of Rome.

Customer Reviews

Good for a general appraisal of Roman times
This DVD boxset is, I feel, worth the money. It starts with the creation of the Roman republic, goes on through various themes and topics and ends with an explanation of the Goth sackings of Rome in 410. It seems to be a joint UK/USA production, so expect comments and explanations from both American and British scholars.

It is educational, although does slightly gloss over some important bits of Roman history. It's not comprehensive (forgivable because you'd need longer than 300 minutes to do this), but good if you only had a passing knowledge of ancient Rome.

It frequently compares the ideals of Rome to the ideals of the Founding Fathers of the U.S.

It does go through the main periods of Roman history, from its foundation as a province of the Etruscans, why Rome split from the Etruscans, its early days as a Republic, events leading up to it becoming an empire, days of empire and fall of empire. If you have an average (i.e. deficient) knowledge of Rome, it will educate you.

They didn't spend much money on filming scene recreations (unlike the excellent DVD - also available on Amazon - of "Ancient Rome - The Rise and Fall of an Empire", which was filmed with original footage), and tended to use old black-and-white footage from Hollywood blockbusters to illustrate points and historic events. But you got the idea, all the same.

Even with my limited knowledge of Roman history, I noticed some factual errors (they described Octavian as Caesar's son-in-law, when really he was his great-nephew, although Octavian later claimed Caesar as his adoptive "father").

Overall, though, worth the money if you do not know much about the Roman republic/empire and want a potted history. It is watchable, and for the money, I would recommend it.

No revelations here
I thought this was a bland documentary. It was very basic, with no new research. If you know anything at all about Rome, I don't think you will learn much from this. It's all old ground. The scholarship was quite poor. Legend and speculation were annoyingly related as though fact: the rape of the Sabine women, Lucretia and all that. The makers also had a pretty tedious way of comparing Rome to America whenever they could. It was clearly geared towards US audiences.

If you want a decent and insightful documentary on Rome, try the wonderful 'Ancient Rome: The Rise And Fall Of An Empire'. Engrossing.

Do NOT buy
Do NOT buy this. It is 300 minuts of radio were they use the same pictures again and again and again.