The History Channel Presents Julius Caesar's Rome | Julius Caesar's Rome

The History Channel Presents Julius Caesar's Rome | Julius Caesar's Rome | Better than expected, but not a PBS-like scholarly documentary

DVDs:

The History Channe...

	The History Channel Presents Julius Caesar's Rome Julius Caesar's Rome A&E Home Video, 2005 average customer review:based on 15 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

Throughout history, civilizations have come and gone, but few have altered the world as immensely as the Roman Empire. From its legendary founding by Romulus and Remus to its magnificent takeover of the Mediterranean to its eventual fall amidst the rise of Christianity, the many lasting influences of the Roman civilization remain with us today. Experience documentary history at its best and bear witness to the rise and fall of an empire with THE HISTORY CHANNEL® PRESENTS: ANCIENT ROME.

Good for high school students

I purchased this DVD in order to have some videos on ancient Rome to show to my high school Latin classes, for which I am the teacher.

First off, there are 5 hours worth of video, with segments covering the Roman Republic, Empire, notable figures such as Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, etc. So it's a good value for the price.

The facts in videos themselves are accurate and well elaborated. Visual aids are accordingly approriate.

Also, delicate topics such as sex or violence are tastefully and scholastically presented.

for more information click here

Better than expected, but not a PBS-like scholarly documentary

This DVD set is far better than what some reviewers led me to believe specially when compared to "Rome: Power & Glory" set.

Let me explain why should one own this video:

- It visually communicates the history of the entire Ancient Roman civilization and in a typical History Channel's highly digestable fashion of populistic presentation of history subjects.(i.e. "Popular Science" for History)
It very nicely outlines the sequence of events that led to Roman Republic, ascension into an Empire and to an eventual decline.

- It is broken up into logical episodes that allow for viewing over time. Material is long so it would be hard for many to watch it one sitting.

- Events are presented through reanactments, real footages of the locations, statues or objects, and through explanations by historians
(and some citations from Roman writers or philosophers).

Issues to keep in mind:

- This is not a PBS documentary (like marvelous PBS "The Greeks" from "Empires" PBS series). Do not expect scholary, highly intelectual presentation and the elegance that I expect to see from PBS.

- DVDs are unfortunatelly reversed. DVD 2 gives you a historical overview of the Ancient Rome where DVD 1 covers the biographies. I absolutely recommend watching DVD 2 first.

- I could live without some re-enactments

In summary, if you are interested in educating your family, friends or generally non-well initiated students to Ancient Rome this is a very good DVD. If you are scholar looking from some high quality video material you may need to look further - this one is too populistic.

I do absolutely recommend this video over Rome: Power & Glory.

for more information click here

Two disc set

I was very interested while watching the first DVD. The second is not about Julius Caesar. The cover is a bit misleading. The history is good though.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3

products you might be interested in