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Empires The Roman Empire in the First Century
This could easily be considered a definitive Roman Empire
documentary that collects all four episodes of the television series
into one collection. Focusing on the Golden Age of the Roman Empire
which some historians and scholars believe was the first century, this
also saw
many defining moments for this culture.
Empires The Roman Empire in
the First Century is at times like a political documentary that is of
course matched with interesting historical facts. One of the first super
powers in the world, the Roman Empire expanded too fast which caused
cracks through its society and caused turbulent repercussions. This
documentary engages in a variety of these facts from the political
assassinations to the great expansion of the empire and is beautifully
narrated. Conquering thousands of kilometres of land from
Britain to the Middle East and even the borders of Asia, this
documentary contains the following episodes;
Episode 1 Order from Chaos
Episode 2 Years of Trial
Episode 3 Winds of Change
Episode 4 Years of Eruption
Episode 1 Order from Chaos focuses on one of the
greatest emperors of the Roman Empire, Augustus who was adopted by
Julius Caesar and after the murder of his great-uncle Julius Caesar, he
became a force to be reckoned with. After defeating the Egyptians,
Augustus came home a hero and even though he was a fair man in terms of
politics and his people, he had a brutal side as well. Ruling for over
40 years, Augustus created the true foundation of Imperial Rome.
Following Order from Chaos comes Episode 2 Years of
Trial and after the death of August in 14 A.D., his successor Tiberius
attempted to restore peace to not only the empire but the senate as
well. After politically defeating his rival Sejanus, the Emperor
Caligula came into the picture.
Although starting as a modest and fair
emperor, he became quite insane who ordered the death of many and
eventually finding death at the hands he had caused unjust. Following
Caligula as emperor came Claudius who worked extremely hard for liberty
within Rome such as increasing the privileges of woman and even giving
slaves rights. Quite a forefather in his politics, his personal life
would damage him as he finally ordered the death of his promiscuous
wife. During this episode, the outskirts of the Roman Empire are now
beginning to crack with unrest in Egypt against the Jews and emergence
of Jesus Christ.
Episode III Winds of Change begins with Claudia
remarrying and more concerning was that this was his niece Agrippina.
Quite a political player, Agrippina removed her political rivals and
even asserted her authority to make her son Nero, the legitimate heir of
the Roman Empire.
Eventually Agrippina poisoned her husband Claudia in
order to promote her son Nero to power. Unfortunately as fate would
dictate, Nero would eventually kill his mother to the shock of the Roman
public. In Britain, unrest has been caused by Boudicca, a rebel queen
and Judea is also feeling the unrest. Although Nero assisted the public
with new buildings and the like, stories were heard that Nero danced and
sung when Rome was burning.
Eventually Nero starts the persecution of
the Christians in order to move the attention from him which almost
causes Rome to fall into another dark age. Eventually the senate steps
in and before being able to execute Nero, he accepts, only to perform
the deed himself. Civil War is now a great risk to the Roman Empire.
Lastly, we have Episode IV Years of Eruption that has
generals and senate leaders bickering and warring amongst themselves as
to who will
become the new emperor of Rome. One general does succeed, Vespasian who
conquered the rebels in Judea and marched his army towards Rome to
eventually become emperor, however after one last attempt to squash the
insurgence in Judea that made him a hero.
Eventually Vespasian turns his
attention back to his people by creating new buildings such as the
Coliseum. Eventually Vespasian dies in 79 A.D. and the legendary city of
Pompeii is destroyed, once again Rome is left without a ruler but not
for too long. Eventually Trajan will be crowned as Emperor who once
again attempts to return Rome to a Golden Age and is almost
successfully.
With four truly engaging and amazing documentaries,
Empires The Roman Empire in the First Century is great for history and
non-history buffs alike as it is not too complex and quite down to earth
at times. The facts are told in a way that keeps the viewer interested
that is perfectly matched by the actual places where these events
occurred and the re-enactments. Another brilliant DVD from the Empires
series!
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