Ancient Civilizations

Walk among the ancients in this fascinating “you are there” series! Meet legendary rulers, visit powerful places and experience the extraordinary customs of ordinary people in ancient times, from the Great Pyramids to the Roman Empire and beyond. You will gain insight into what it must have been like to experience the Ancient Roman sport of Gladiatorial battle. Expert commentary and cutting-edge graphics make the distant past come alive—with you at the heart of the action! No other collection brings you this close to the Ancient World. Each disc is available separately for $19.99 each.

Disc #1: Rome and Pompeii - Imagine being among the bloodthirsty thousands at a gladiator bout in the Colosseum or at the chariot races in Circus Maximus. Think of yourself among the decadent few in an ancient bath, theatre, temple, or palace. Pretend you are an eyewitness to the burning down of Nero's Rome. Feel the devastation caused by Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii. Thanks to the program's renowned team of Italian archeologists, historians, and 2-D video artists, this program makes it all possible with magnificent reconstructions of Rome and Pompeii as they existed 2,000 years ago. Satisfy your curiosity and experience these imperial cities and how the people in each one really lived.

Extra Feature: Faith Unconquered.

Disc #2: Athens and Ancient Greece - Ancient Greece is history's most unique civilization--and at last you can see why. Computer graphics, archival film, and classic art combine to recreate places and events never before seen. Tour the Acropolis in the 5th Century B.C. Stand before Delphi's Temple of Apollo where the oracle spoke. Gaze at the Statue of Athena and the Parthenon, the pride and joy of the people. Walk through the Agora, the Olympia (home of the Olympic Games), and the Temple of Zeus. Experience the daily life and customs of the people. Sail to Atlantis, the legendary lost continent. They are all brought to life in 2-D recreations that reveal everything you always wanted to know about Ancient Greece.

Extra Feature: Atlantis: In Search of a Lost Continent.

Disc #3: The Land of the Pharaohs - Travel back 5,000 years to Egypt! Marvel at the way wondrous structures were created with simple tools and massive manpower. Through computer reconstructions and the work of Egyptologists, you will experience the true splendor of Ancient Egypt by viewing two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World--the Great Pyramids and the Pharos Lighthouse at Alexandria. Explore the Temple of Luxor, the Temple of Ammon at Karnak, the Temple of Ramses, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, and the Great Temple of Abu Simbel with its four statues of Ramses II. No other program provides you with such an accurate sense of what Ancient Egyptian life was really like.

Extra Feature: Touring Egypt.

Disc #4: Fall of the Aztec & Maya Empires - The brilliant and powerful cultures of Mesoamerica (Olmecs, Zapotecs, Toltecs, Aztecs and Maya) believed that one day the God-man Quetzalcoatl would return from the east to claim his rightful throne. This idea was supported by a complex calendar and close observations of the heavens. The coincidental arrival of the Spaniard Hernando Cortez at the prescribed time fulfilled the fatal doctrine of the great Empire cities. Even before the Spaniards arrived in the 1520s, strife between the rival city-states had already weakened their lands. Many of the great Maya cities were deserted and left empty. This video story not only traces the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs and Maya, but also follows the journeys, in 1839, of New York explorer John L. Stephens to these strange and wonderful cities. Using computer graphic reconstruction, animated maps, classic art, reenactment and beautiful on-location cinematography, the viewer sees Teotihuacn, Cholula, Monte Albn, Chichn Itz, Tenochtitln, Tikal, Copn, Uxmal, and Palenque as they might have looked 1,000 years ago before defeat and decay brought about their tragic end.

Extra Feature: The Maya: Tombs, Temples & Time.

Disc #5: Gladiators: Bloodsport of the Colosseum - The Roman Colosseum was the setting for more terror, agony and horror than has ever been witnessed anywhere. Emperor Trajan gave one set of games that lasted 122 days, during which 11,000 people and 10,000 wild beasts were killed. Often the fresh blood of gladiators was used as a cure for epilepsy. It was also considered a good luck charm for brides-to-be to dip their combs in gladiator’s blood. Who were the gladiators? Where did they come from? How did they live? This fascinating video follows gladiators through their training, choice of costumes, weapons and style of combat to their rise to stardom and their inevitable violent death. So popular did some gladiators become that many Roman women were prepared to give anything to meet and be with the idol they worshiped. A compelling video insight into the violent, deadly world of the gladiators.

Extra Feature: Colosseum, House of Terror; Flamma, Gladiator Superstar; Gladiators of Hollywood, Training Killers, and more.

Disc #6: Cleopatra: The First Woman of Power - For centuries, the real Cleopatra has been shrouded behind legends and myths. Roman and Greek accounts—the records most widely scrutinized—have portrayed the Queen of Egypt as a brazen temptress who corrupted both Caesar and Marc Antony. But was this portrait an accurate one? Cleopatra: The First Woman of Power considers the legendary queen from the perspective of the Egyptians. Their records portray her as a visionary ruler and brilliant strategist, motivated not by wanton lust or greed but a genuine concern for her kingdom. The Egyptians saw Cleopatra as a strong leader who won the loyalty of a distrustful populace, resisted Roman rule for twenty years and amassed a fortune so great that Rome’s interest rates dropped by two-thirds when her treasure was brought there upon her death. This program utilizes re-enactments, original location footage and interviews with leading historians to look behind the legends and shed light on this woman who has captivated generations.

Extra Feature: Interactive menus; Biographies; Chapter search; Cleopatra facts; Dolby digital; Timeline.