Product Details

• Format: Box set, Black & White, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 4
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• VHS Release Date: October 19, 1999
• Run Time: 200 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0767022157
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #152,893 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Choosing the 100 greatest people of the past millennium is an audacious task and one that's pretty much guaranteed to invite criticism and dispute. As General Norman Schwartzkopf asks in Biography of the Millennium, how can you possibly rank these folks? But choose and rank is what A&E does, as they count down the 100 most influential people of the past 1,000 years until they reach the single individual named the person of the millennium. Writers, philosophers, artists, musicians, politicians, monarchs, inventors, explorers grace this list, and modern luminaries comment on the selections. Without giving away too many of the surprises (and these are in no particular order), we will say that Dr. Ruth and Gloria Steinem give thoughts about Margaret Sanger; C. Everett Koop explains the work of William Harvey; David Remnick, author of Lenin's Tomb and editor of The New Yorker, discusses Karl Marx; and Richard Holbrooke looks at Mikhail Gorbachev. Many of the selections are bold; some will appear obvious. But regardless, this special Biography is captivating viewing and a great launching pad for an evening of friendly debate. --Jenny Brown

Product Description

They are our greatest scientists and artists. Our most admired thinkers and dreamers. From revolutionaries to saints, explorers to philosophers, this epic set counts down the 100 most influential people of the past 1,000 years. To assemble this landmark program, BIOGRAPHY. conducted a survey of scholars, scientists, journalists, artists and viewers. Among those asked to rank the 100 most important people of the millennium were Henry Kissinger, Kofi Annan, Isaac Stern, David Remnick and Bob Ballard. BIOGRAPHY then tabulated the results and produced a mini-profile of each of the 100 people who made the final list. The result is a fascinating, whirlwind tour through history, a kaleidoscopic landscape of the personalities who have shaped the world. And the countdown format eventually reveals the individual BIOGRAPHY has chosen as the "Person of the Millennium." From Genghis Khan to Thomas Edison, Bill Gates to Margaret Sanger--these are the people who have done the most to shape our world today.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than I expected, October 12, 1999

By 

Ronald Hoeflinger "President, Houston Great B... (Sugar Land, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Biography of the Millennium: 100 People -1000 years [VHS] (VHS Tape)

These milennium-based programs are usually weak and very subjective, but this one is the exception. The choices are, for the most part, significant people who have influenced those that followed in some major way.

The real strength in this program is the connecting narrative. Rather than treat each person as totally distinct, the emphasis is on the connections between the people on the list. For example, Copernicus to Galileo to Newton.

Harry Smith is very engaging as the host/ narrator. This is a good show to watch with a group of friends. It will certainly stimulate some interesting discussions, and may even move you to purchase some individual bios, either on video or even some of the excellent printed bios of these world-movers.

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WATCH THIS VIDEO, December 6, 1999

By 

Gus Macuil (Alta Loma, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biography of the Millennium: 100 People -1000 years [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I caught this program on cable a few weeks ago and was blown away with its concise and very interesting information. It held my attention throughout the whole series and I am excited to be able to purchase it. Anyone who wants to brush up on their history knowledge will want to see this video. Its a must for teachers who can use it!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars history teacher writes, December 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Biography of the Millennium: 100 People -1000 years [VHS] (VHS Tape)

to feeler, Jesus couldn't be listed #1: he was not on earth during the last millennium.
to stinky: get some education, and try again when you know what's what.

THIS is an outstanding film, and I use it to teach modern history, even as I disagree with much of it. It's great at boiling things down to their essences...