Customer Reviews

The Spartans

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The ancient Spartans were perhaps the most intense people to ever walk the face of the earth! I thought I knew all about them - I was wrong. I barely knew half the story.

This is a lengthy documentary: running over three hours. It's also surprisingly formatted in 16x9 widescreen, which was a joy. The picture is clean, bright, and mastered well. There's some re-enactments herein, a nice use of re-created "Spartan" music for the background score, and plenty and plenty of info, facts, trivia, ancient and modern quotations, and tidbits.

You'll get the whole story here: they leave little out - from Sparta's early beginnings, to it's strict social code, to it's intense training, it's subjectism of the neighboring Messenians, and the city-state's eventual decline. The only thing the documentary failed to capitalize on is the rise of the Macedonian powers and the fall of the various Greek city-leagues to Phillip II and his son Alexander the Great.

This documentary is excellent! It certainly helps that your host throughout the tour is a gorgeous British brunette with a sexy voice who walks around the various parts of Greece in tight bluejeans and sexy red tank tops. Aristophenes would have agreed no doubt. It's certainly a whole lot more interesting watching this intellectual beauty story-tell her way around the Greek islands than it would be to have a dull, monotone, male narrator VOG. She's alot easier on the eyes and her voice would launch a thousand ships to make Hellen of Troy seem pitiful. (I think I'm in love).

I've since watched this DVD from beginning to end several times now and it does not get redundant in the least! Indeed, I would recommend several viewings to absorb all the details it's so rich in research and information about ancient Sparta. Both the novice and casual observer will be highly entertained by this DVD, but hardcore scholars and history students will find a well-researched documentary that will add to their expertise as well.

Well worth every penny. I am proud to have it as part of my DVD collection for years to come.

Having taught "Ancient Greece" on the college level I was impressed with the PBS production of "The Spartans" and will no doubt make use of the video in class the next time around. Here is serious history in a comfortable format. Part travelogue with ample views of the pertinent areas in Greece (Hellas) this program transports the viewer to the important sites and makes history seem contemporary. Bettany Hughes serves as an amiable, well spoken, and informed host who is as engaging as the subject matter. While most subjects are handled quite well, Spartan society and constitution, the Persian Wars, the Peloponnesian Wars, and the singularly distinct status of Spartan women, there is one weakness. A bit more could have been said about the rise of Sparta's late rival, Thebes, and its great leader Epaminondas (who is not even mentioned). Beyond that watch, learn and enjoy.

An engaging documentary artfully assembled, this 2003 British production has been a hit for PBS in the United States, with the videos and tie-in book (the US edition of Paul Cartledge's The Spartans) often on backorder status. It is a rarity in that it gives Sparta its due for helping Greece resist the Persian threat and credits Sparta for its more enlightened attitude toward women. Although at times it may project a faint pro-Athens bias, host Bettany Hughes is a sympathetic and knowledgeable narrator. THE SPARTANS boasts terrific location photography by Douglas Hartington, with some impressive aerial shots of the Taygetus gorges. For the first time in a television documentary, we are treated to detailed examination of many artifacts in the Sparta Museum as well as shown many photos of archaeological excavations at Sparta. The atmospheric soundtrack is composed by Anthony Burke. Evocative reenactor footage is used - not as much as in the A&E production "Rise & fall of the Spartans," maybe, but effectively presented, even if the footage tends to be come repetitive by Part 3.

Part 1
THE SPARTANS opens at Thermopylae and with the epitaph of the Three Hundred -- and very stirring it is to hear this spoken in the original Greek -- before introducing some of the topics that will be addressed in the program. (Hmm. The claim that "male homosexuality was compulsory" is extremely dubious; the first boldfaced assertion as fact of a subject hotly debated among ancient and modern experts.) After the introduction, we journey to the Dark Ages of Greece, the end of the Achaean Age and the coming of the Dorian Greeks to the Peloponnesus and Laconia. An effective look at the development of hoplite warfare is presented. Next comes the Messenian conquest, then the establishment of the Spartan constitution. The upbringing of Spartan youths, warts and all, is then addressed at length. A good point is made that the sublimation of the individual as practiced by the Spartans can be very liberating - "the possibility of transcending your limitations as an individual and becoming part of something bigger and better." Spartan institutions are credited for initiating a system of political rights and responsibilities among its citizens centuries before other Greek states conceived of such things.

The finding of the so-called statue of Leonidas in 1925 is used to introduce the Persian Wars, which are then examined in detail. There is much footage of Thermopylae, including the eponymous hot springs, and the commentary casts the Spartans' self-sacrifice in terms that hearken to the Japanese samurai's bushido code.

Part 2
This segment begins by exploring at how Sparta and Athens fell out after the Persian Wars, with a look at Athenian politics and society and how these contrasted to Sparta's. This is a refreshingly non-partisan treatment, not hesitating to be equally critical of Athens. Women's life in Sparta is given much attention. Sparta comes off as considerably more enlightened, by modern Western standards, than Athens. (Interesting sidebar - in her remarks during a November 24, 2003, online chat with Channel 4 (UK) viewers, narrator Bettany Hughes, when asked where she'd have rather lived, Sparta or Athens, replied "Sparta. No doubt.") Hughes wryly notes how Spartan women were "objects of fear and fascination" to non-Spartan men. The legacy of these "radical" Spartan customs on later societies is discussed. Amusingly, whether by design or not, Hughes wears a scarlet dress for much of this sequence - fit garb for a Spartanette - and conducts her narration while striding purposefully about the Laconian countryside or riding on horseback in full exhibition of energetic Spartan vitality.

Lastly, the Laconian earthquake of 465 or 464 BC and subsequent helot revolt is noted and seen as the event that lit the sparks of conflict between Greece's two leading cities. The opening clashes of the Peloponnesian War and the Spartan disaster at Sphacteria ends Part 2.

Part 3
The last section of the film opens at Delphi and takes a look at Greek religion and Spartan attitudes toward the gods and oracles before resuming the history of the Peloponnesian War. Alcibiades, the Syracuse expedition, and Lysander are all examined, taking up half of Part 3. Then the period of the Spartan Hegemony is briefly described, shaped by the "crippled kingship" of Agesilaus and marked by power struggles among Sparta's ruling factions. Hughes notes the critical decline of Spartan citizen manpower and the rise of Thebes as a rival. She takes us to the battlefield of Leuctra, where Spartan military superiority was broken in 371 BC. The remaining sequences very quickly sketch how classical Sparta became a second-class power and finally a tourist attraction for wealthy Romans. The show concludes with a summation of Sparta's influence on Western philosophy.

THE SPARTANS is a standout documentary, wonderfully photographed and directed, and is highly recommended as a visual overview of Spartan history.

Those interested in further information about this production can read an online interview about "The Spartans" with classicist Bettany Hughes and historical consultant Paul Cartledge answering questions from viewers (November 2003) (...)

I was surprised by some of the negative reviews of "The Spartans" here on Amazon, because I honestly thought that this program was quite good, maybe just not quite in the style of what some viewers were expecting. I first saw it by chance on PBS and couldn't wait to get the DVD.

I can understand some of the comments about how it doesn't do things like get a variety of researchers and historians together for commentaries, or show 3D animations, or that the battle reenactment gets a bit repetitive after a while. However, it seems to have been the filmmakers' intention to use more of a "walking tour" approach, with host Bettany Hughes taking the audience by foot or by car around sites as they are today and explaining how things were like back in the day. The style of the program is very similar to walking tours I went on when I visited Italy back in college. This DVD is probably the next best thing to going over to visit the Spartan sites in person!

The location photography was terrific and the music was pretty solid as well. The presentation content was also strong and fits the walking tour format - informative and accessible to pretty much anyone, touching on major themes and ideas, and not getting too overly crammed with detailed statistics. All the major people and events in Spartan history are vividly described and analyzed. Alcibiades comes off like a rascal and Lysander seems like a clever fox. I highly recommend this show if you want to go walk around Greece and hear ancient history all in the comfort of your own chair!

Most modern documetaries take one of two paths: the Kenn Burns type (lots of vintage photos, celebrity voice-overs reading period material), or the Michael Wood type (modern expert in jeans wanders modern site of historic importance, describing the events and showcasing artifacts). This one takes the Wood approach, with a charming host reminiscent of the young Diana Rigg. Bettany Hughes is our expert, having a BA MA Hons in Ancient and Modern History from Oxford. She often delivers information with the hushed relish of a buddy sharing a particularly juicy bit of gossip. Its a great series that draws you in with nice visuals and music. Of particualr interest are the Hoplite reenactors, who have the commands and troop movements down flawlessly. This is worth re-watching for the depth of information, even if some of the conclusions (obviously from Paul Cartledge's book) are controversial. Ms. Hughes has a forthcoming book on Helen of Troy which should be worth a look.

The Spartans is actually three separate documentaries, which attempt to bring to life the legendary heroes of Lacedaemon.
On the positive side: 1) Shot on location, Bettany Hughes does a good job of presenting the actual setting for the events that unfolded.
2) She presents the Battle at Sphacteria of 425 BC, the Syracuse expedition of 415 BC, and the involvement of Alcibiades very well and very accurately.
3) The re-enactment of the hoplite phalanx throughout the documentaries added a nice touch.
4) The theme is Sparta after all; that in itself is a positive aspect!
On the negative side:
1) She does not mention half as much as she should about THE most heroic battle in world history; the Battle at Thermopylae; a three day battle (August 18th, 480 BC through August 20th, 480 BC) for the pass at Thermopylae (the Hot Gates) between an immense Persian host under King Xerxes and a small Greek force led by King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans. Unlike the Alamo, Custer's Last Stand, and many other glorious battles where the parties involved did not expect to be wiped out, the
Spartans and Thespians willingly held their positions knowing that they could not possibly win against overwhelming odds. When told that the Persian arrows would block out the sun, they replied 'Good, we will fight in the shade!'
2) Bettany Hughes mentions homosexual relationships between men, when the existing evidence surrounding the issue of whether homosexuality in ancient Greece, and especially in Sparta, was more or less accepted than today is inconclusive and the issue itself is highly controversial; therefore, calling for EXTREME CAUTION when dealing with such matters. She even goes as far as to proclaim that it was compulsory! What people do in their own bedrooms is their own business, but to involve Greece's great men and legends in alleged homosexual acts, shows complete lack of respect as well as lack of basic/elementary knowledge of the era in question, with most frequent the misinterpretation of love between friends which did not include anything sexual or homosexual whatsoever! The warrior-heroes themselves would be turning in their graves if they knew what is being written and said about them by people who are either misinformed or are purposely out to distort the truth in following their own personal agendas.
3) Moreover, there are so many stories relating to the honor and glory of the Spartan hoplites, which are left unsaid; instead only a few and mediocre at that were mentioned. What ever happened to:
i) The reason why they wore red cloaks.
ii) The reason why they had two kings and the names of the Royal Houses i.e. The Agiads and the Eurypontids.
iii) The story with the boy and the fox that ate its way through his stomach, but he did not cringe.
iv) The story of the stranger who asked the Spartans what happened to adulterers in Sparta, only to be told that they would have to pay as compensation a bull big enough to stand on Mount Taygetus and drink from the river Eurotas, meaning that there are no adulterers in Sparta.
v) The story of the mother who killed her son for having been hit with an arrow in the back (i.e. having turned his back to the enemy).
vi) The story of the mother who upon seeing her son's friend asked how the battle had gone and when her son's friend replied that her child had died, she told him that was not what she had asked; her question was whether Sparta had been victorious.
vii) The Queen of Sparta Gorgo, (and wife to King Leonidas) who when asked by a foreign woman 'how is it that Spartan women are the only ones who rule men?' she answered: 'Yes, for we are the only ones who give birth to men.'
viii) How in Sparta only men who died on the battlefield and women who died during, or shortly after, giving birth were entitled to having a tombstone erected in their honor.
ix) Pausanias' words following the Battle of Platae of 479 BC as to why his Spartans were eating Melas Zomos (the broth) instead of feasting like the rest of the Greeks, 'We are Spartans.'
x) Pausanias' fate after setting up a monument in the Hellespont commemorating the victory over the Persians.
4) In addition she does tend to go off and talk about the other city-states more than she should when the theme is Sparta and not Greece as whole.
Nevertheless, The Spartans will bring out interest in the famed inhabitants of Lacedaemon, and hopefully more books, movies, and documentaries will present these heroes (both men and women) with the reverence and respect they truly deserve.
Strongly recommended is the 1962 film The 300 Spartans; a movie about honor, real men, and real heroes who fought and died in the name of Greece and Freedom.

This is a documentary. Do not expect big battle reenactments. Not a lot of digitally rendered battles or anything either. Visually, this is a fairly dull documentary.

It is very informative, however, and I thought the pace and narration was good. It covers a swath of time, from the origins of Spartan civilization to their decline. It is not simply a description of various battles and wars and I think it offers you an interesting and rounded understanding of Spartan society and culture.

This is probably interesting to someone very curious about the Spartan with little to intermediate knowledge or someone happy to hear what they may already know from a slightly different persepctive. I enjoyed it and will watch it more than once.

This documentary covered what I had seen in other documentaries without anything really new. The only new thing I really couldn't stand was Bettany Hughes comparing the Spartans to the Nazis. This was so juvenile. It was a cheap sensationalist way to fill her narrative. She did it on more than one occasion. Comparing everything militant to the Nazis is old and out of date. Yes, the Nazis would have liked to imitate the Spartans is many ways, but the two cannot be compared. Please skip the cheap sensationalism when dealing with a very interesting ancient Greek society. There are much better documentares available made by the history channel. Its a shame to have such an otherwise good PBS production be wasted on poor narration.

The dvd covers the salient historical events, but also covers aspects of Spartan male life that they never taught us in high school. Covers Spartan women (enjoyed the story of Kynisca ... as will you). A cerebral/intellectual approach which exposes the very many unpleasant aspects of Spartan society. The roots of many of our English words is enlightening. Any chance the Spartan Crypteia was the source of the name for the street gang known as the Crypts? Yes, and the hostess is easy on the eyes.
Excellent dvd.
-- Louis J Sheehan

I will be a bit briefer than the other reviews. I have seen the entire series twice in HD on WNET PBS out of New York and will be purchasing the DVD - unfortunately there is no Blu-ray version, which is a shame. As a student of history and philosophy, and a lover of well-told stories and cinematography, this series shines in every respect. This is easily the best modern examination of the Spartans available. When most people think of ancient Greece, they usually think of the Athenians. This series will change their minds. In reality, the Spartans are just as important to ancient Grecian history. I also appreciated the very realistic and straight-forward depiction of Spartan society. As another reviewer mentioned, homosexuality was the norm for Spartans, who where amongst the greatest warriors in history. So much for the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of the US Armed Forces. It is an interesting contrast to our modern American "values". Homosexual soldiers didn't seem to affect the Battle of Thermopylae.

Lastly, Bettany Hughes is an absolute revelation. She can be my history professor anytime:) Seriously though, Hughes brings a great charisma, charm, and immediacy to this presentation, which she also contributed greatly to as a scholar as well as "host". The production values are also outstanding. This is a first-class production all the way. In my opinion, the only historical documentary in the last decade to surpass "The Spartans" is Michael Woods immensely ambitious "The Story of India".