Product Details

• Actors: Various
• Format: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 6
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Questar
• DVD Release Date: March 9, 2004
• Run Time: 570 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0001MMGSG
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,582 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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’ll see the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and discover why they were built! 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. 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. This program makes it possible through its magnificent reconstructions of Rome and Pompeii. Bonus Program: Faith Unconquered: The Roman Persecution of Early Christians Disc 2: Athens and Ancient Greece - Ancient Greece was a civilization like no other in history—and at last you can see why. Computer graphics, archival film, and classic art combine to recreate places and events never before seen outside the imagination. Bonus Program: Atlantis: In Search of a Lost Continent Disc 3: The Land of the Pharaohs - Ancient Egypt awakes—and this magical program is there to capture it. Through computer reconstructions, this program takes you back 5,000 years to a civilization that could create wondrous structures with the most primitive tools and human hands. Bonus Program: Touring Egypt Disc 4: Fall of the Aztec & Maya Empires - The Aztec and Maya Empires return—for one glorious hour. Reenactments and computer reconstructions recreate Aztec and Mayan cities as they may have looked 1,000 years ago, just before defeat and decay. Bonus Program: The Maya: Temples, Tombs & Time Disc 5: Gladiators: Bloodsport of the Colosseum - "Modern-day reenactors, gladiator movie clips, sumptuous footage, an incredible computer-generated tour, and actor David Hemmings’s eloquent narration are among the ‘to die for’ features of this fabulous production." —Booklist Extra Features: Colosseum, House of Terror • Flamma, Gladiator Superstar Gladiators of Hollywood • Training Killers • Fighting Men of the Arena • Fearful Facts Disc 6: Cleopatra: The First Woman of Power - Narrated by Anjelica Huston, this program offers an Egyptian perspective, showing the legendary ruler as a brilliant strategist and strong leader. Extra Features: Interactive Menus • Biographies • Timeline • Cleopatra Facts

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dull and Uninformative, July 24, 2005

By	ivan vogrin - See all my reviews

I've watched many films about ancient civilizations and this is one of the dullest and most uninsightful I've ever watched. The set is titled ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS but as you watch the first 2 DVDs they are titled "Great Cities of the Ancient World'. The first 4 DVDs basically just examine present ruins ( Rome, Pompeii, several Greek regions, Egyptian ruins and Mayan and Aztec Ruins).The ruins are discussed then computer graphics are used to reconstruct what they might have looked like in their full glory. If you decide to travel to these regions it might actually be very useful to take along and appreciate what the present day sight might have looked like in the past.
I found the Rome and Greek DVD very poor. The best one was the Mayan and Aztec DVD and offered more insight into the culture and history of these people. It was also more dramatic and offered some original perspective on the reason and history of sacrifice.
I would recommend a host of other titles over this set. As a series giving a general overview of many civilizations, Time Life's "LOST CIVILIZATIONS" is far superior.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ancient Civilizations - 9 Hours of learning and entertainment, August 9, 2005

By	Mysterious Mr Wong "MovieViewer" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

6 discs come in this DVD package, 9 hours - Disc 1 - Rome and Pompeii - Disc 2 - Athens and Ancient Greece - Disc 3 - The Land of the Pharaohs - Disc 4 - Fall of the Azrec and Maya Empires - Disc 5 - Gladiators: Bloodsport of the Collosseum - Disc 6 - Cleopatra: The First Woman of Power.
I found the complete set both entertaining and educational. The first four discs each have a bonus feature, Discs 5 & 6 have extra features:
Disc 1 Bonus - Faith Unconquered. The Roman persecution of Early Christians.
Disc 2 Bonus - Atlantis: In Search of a Lost Continent.
Disc 3 Bonus - Touring Egypt
Disc 4 Bonus - The Maya: Temples, Tombs & Time
Disc 5 Extra Features - Colosseum, House of Terror - Flamma, Gladiator Superstar - Gladiators of Hollywood - Training Killers - Fighting Men of the Arena - Fearful Fists
Disc 6 Extra Features - Interactive Menus - Biographies - Chapter Search - Cleopatra Facts - Timeline

We enjoyed the set and recommend it to lovers of these documentaries.

3.0 out of 5 stars Okay, June 28, 2008

By	Kevin Walker (Newark Valley, NY) - See all my reviews

The DVDs are okay. Plenty of good information, but a dreadful narrator for most of the programs. If you don't mind boring narration, these DVDs are okay.