Eagle Rock Entertainment.
Language
English
Description
The antecedents of modern Indian culture can be traced back to the Harappan civilization, which flourished between 2300 and 1500 BC in what are now Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Aryan tribes from the Russian steppes invaded the subcontinent in 1000 BC, bringing their language and culture. The resulting synthesis between the Aryan and Indian civilizations brought forth a unique society that included a caste system, which soon became entrenched. This...
2) The Tudors
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English
Description
With a French princess and Welsh courtier as its progenitors, the Tudor dynasty continued England's tradition of rule shaped by outside influence. This program examines the saga set in motion by Owen Tudor and Catherine of Valois, illustrating the events that led to the coronation of Henry Tudor and shedding light on the entire succession of Tudor monarchs. With the murderous power-grab of Richard III as counterpoint, the program explores the bloody...
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English
Description
From the rise of the Moghul empire under Babur in 1526 to the setting of the sun on the British Raj in 1948, this program surveys four centuries of history during which India slowly but decisively shook off foreign rule. Expert commentary on the pivotal politico-military struggles between the Moghuls, the Afghans, Great Britain, and the Indians by Dr. David Hardiman, of Oxford University; Dr. David Washbrook, of Warwick University; and historian Rakesh...
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English
Description
Stranded on an island by a plane crash that leaves all the adults dead, a group of schoolboys establish a primitive society in order to survive. However, their tribal community, begun on moral terms, decays into savagery and ends in a brutal murder. This allegorical novel, now a classic of 20th-century literature, probes the dark side of human nature that lurks beneath the thin veneer of civilization. In this program-enriched by footage from the 1963...
5) The Normans
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English
Description
To William, the Duke of Normandy, England was "Angleterre" or the Old French equivalent-and in 1066 the country became as French as William could make it. This program describes the Norman invasion that ended Anglo-Saxon rule, summarizes William the Conqueror's transformative reign, and profiles the six rulers who followed him. How Henry I wrested the crown from his brothers and solidified royal authority, how Stephen of Blois succeeded instead of...
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English
Description
Parliamentarian, Puritan soldier, treasonous regicide, Lord Protector of England: Oliver Cromwell was all of these things, and this program scrutinizes his eventful life against the turbulent backdrop of 17th-century English political unrest. After the victory of his unstoppable Ironsides at Marston Moor and the decisive defeat of Royalist forces at Naseby by his New Model Army, Cromwell's forces deposed Charles I, defeated the Irish and Scots, and,...
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English
Description
This program explores the many similarities among tribal nations, including a profound respect for nature, myth, and tradition; matriarchal governance; a communal lifestyle; a belief in an afterlife; and the use of pictographs, symbols, and patterns rather than an alphabet-based language. Also featured are brief scenes of re-created warfare: the French and Iroquois vs. the British as a part of the Seven Years' War and the Sioux and Cheyenne vs. the...
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English
Description
While King Lear has again and again been described as Shakespeare's greatest work-the tragedy in which he exhibits most fully his multitude of literary powers-it is the least read, and for many, the most difficult to analyze. In this program, key scenes are dramatized. Noted Shakespearean experts, Professors Robert Smallwood and Stanley Wells, take on the task of examining Lear's enigmatic character and the often obscure topics and themes that comprise...
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English
Description
At a time when revolutionary France was assailed from all sides, there emerged a young military officer whose genius and ambition assured him of great fame-and notoriety. In this program, Dr. David Chandler-world-renowned authority on the Emperor Napoleon and author of The Campaigns of Napoleon-provides full commentary on the strategies and tactics of the Napoleonic Wars. Large-scale reenactments bring to life the military campaigns that so strongly...
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English
Description
This work-the only Shakespeare tragedy considered to have its roots in the classics-is a study in contradiction. Though it is about the character of Brutus, it has Caesar as its dominant figure. This and other complexities and themes of the drama are investigated through the performance of key scenes by noted Shakespearean experts from the Shakespeare Centre and the Shakespeare Institute, Stratford-upon Avon. Themes and topics include politics and...
11) Ancient Egypt
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English
Description
For almost 3,000 years, the pharaohs ruled a civilization that is arguably the grandest of the ancient world. This program sheds new light on this enigmatic empire, offering information on the god-kings, the construction of the pyramids, religions and cults, mummification and burial rites, the Rosetta Stone, and the vast treasures of Tutankhamen. Interviews with noted Egyptologists, a professor from Cairo University, the chief inspector at the archaeological...
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English
Description
As the North American colonies of France and Great Britain continued to spread, friction and outright violence between New France and New England became inevitable. Placing the French and Indian War in its larger political context, this program traces the war's progress to the Battle of Quebec. In a bold stroke, the British deployed on the Plains of Abraham under cover of darkness-and a mere fifteen minutes of combat spelled the beginning of the end...
13) The Celts
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English
Description
Nearly 3,000 years ago, those who first mastered iron became the first masters of Europe: the Celts. This program documents the Hallstatt and La Tene Celts, separating them from myth and legend. Historians and scholars discuss the history, values, and lifestyle of this warrior society, exploring topics that include the roles of the druids, bards, and seers; the political hierarchy in Celtic society; and human sacrifice. Battle reenactments are also...
14) The Aztecs
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English
Description
Aztec myth prophesied that a great city would one day stand on the site where an eagle, perched on a cactus with a serpent in its mouth, was found. Today, Mexico City stands on this mythical site. Although the Aztec Empire fell on April 28, 1521, when Hernando Cortes and his army defeated Montezuma, traces of the thousand-year-old pre-Columbian empire still survive and influence world culture. This program explores Aztec culture and history, from...
15) Paradise lost
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English
Description
Patterned on Greek and Roman classics, yet achieving a voice of its own by defying the strict dictates of classical subject matter, Milton's epic poem is a masterpiece of monumental proportions. His diverse and often awesome use of language creates an effect as surreal and powerful as Dante's Inferno. This program features probing analysis by Professors Thomas Winnifrith, University of Warwick, and Robert Wilcher, University of Birmingham. Topics...
16) Ancient Britons
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English
Description
In this program, experts explore the history of the British Isles from the ice age of 30,000 years ago to pre-Celtic times in search of evidence of the ancient Britons-the Neolithic "Dawn People. From Orkney to Wessex, their ancient societies left enough archaeological evidence to answer some questions-and to raise others. This has prompted much speculation about Stonehenge, the nature of the Britons' religious beliefs and rituals, and the extent...
17) Ancient Rome
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English
Description
At its zenith, the Roman Empire included North Africa, Spain, France, and Britain. The wealth that these conquests generated allowed Roman citizens to live in a sumptuous world of beautifully decorated homes and opulent cities. In this program, scholars discuss Roman unification of Europe, Roman culture and institutions, and the family structure. The role of the army as a major force in Roman society and politics, along with its military structure...
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English
Description
The Ottoman Empire, from the sacking of Constantinople to the end of the 16th century, encompassed Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Algeria, Lebanon, Egypt, Spain, and Turkey. This program examines the structure of this empire, from the family to religion and bureaucracy. The role of the powerful doshan, young Christian peasant boys who were abducted and educated to serve the sultan, is also discussed, along with the role of women. Maps and scholarly...
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English
Description
Although Hernan Cortes hardly considered himself the reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztecs did-and his conquest of Mesoamerica utterly destroyed their world, exactly as prophesied. In this program, Spanish historian and Oxford University professor Sir John Elliott and cultural historian Dr. Elizabeth Baquedano survey political, cultural, and religious aspects of Aztec civilization; analyze Cortes' military campaign in detail; and discuss Spanish...
20) The Hanoverians
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English
Description
As the 18th century dawned, foreigners continued to dominate the English royal line. This program profiles the four Kings George and William IV, and their significance in the German House of Hanover. Beginning with the rancorous relationship between George I and II, the program explores the origin of the position of Prime Minister, the courtly rivalry between George II and his son Frederick-expressed largely through opera sponsorship-and the American...