Rome: Rise And Fall Of An Empire

History Channel's 13-episode "Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire" is fast-moving and insightful, giving an overview of Rome's major military campaigns between the first barbarian war against the Roman Republic in the 2nd century BC and the last emperor in 5th century AD. The series is slick and well-edited, juxtaposing excellent battle recreations with punchy analysis by historical experts. Each episode is 44 minutes long (presumably leaving a lot of time for commercials when the series aired in one-hour slots on TV) and is as action-packed as military history gets. I particularly like how ancient Roman historians (Tacitus, Suetonius, Plutarch, et al) are continually quoted to describe events.Unfortunately, the exclusive focus on military exploits leaves the impression that Rome rose and fell on its military might, leaving out most of the political and religious/social factors that played a role in the empire. Rome's contribution to world culture and its system of religious worship is almost entirely neglected. In fact, I was surprised that the first episode launched right into the first barbarian war without any historical context whatsoever, as I had believed a series on the history of Rome would begin more fittingly with at least a nod to the foundational myths and earliest historical records of the Romans prior to the Republic's formation. In fact, the first episode is rather dull, presenting Rome's early expansion in a way that merely sets up the Roman-Barbarian opposition that this series sees as the sole fact in Rome's success and ultimate collapse.All the same, some of the episodes are truly excellent, particularly "Spartacus" (episode two) where we learn quite a bit about the slave revolt's stunning victories and little-known military tactics (i.e. the slaves rappelling off ropes to escape a mountain and the Romans building a defensive wall across southern Italy to trap the slaves) used by both sides. Some later episodes like "Constantine," describing the empire's Christianization, are fun and informative. Likewise, "Julius Caesar" (episode three) features an incredibly exciting summary of Caesar's stunning rise to power through the Gallic wars. The Caesar episode is so fixated on the Gallic wars that it gives us very little else, merely nodding at Marc Antony's presence in Caesar's army without giving any explanation whatsoever for Augustus succeeding Caesar (the entire fight for succession between Antony, Brutus, Octavian, et al is omitted) and becoming the first emperor. One wishes this episode had been drawn out a bit more or continued in the next episode. Still, it's pretty compelling in its overview of Caesar's rise to power.As the series progresses, one grows increasingly surprised at what is omitted by the producers, particularly the details of succession to the empire's throne. Augustus is almost entirely neglected except for his reactions to failures in the German campaign and Caligula's death is described almost as a footnote. After awhile, the series also becomes repetitive, giving so many battles and maps that one starts to tire of it. Many iconic moments in Roman history are ignored or brushed aside in favor of the war chronicles.In the final analysis, the series is extremely exciting and fun as a military history, particularly if you take it in episodic chunks at your leisure rather than trying to go through the whole thing in a short time frame. Each episode is a pretty rich feast of historical information compressed into a very brief timeframe, making it ideal for classroom use in a history course or study group. The box set is also one of the History Channel's better packagings, offering the four-disc set in a neat fold-out box that features attractive artwork and one special feature on the last disc ("Barbarian Battle Tech" documentary) that is fun for military hardware junkies. If you're a guy, you'll love the military history focus of the series, and it's an entertaining companion for any study of Roman history. It's just a bit light on context.

When those people who create those historical documentairies will learn that the roman empire did not ended in 476 AD and that Romulus the little augustus was not the last roman emperor ? There were another series in 2006 under the same title which also splited in various episodes about the roman empire and ended in the same way by saying that in 476 the empire ended in the west. In these 2006 series actors could talk in the episodes. This new 2008 series have actors but u hear only narrators talking. Never the less are very informative series with episodes which cover untold before stories of gaius marius against the barbarians in 110 BC, of the slaughter of three roman legions in 9 AD, of the lives of the emperors decius (249-251) and aurelius (270-275) and of the generals stilicko (in power from 395-408), ricimer (455-472), aegidius (455-465), majorian (emperor from 457-461) and finally of the events which happened in 476 of the deposition of romulus by odovacar in the 4rth of september in 476 BUT as i said before romulus was not the last roman emperor cause in the east zeno was emperor in new rome spoke latin and he and his successors were still recognized roman emperors by the western elites who minted coins bearing the emperors' names until 800 AD when charlemagne was crowned a new western roman emperor successor NOT to romulus but to the latest eastern emperor constantine VI (780-797). The real last western roman emperor was charles the fat who was deposed in 887 AD in the west and in the east the last emperor was constantine XI Palaiologus who was killed in 1453 AD. There is proof of what i'm saying even in these 2008 series i'm writing my review now as in the end they admited odovacar sent the imperial insigmia of romulus to zeno the eastern emperor thus acknowledging him as a sole roman emperor and even if this action meant the failure of the west it also meant that NOW IN 476 AD THE EMPIRE WAS UNITED AGAIN UNDER THE SOVEREIGHNITY OF THE EMPEROR REIGHNING IN NEW ROME AS IT WAS 150 YEARS AGO UNDER THE REIGN OF THE FIRST CONSTANTINE (324-337) AND 100 YEARS AGO UNDER THE REIGN OF THE GREAT THEODOSIUS (379-395). ENOUGH SAID (Any comments welcomed)

As I became more interested in learning about Rome I wanted to find a good documentary that would teach me about Rome, but I wasn't sure which documentary was worth choosing.After looking through all of the available Rome documentary's to pick from I finally decided to choose this documentary made by the History Channel. History Channel always makes good, accurate, and interesting documentary's but I was still skeptical and unsure if this was going to be a good documentary. In the end I decided to take a chance and was not disappointed at all. "Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire" is extremely well done and covers a wide variety of people and events during the 600 years that Rome ruled.1. The documentary covers multiple Roman Emperors (Julius Caesar, Augustus, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, etc.)2. The documentary covers multiple Roman Generals (Gaius Marius, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, Julius Caesar, Avidius Cassius, etc.)3. Covers multiple Roman conquests or attempted conquests (Britannia, Germania, Gaul, Macedonia, etc.)Overall this was an amazing documentary, every episode you learn a great deal about Rome and the leaders who led it throughout the centuries. The documentary is not boring at all, keeps you interested all the way through each episode, and teaches you nearly everything you want to know about the Roman Empire.If you're looking to learn more about Rome, and the Empire that ruled for nearly 600 years and want to find the right documentary, then this is definitely the documentary to pick. Definitely a 5 out of 5.

En la descripción marcaba que soportaba varias regiones pero al utilizar los DVDs en el equipo que tengo no lo reconoció, lo puse en mi computadora y funcionó correctamente. Con anterioridad había comprado ésta colección de DVDs pero en la tienda donde lo compré ya no lo venden, son excelente videos de la Historia de Roma.

Love this series, a in depth look at the roman empire from beginning to end. Great experts, and a brilliant narration throughout. I regularly watch it and i'm still blown away by the quality it betrays. A must have for all ancient history buffs.

This is the series that made me fall in love w/ Ancient Rome as a teenager. My grade 10 history teacher played an episode and it forever changed who I was. Sure - there are some inaccuracies and over-simplifications, but for casual or even intermediary viewing it certainly can teach. It also goes through some lesser known periods of Rome which is uncommon in documentaries. Be warned though - it also skips major moments/figures as well (there's only so much time in each episode and in the series). It's so hard to find this series online as Youtube constantly removes it in my country - but I'm ever so thankful it's can be purchased on DVD through Amazon.

ローマ帝国と周辺との攻防。繁栄から滅亡に至る過程が、映像+通しで鑑賞出来ます。無駄なドラマ要素なく、淡々としたナレーション、効果音も良い。放送当時の日本語吹替え版を狙っていたのですが、このオリジナルも◎。

I was thrilled to find this series, it explains causes behind the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, I never fully understood the chain of events that brought about the fall of Rome. Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire paints a vivid picture of what really happend, and I would recommend it to anyone to enjoys this subject matter.