Legacy - The Origins of Civilization

Starring:Michael Wood
Director: Peter Spry-Leverton
Studio: Carlton
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
Historian Michael Wood stands in the Iraqi desert amid crumbling ruins and dry desolation. He describes a once-thriving metropolis, where merchants brought their goods into the city over a network of lush canals. All that remains is a sea of golden sand, the once-large population drifted away, the comples society vanished. As the world approaches the 21st century, this new series reminds us that other nations and cultures prospered for hundreds or even thousands of years. Now all that remains is the legacy of their civilizations, present and influential in our own.

Shot on location on four contients, Legacy takes a different viewpoint from other series that concentrate primarily on the the Western view of history. Visiting China, India, Egypt, the Middle East, Greece and Meso-America, this series traces the rise of both Asian and western civilization.

This series results from an international effort, a co-production of Maryland Public Television and Central Independent Television, U.K. in association with NHK, Japan and the British Museum.

Description

Historian Michael Wood stands in the Iraqi desert amid crumbling ruins and dry desolation. He describes a once-thriving metropolis, where merchants brought their goods into the city over a network of lush canals. All that remains is a sea of golden sand, the once-large population drifted away, the comples society vanished. As the world approaches the 21st century, this new series reminds us that other nations and cultures prospered for hundreds or even thousands of years. Now all that remains is the legacy of their civilizations, present and influential in our own.

This series results from an international effort, a co-production of Maryland Public Television and Central Independent Television, U.K. in association with NHK, Japan and the British Museum.

Hosted by historian Michael Wood ("River Journeys") and ("Travels"). Produced by Peter Spry-Leverton ("Making of Mankind") and ("Japan").

Customer Reviews:

Naive, slightly dippy, fun and five stars!.......2006-04-15

This is a whirlwind tour of the history and origins of four distinct civilizations. Wood is a little too "aw shucksy" through the whole thing, if a Brit can be that, and very quick to laud the accomplishments of ancient civilizations and present them as a counterpoint to the excesses and short-sightedness of the West. At times his love-fest with the Eastern past is a little naive, overlooking the negative. It's a detailed yet shallow and unsophisticated reading of history, and the anti-Western slant is occasionally a little mean-spirited (but not necessarily incorrect). So why five stars?

It's still FUN. And a viewer can learn a lot. If you are a sophisticated viewer you'll immediately see through the series' limitations and still pick up some goodies. If the viewer is not so experienced in history it will make him or her re-examine their views of the ascendency of the West. In the end, as a counterpoint to the West's jingoism and ethnocentrism this series is a welcome and valuable contribution, despite or perhaps because of its rather hackneyed approach. Should be required viewing for all, if nothing else as a jumping-off point for discussion.

The author needs to read much more .......2005-09-23

I think the author needs some more reading. He completely ignores the Persians and their significant contribution to the world's civilisation. Artworks with Persian handwritings in them have been presented as Arabic or Indian. Persian is a completely language from Arabic and they have no common roots at all. Indian language only has some common roots with the Persian language but the two languages are completely different.
Persian scientists have been called Arabs. For example, Zakariya Razi was not Arab and was born in Iran (Ray an ancient city located near Tehran, Iran) and lived in Iran. He was born in Ray (in Persian language Razi means from the city of Ray), an ancient city located near Tehran, the capital of Iran, and pursued a great amount of his education and his research there. Razi was placed in-charge of the first Royal Hospital at Ray.
I looked in this book to find some thing about great people like Zoroaster, Darius, Cyrous, Hovakhshatra or great places like Persepolis. But I found nothing.
It is not only ignorance, but it is also assigning a nation's heritages and prides to others. I hope the author reads some basic books on ancient Iran.

Beautiful and engrossing.......2005-09-01

This is a wonderful series...beautifully photographed, and thoroughly engrossing. Michael Wood's enthusiasm for his subject is infectious. His narration is far from stale lecture - it is accessible, expressive and deeply moving at times.

What I enjoyed most about the series was the fact that there were no "dramatic re-enactments" of historical places, people and events. (...as NBC did in a mini-series made a few years after the release of "Legacy," complete with lots of simulated violence.) Rather than using computer generated models of cities, Wood takes us to the actual sites, passes through their crumbling walls, walks their time-worn streets and makes them come alive for us.

Many of those cities are inhabited to this day, and rather than use costumed actors to depict the ancient residents, we instead see them reflected in the faces of their living descendants. We see how something of the ancients endures to this day in the appearance and customs of common people, often in unexpected ways. We learn that human nature hasn't changed over the millenia as much as we might like to believe it has...a bit disheartening at first, but Wood shares his hope that we might learn from the mistakes of those who came before us.

I had just started to transfer my worn VHS tapes to DVD when I discovered they are now available in that format!

Capturing the essence of the ancient world.......2005-08-02

I found this series of documentaries to be well presented, thought provoking, and enlightening. Recommended viewing to anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of the world and its cultures. You come away feeling proud of human achievements and with a true sense that an open mind about our fellow man is both practical and the only way in which to develop. A truly international historical and cultural guide, well scripted and very enjoyable.

Been waiting for this on cd for years ! .......2005-07-28

This pbs series made in the 80s will explain why we are where we are in the world today.It shows how the western world got to where it is.It is a valuable tool in understanding world civilizations and their cultures.I think if world leaders would have watched this series we might not be at war.People need to understand the great differances in cultures.

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