TREASURES OF ANCIENT ROME

EXPLORING ROME ART THROUGH THE AGES

Art critic and broadcaster Alaistair Sooke is on a quest, apparently to bust the myth that the mighty Romans did not encourage art and whatever little they did was in fact borrowed from the Greeks. I am doing an online course on Roman architecture on the free learning platform Coursera (Link) and though I am no authority on this topic, I am certainly not aware of the existence of such a 'myth'. As our tutor, Diana Kleiner from the Yale University takes us through the syllabus, showing us the magnificent shrines, the splendid villas and the exquisite entertainment quarters that dot the numerous Roman cities across Campania, my belief is further strengthened. Perhaps, this is the only flaw in what is otherwise a superb three part series from BBC Four, first aired in 2012.

The first episode 'Warts and All' is about the art that developed and prospered in the days of the Republic with bust representing the actual facial characteristics of the subjects; the next episode titled 'Pomp and Perversion' examines the changes introduced with the rise of the Julio-Claudian dynasty in the imperial city and the last part 'The Empire Strikes Back', Sooke discusses the achievements in Roman arts even as the empire itself was crumbling and its assimilation into Christian art, thereby forming the basis of the modern Western Art as a whole. One thing that the makers deserve credit for is the in this 'quest', they have traveled far and wide, from the erstwhile empire's epicenter in Rome to other parts including France, Britain, Libya et all. Secondly, it goes beyond the  works of art that one is more likely to be familiar with - Roman busts and the more famous public buildings including the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Villas of the Emperors and the Temples. Here, Soothe explores the other aspects in which they expressed their creativity genius including the wall paintings adorning the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii, the delicately carved silver and glassware, the elegant carvings that embellish the sarcophagi of the generals and so on. Also, we get a perspective of the few modern artisans and sculptors who are still creating these using the same material and more or less the same techniques as did the Roman couple of millennia ago.

When we think of Rome or things Romans, the pictures that come to our mind are that of an imperialistic race intend on subjugating the barbarians on its borders, of powerful men like Caesar, Augustus, Aurelius and Trajan prevailing over the enemies, of the bloody gladiatorial contests that took place within the Colosseum and so on. It is rather easy to overlook the artistic genius that was produced within the city and its colonies. This is where the USP of the series lies; as I have mentioned earlier, it breaks the tradition and views Roman art through the lesser known and lesser famous art forms and artifacts. Certainly, it is must see for all the people who love Rome and things Roman!

RIVERS AND LIFE

THE STORIES OF SIX OF THE WORLD'S ICONIC RIVERS

Produced by National Geographic Society, this six part series celebrates six of the world's most iconic rivers and the manner in which they have impact the lives, the culture and the history of the people who inhabit their banks since the beginning of recorded history. As we journey from their source to the point where they drain into the ocean, a special focus is made on educating the viewer regarding the problems that plague these massive water bodies and what would happen if the disappear, a scary thought for one. Each episode, lasting for about an hour is narrated by John Morgan and tells the saga of one river. The rivers covered in the series include the Amazon, the Ganga, the Mississippi, the Nile, the Rhine and the Yangtze.

Like most documentaries produced by the NGS, the camera work is splendid. Be it the shots of the Amazonian rain forests or that of the aarti to the Ganga along the ghats of Varanasi, the entire series is for sure a visual treat. The information is concise and is presently in a nice manner; the journey begins from the source and as we flow towards the mouth, there are stop overs at villages, towns and cities that are situated along its bank where we are told of the cultural and historical importance of the river and its association with the lives of the people who live along it. Rather than being a plain narrative, we are also told about the people whose very existence is dependent on the river and their side of the story is also recounted; this helps in understanding the importance of the river and the ways in which it has touched people's lives socially, historically and culturally. The threats to the existence of these rivers in the form of global warming, dam construction, discharge of pollutants and over exploitation is also talked about.

Perhaps, adding more rivers to the list, for example, the Indus or the Danube and the Euphrates would make it all the more comprehensive. I hope the makers are listening and that we soon have a second season of this otherwise brilliant series. This was the first time that I was watching a documentary on topics other than history or wildlife and I did enjoy it.

ENGINEERING AN EMPIRE

EXPLORING SOME OF THE GREATEST CIVILIZATIONS

Narrated by Michael Caroll and hosted by actor cum history professor Peter Weller, the History Channel documentary series - Engineering an Empire was originally telecast between October 2006 and January 2007. In fact, the precursor to the series, titled 'Rome' was a massive hit and it won two Emmys out of the four categories it was nominated in, way back in 2006. It was the success of the premiere that prompted the makers to produce an entire series regarding some of the greatest civilizations that sprang up in various parts of the world across the ages.

With a run time of approximately 45 minutes per episode, the series talks about fourteen different human cultures that defied all odds and pushed the frontier of human imagination as far as arts, science, technology, architecture and warfare are concerned. Since the makers have not restricted themselves to any particular period in human history, we travel from pre-Christian civilizations from Egypt, Rome and China to modern power houses of Europe including Britain, France and Russia. The use of computer graphics to explain the advancement of these peoples particularly in architecture and warfare makes the series all the more interesting. And Peter Weller's coarse voice and enthusiasm that he puts in is another positive. Not many historians have this art of engaging the audience. The 14 civilizations covered include:

(1) Rome

(2) Egypt

(3) Greece

(4) Greece: The Age of Alexander

(5) The Aztecs

(6) Carthage

(7) The Maya: Death Empire

(8) Russia

(9) Britain: Iron and Blood

(10) The Persians

(11) China

(12) Napoleon: Steel Monster

(13) The Byzantines

(14) Da Vinci's World

On the flip side, the series fails to do justice to the Asian cultures while focusing more on Europe. Civilizations like India, the Arab world and Japan seemed to be ignored completely. Certainly, it would have been better to add these to the list. However, this is something that one can ignore considering that the series makes for a decent viewing.

ROME - A HISTORY OF THE ETERNAL CITY

JOURNEY FROM PAGANISM TO CHRISTIANITY

It is not always that I watch a three hour long documentary twice; after all, there are so many good documentaries to watch out there. However, I just could not resist myself from watching BBC Four's three part documentary - Rome: A History of the Eternal City for the second time this week. Of course, I have a special liking for the Roman Empire in general and the city of Rome in particular. But it is the content and the manner in which it has been presented in this series that makes it a must watch for all history buffs.

While there have been many documentaries and docu-dramas in the past that have focused on the city from the perspective of it being the epicenter of one of the world's greatest empires, there is fairly less content available on reel that explores Rome's role as one of the world's most important cities and the part that its association with religion has played in it over the years. This is precisely the biggest USP for the series. The music is catchy, though at times, it is not always relevant or required. Another thing that works in the favor of this documentary is the cinematography of the beautiful city of Rome; the documentary makers have gone much beyond the usual places that are shown in other documentaries and it is a treat to the eyes even as the narrator descends into the sewers of the city.

Narrated by historian and author Simon Sebag Montefiore, the series sees the 2,700 year old history of Rome from its establishment as a city in 7^th century BC to the present day as the centre of the Catholic faith, albeit the focus is not on the emperors, the wars that they fought or scientific advancements of these people but on the religion and the manner in which shaped and reshaped the city, its population and their fortunes over these three millennia.

In the first installment City of the Sacred, Montfiore explores Rome's pagan past at a time when the Romans, like so many other people in contemporary world worshiped the Gods of Thunder, Rain, Learning, War and so on. As the city fortunes and its empire grew, mighty temples were raised in the honor of these Gods who were looked upon as the protectors of the city and its people, the rituals in their became more elaborate and they even assimilated deities from foreign lands during tough times. Over a period of time as Rome transformed from a republic into an empire, the Emperors too were added to the ever-increasing Pantheon of Roman Gods.

In the second episode - The Divine Gamble, Montifiore talks about how Christianity begins to spread across the Holy City after the martyrdom of Saint Peter and how the early Christians are persecuted by the Pagan Roman Emperors. In fourth century, Emperor Constantine embraces Christianity, a move that changes not only the history of the city but also that of the entire Western World as we know it today. In the coming centuries although the Empire has faded into history, the power and the influence of the Popes of Rome rises with the Christianization of Europe, making them one of the most influential power players in the continent and thereby helping Rome stay relevant. At the end of the first millennium AD, the power struggle between the Popes and kings of various European kingdoms as well as the corruption that has engulfed Roman Catholic Church diminish the Papal authority to some extent.

In the last episode - The Rebirth of God's City, the author starts with the return of the Papacy to Rome from Avignon and how the Church saw off the threat posed by the Western Schism. During the Renaissance, fabulous churches are erected across the length and breadth of the eternal city and embellished with fabulous art works that focus both on Christian traditions as well as the pagan mythology. However, with the increase in the excesses of the Pope and the Roman Church as a whole, Martin Luther launches Protestantism which shakes the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church and forces it to reform. In the nineteenth century, Italian nationalism grows and the Papal states are annexed by the new state of Italy. Mussolini ends the stalemate as Vatican City recognized as a separate country with the Pope as its head.

EMPIRES: THE GREEKS - CRUCIBLE OF CIVILIZATION

THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ATHENIAN EMPIRE

Please don't go by the name. This three part documentary with a total run time of over 150 minutes, published by PBS as a part of its 'Empire series' in 1999 chronicles the rise and the eventually fall of the Athenian Empire during the 5th and 4th century BC. While it is true that this city state was the epicenter of the great Greek civilization, one cannot afford to ignore the contribution made by the likes of Argos, Corinth, Macedonia and of course - Sparta (whose popularity has soared post the release of the hit Hollywood movie '300' and its sequel) in the development of this unique culture. If you can overlook this minor thing, something that I strongly recommend you to, I can guarantee you that by the end of it, you will be left spellbound. Not only the content, in fact the manner in which the documentary has been presented is something that is unique and enchanting at the same time.

Each part of the series narrates a phase of Athenian history through the stories of the personalities who played an integral role during that time. It is through the lives of these men that the viewer is given a broad socio-political perspective of ancient Athens and made aware of how this rather nondescript coastal town became the 'crowning glory' of contemporary Mediterranean, carved an empire of its own and finally fell following a disastrous war with its rival - Sparta, all within the span of few decades. Though the Athenian domination of the region might have been short-lived, it continues to be one of the few places wherein the every foundation of modern Western Civilization was laid; in fact, it is the crucible from which a large number of modern policies and belief emerged.

Titled 'The Revolution', the first episode recounts the story of how Democracy - Athens' greatest gift to mankind was established in the city state following the rule of several tyrants and the uprising of the masses against the aristocratic class that had been dominating the society. It was Cleisthenes - the aristocrat who sided with the common people and laid the foundation of an experiment that would make the city, the greatest power in the whole of Greece and usher in an unprecedented growth in trade, arts, craft and learning.

In the next episode - Golden Age, as the Persians under Darius the Great mount an invasion of Greece to destroy the fledgling economy of Athens, the nascent democracy stands tall and beats back the invaders even as the Spartans refuse to come to their rescue. Themistocles, a by-product of the Athenian democracy convinces his citizens to build a strong navy that hands the Persians a disastrous defeat in the naval battle in the Strait of Salamis a decade later. It is on account of their naval supremacy that Athens manage to build a mighty empire in the Mediterranean region and prosper. Pericles who is elected as the leader of Athens sometime later begins the construction of Parthenon in honour of the city's patron Goddess Athena, which serves till date as the very symbol of ancient Greece.

In the final episode titled Empire of Mind, Pericles engulfs Athens in a do or die war against Sparta to become the preeminent power in contemporary Greece that ends in complete failure and destroys the very empire that the city had built in the last century. It is during the time of this 30 year conflict that Socrates, arguably the world's first and greatest philosopher moves around in Athens questioning the very tenets that Greek thought, society and religion were based upon. At the end of the war, as Athenians are looking for some scapegoat to put the blame of their defeat, Socrates is condemned to death and executed. However, his refusal to budge even in face of death makes him a role model; though Athens loses its political prestige to Sparta, Corinth and Macedonia in the coming years, it retains its position as the city of learning for centuries.

The whole series has been narrated by the actor Liam Neeson who essayed the main role in the movie Schindler's List and he has done a very good job. The cinematography of Greek monuments, the shoreline and the countryside in general is beautiful. The script is solid, especially the last 15 minutes of the final episode when Neeson explains how in spite of losing its political dominance Athens became the seat of thought and learning in the Greek world is fantastic and how his death changed the notion of Greek heroes forever. It makes one look upon Socrates as a 'martyr' who changed the very dimensions of contemporary thinking by questioning and criticizing existing beliefs and traditions. Though I had read a little about Socrates earlier, the final episode made me realize how great a man he truly was and why he is considered as the father of 'Free Modern Thinking'. Perhaps, the best thing that this series gave me personally was a new hero to look upon: SOCRATES

SEVEN WONDERS OF ANCIENT ROME

THE GREATEST ARCHITECTURAL MARVELS OF ROME

Name: Seven Wonders of Ancient World

Production: Discovery Channel

Year: 2004

Episodes: One

Run time: 46 minutes

While you can find a myriad documentaries on the Roman Empire, its rulers and the wars that it was engaged with its many rivals, this one is different, as can be concluded from the title. As the settlement on the river Tiber in peninsular Italy grew to become the greatest empire that the world had ever seen, encompassing most of Europe and parts of Northern Africa and West Asia, the mighty Roman emperors adorned their capital with some most stunning buildings in the contemporary world. Be it the majestic Colosseum where the Romans enjoyed gory scenes of blood bath or the Pantheon built in the honor of the vast array of Gods in the Roman mythology, these emperors embellished their metropolis to make sure that the population was happy and that their legacy would endure for a long time to come. Besides serving their primary purpose, these monuments were constructed using the best quality material sourced from the far flung regions of the empire while employing the most innovative of contemporary building techniques, some of which continue to intrigue modern day architects and builders.

If you like history and have a flare for architecture, then this is the documentary for you. With a run time of little over 46 minutes, it gives you enough details of the seven sites that the makers have designated as the wonders of Rome. For all those who don't know this, please do not be shocked that buildings like the Saint Peter's Basilica or the other grand churches that adore Rome today have been omitted; this documentary is regarding those monuments of Rome that were built prior to the Christianization of the city. Meanwhile, taking one monument at a time, the user is informed about the emperor who built it and the reason, the purpose it served, the architects who designed it, the material used and the method employed in construction, the process of maintenance and the architectural marvels incorporated in them that make them fit to be adorned with the title of being amongst the 'Seven Wonders of Ancient Rome'.

ANCIENT WARRIORS

THE BEST WARRIORS IN HISTORY

The 22 part series produced by Seven Art Productions for the Learning Channel (Discovery Communications) in 1994 is a gem; each episode lasting about 25 minutes explores the lives and times of an ancient warrior clan or race through some important battle or any other crucial event in their history. In some cases, we are also told about some great general or king who led his people to glory that they had never seen before.

Amongst the factors that work in favor of this series is its short run time; in fact, it is one of the shortest documentary series that I have seen. In spite of this, an earnest effort is made to educate the viewer regarding the weapons that these warriors used, how they trained and the strategies that they applied to get the better of their enemies - in short, all the things that made them some of the greatest fighters in world history. Unlike other documentaries that concentrate mainly on people and events that happened in the US and Europe, the makers have made sure that warriors like the Assyrians, the Mauryans, the Samurais and the Ninjas which hail from the Afro-Asian region too are covered. Finally, we are also told of the circumstances that eventually led their downfall. The episodes are as follows:

Sr.	Warrior	Event
1	The Assyrians	Sacking of Judeah & Lacish by King Sennacherib
2	The Celts	Victory over Rome at the Battle of Allia
3	The Normans	William the Conqueror's conquest of England
4	The Legions of Rome	Trajn's Dacian Wars
5	The Macedonians	Alexander the Great's victories in his Afro-Asian campaigns
6	The Soldiers of the Pharoh	The Recapture of Upper Nile from the Hyksos by Ahmose I
7	The Spartans	The Battles of Thermopylae and Plataea
8	The Jannisaries	Battle of Verna and the capture of Constantinople
9	The Huns	The military career of Attila and his general Edeko
10	The Knights Templar	The live of grand master Gerard de Ridefort
11	The Vikings	The live of Egill Skallagrímsson
12	The Highlanders	The unification of Scotland by Robert the Bruce
13	The Irish	The live of King Brain who drove the Vikings and united Ireland
14	The Maurya	Ashoka the Great's victory over the kingdom of Kalinga
15	The Aztecs	The victories of Emperor Moctezuma II
16	The Samurai	The Genpei War
17	The Shaolin	The Shaolin monks rescue an Emperor's son from a warlord
18	The Hawaiians	The live of King Kamehameha
19	The Ninjas	The help rendered by Ninja warriors to Toguwasha emperor Ieyasu
20	The Sioux	The live of Crazy Horse
21	The Zulus
22	The Romans

ANCIENTS BEHAVING BADLY

ANALYZING THE BEHAVIOR OF SOME OF HISTORY'S GREATEST MEN

An eight part documentary from Blink Films and Yap Productions, the series examines the lives of some of the most 'cruelest' men and women from the ancient world, focusing primarily on the acts of horror attributed to them by historians and other sources. The dominant personality trait of the subject under investigation is identified and he/she is then rated on a unique index. Lastly, the personality is also compared to a modern person who he/she resembles the most. Each part is about 44 minutes long and besides speaking to the experts, the gruesome acts that they are believed to have done are shown in form of anime, something that you would not find in most documentaries. The eight people on whose lives the series focuses on are Hannibal, Alexander the Great, Juluis Caesar, Cleopatra, Ghenghiz Khan, Attila the Hun, Caligula and Nero.

The best part about this documentary is that many of the events reported by ancient literary sources are analyzed using modern methods and certain myths are also laid to rest. Like in the case of Cleopatra where it is proved that the claim that Cleopatra instantly dissolved a pearl in vinegar and drank it while on a cruise with Anthony on the Nile was a big fat lie. Other revelations done using modern technology include the actual cause of Alexander's death or the poison that Cleopatra consumed to die as the Romans closed in on her and so on.

However, what I did not like was that modern value system is used as a yardstick to judge ancient warriors. I mean, Hannibal slaughtered thousands of men in his battles across Italy so that he could beat his arch rivals - the Romans. Of course, it is not right to kill people but that cannot label it as 'genocide' either. After all, didn't the Romans exactly do the same when they waged wars across the Mediterranean. Ditto with the likes of Alexander, Attila and Caesar. The times during which these men and women lived were drastically different. Terming their acts as a genocide would mean doing grave injustice to such important historic personalities.

THE GREAT MUGHALS

A HISTORY OF THE EARLY MUGHALS ON FILM

Channel 4 documentary series - the Great Mughals traces the lives of the first six rulers of the most flamboyant and powerful of all Muslim dynasties that ruled the Sub-continent in the second millennium after the birth of Christ. Presented by the British author Bamber Gascoigne and based on his book of the same name, the two and half hour long series is written and directed by Douglas Rae. Primarily catering to British audiences, it makes a good viewing even for Indians interested in the Mughal dynasty since it also brings up certain interesting aspects that our history textbooks miss out. Released in 1990, it is further divide into six segments, each highlighting one period in the nearly two centuries when the six great Mughal Emperors ruled the contemporary world's most prosperous country - India.

1. Babur: Having been driven out of his native kingdom by an imperialistic neighbor, he would take Kabul and then capture the rich and fertile Gangetic plain, thereby laying the foundation of the Mughal Empire. This part of the series wonderfully traces the transformation of the first emperor from a nomad roaming the hills of Afghanistan into the undisputed ruler of Northern India. A quick reference is also made to second Emperor Humayun, his defeat at the hands of the Afghans and the birth of Akbar.

2. The Young Akbar: Few months after he recaptures his kingdom, Emperor Humayun is dead and his young teenage son Akbar is crowned hastily. In the next few years, the young emperor matures into the 'greatest' of the great Mughals, strengthening the foundations of his shaky empire by forging matrimonial alliances with the powerful Rajputs and appeasing the native Hindus through his secular policies.

3. Akbar: Though the author skips much of Akbar's conquests which results in doubling the size of the empire he inherited from his father, the series emphasizes on what makes him one of the greatest Kings in Indian history - his policy of religious tolerance. Travelling through the various monuments inside Akbar's short-live capital in Fatehpur Sikri, Gascoigne focuses more on the emperor's secular outlook, his extravagant lifestyle and the stunning architecture of his former capital.

4. Jehangir: Jehangir is an eccentric and pleasure-loving emperor who would patronize arts and paintings throughout his two decade long reign though the real power center in the court is his wife - Nur Jahan. Besides throwing some light on the power struggles between Nur and her brother in the later part of Jehangir's reign, this segments also talks about the numerous attempts made by British ambassador Sir Thomas Roe in securing trading rights for the East India Company.

5. Shah Jahan: This part of the documentary traces the tragic life of the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. After eliminating all rival claimants to the throne, he goes on to build some of the most magnificent building of the Mughal era including the famous Taj Mahal which was built in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz. Sadly, his plans for succession are jeopardized as his sons fought amongst themselves in a bloody war that ends when Aurangzeb is crowned the emperor.

6. Aurangzeb: The last segment is a biopic on the last of the great Mughals - Aurangzeb. After finishing his brothers, his communal policies increasingly alienates the Hindus. Though he manages to overcome the revolt by his elder son Prince Akbar, he spends the later half of his reign in the Deccan fighting the guerrilla warfare launched by Hindu warriors like Shivaji. As the last of the great Mughals dies at the age of 89, his dynasty is losing its grip on India.

A good reason to watch this series is the fact that it borrows heavily from Mughal sources including the Baburnama, the writings of Akbar's close aide Abul Fazal as well as the memoirs of Sir Thomas Roe. It is largely due to these sources that Bamber is able to giving details regarding several aspects in the lives of the great Mughals including Babur's impressions of India made during a trip to Gwalior, recreating the scene of the death of Humayun, the hunting expeditions of Akbar, Jahangir's visit to the holy lake in Pushkar and the details regarding the power struggle between Dara Shikoh, Murad Baksh and Auranzeb; the latter being the best in spite of the fact that Gascoigne misses the fourth brother and another claimant to the throne Shah Shuja. However, the biggest positive is the fact that apart from visiting the usual places associated with the Mughals like the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and the forts of Delhi and Agra, the film goes to the relatively lesser known places linked to the dynasty. These are the Ram Bagh laid by Babur in Agra, Kalanaur in Punjab where Akbar was crowned and his final resting place in Sikandara, the dungeons in the Gwalior fort where influential prisoners were held, the tombs of Nur Jahan, her brother and their father, Shah Jahan's private mosque in the Agra fort, the palaces of Golconda and the final resting place of Aurangzeb in Kuldabad. All in all, one thing that I can guarantee you is that at the end of the 140 odd minutes spent watching this series, your knowledge of the Mughal dynasty will certainly be enhanced.

THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR

REVISITING SPAIN's BLOODIEST WAR

Spellbound! Yes, that was my reaction after watching Granada Television Production's six part documentary - The Spanish Civil War. There are some things that never age with time. And in my opinion, this series is definitely one of them. Released way back in 1983, the documentary continues to be as enchanting and as relevant today, as it was back then. 

To begin with, lets see the factors that work in its favor. Firstly, since the documentary was created when the generation that fought in the war was still around, the series provides personal accounts of several individuals who took an active part in the war. In general, the civil war was an important battleground of ideologies, with many sections fighting on the same side, having different agendas while sticking to one overall cause. As such, the accounts of people including those close to Franco, the military rebels, the Falangist (Fascists), the Communists, the Socialists, the Anarchists in Catalonia, the Basque regionalists, people who served in various Republican regimes between 1936-39 and so on, gives the viewer a holistic perspective of the conflict. Additionally, we also get the viewpoint of the various non-native fighters who descended onto Spain to fight either for the cause of democracy or joined the rebel legions. Secondly, the documentary also has tonnes of black and white footage of Spain during those three years of turbulence. The scenes from the war for Madrid, which was lasted for over two years and the tales of brutality on either side of the divide are quite moving. Lastly, the tune which is played in the beginning of the each episode is classy and has a nice feel about it. On the other hand, with a total running time of over 5 hours, the series is too long. Moreover, the kind of information that the documentary provides can be exhaustive for many of us. However, for those who love world history and have time to spare, the Spanish Civil War is certainly one series that they should not miss.

Fought between 1936 to 1939, the civil war in Spain is one of the bloodiest conflicts of the 20^th century. In fact, with five million casualties, it was in many ways a precursor to the Second World War. The roots of the war lies in the many failures of the short-lived Spanish Republic that was established in Milan following the abdication of the throne by the King Alfonso XIII in 1931 after widespread unrest. Five years down the line, a group of military generals planned a coup d'etat to overthrow the democratically elected government which they perceived as harmful to the interests of the nation and its people. As the army raised the banner of rebellion and marched on to Madrid, various parties in the political sphere including the Liberals, Worker's Union, the Socialists, the Communists, the Anarchist and other groups joined hands to fight the rebellion together. Under the leadership of General Francisco Franco, the army reached the gates of the capital and the war for the country's biggest city went on for two years. One of the most interesting aspects of the entire war was that as many as 40,000 foreign fighters came in Spain to fight on either side. Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy openly aided Franco and his army with man power and material. The Soviets backed the republicans early in the war and then abandoned them once it became clear that France and UK would not intervene. At the end, Franco's leadership, foreign aid and the differences between the various factions that made up the democratic side led to a Nationalist (Rebel) victory. Franco would go on to become the dictator of Spain and ruled the Western European country for the next four decades.

Narrated by Frank Finlay and directed by David Hart, the entire series is divided into 6 episodes, each consisting of two parts. The six parts are as follows:

(1) Prelude to War: With the republican government failing to meet the expectations of the people, the army rises in rebellion as the African legions under General Francisco Franco reach the mainland to take over the reins of the government. As their plans of a quick victory fail, the government and the factions that supported it rally together and ready themselves to defend the nascent democracy in Spain.

(2) Revolution - Counter Revolution: General Franco captures Seville in the south while General Mola is closing in on Madrid from the north. The Anarchists in Barcelona attack the military garrison and join the counter-revolution against the army. Meanwhile, the Nationalists are on the gates of Madrid after winning some quick yet decisive victories.

(3) Battlefield for Idealists: My favorite episode, it recounts how the various European nations saw the conflict and which side they supported and how. Hitler and Mussolini firmly put their support behind the Nationalist whereas nations like England and France who would enter the World War II as upholders of democracy, almost turn a blind eye and refuse to bail out the republicans. Stalin provides some aid to them but that is discontinued in the later months of the war.

(4) Franco and the Nationalists: This episode is more like a biopic on General Franco, his rise in the army at an early age and his decision to join the Nationalist cause. Unlike the republicans, he succeeds in bringing the different sections fighting against the republicans together and becomes their supreme leader in October 1936. He appeases the Church and also wins the support of the rich landlords.

(5) Inside the Revolution: Here, we are introduced to the Anarchist ideology which was prevalent in Barcelona during those times. Having joined the fight against the Nationalists, the anarchists who wanted autonomy for the Catalonia region set up a regime that pays no allegiance to either the nation or the church. However, with the army closing in, infighting breaks out between them and the communists. Meanwhile, a spate of wins for the army splits the republican territories into two.

(6) Victory and Defeat: As the republicans fail to win a clear victory at the Battle of Ebro, their morale is broken. The Nationalists capture Barcelona. In Madrid, there is a coup on the republican side as colonel Casado deposes PM Negrin. Casado's attempts for a negotiation fail and Franco's troops entered the capital. As people rejoice, the bloody civil war comes to an end.

EMPIRES: NAPOLEON

A BIOGRAPHY OF ONE OF HISTORY'S GREATEST GENERALS

A part of the PBS series entitled Empires, the four part series on French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is a masterpiece on the life of one of the best military minds the world has ever seen. Born in an influential family on the islands of Corsica, he went on to become the ruler of the most prosperous and rich country in the early 19^th century on the basis of sheer hard-work and merit. Having seized power in a coup, he set out to capture the whole of continental Europe with the aim of spreading the ideals of the French Revolution. Although he won many spectacular victories over the numerous enemies of France during much of his reign, it was his greed that led to his ultimate downfall in the sixth Napoleonic War. While he did make a comeback, he was utterly defeated in the much famed Battle of Waterloo after which he was exiled on the island of the St Helena where he died. Narrated by Brendon McCullough and written & directed by award winning director David Grubin, the documentary is a must watch for anybody who loves world history. The excellent narration, the beautiful background score and the wonderful editing makes it one of the best documentaries that I have seen. Moreover, the memoirs of the ordinary Corsican who rose to become the most important figure in contemporary Europe also give an insight on his view on the important events during his relatively short yet illustrious life.

To Destiny: The episode begins on 2 December, 1804 in Notre Dame where a 35 year old Napoleon crowns himself the Emperor of France in a spectacular ceremony which is attended by the Pope Pius VII himself. Next, the documentary goes into flash back mode tracing the early life of Napoleon, his Corsican legacy, his affair with future wife Josephine and his rise in the new French republic ending with his victory at the battle outside the Italian city of Lodi.

Mastering Luck: In this part, the focus is on the meteoric ascent of Bonaparte between 1796 and his coronation in 1804. After beating the Austrians and a failed campaign in Egypt, there are a series of events that end with him as the Emperor of France. He implements a series of political, economic and judicial reforms, besides initiating several welfare schemes.

The Summit of Greatness: In the two years following his coronation, Napoleon's army triumph across Central Europe against various hostile empires and kingdoms, namely the Austrians, the Prussians and later the mighty Russians. He abolishes feudalism, brings his code to new places, signs a treaty with the Tsar and indulges in nepotism by promoting his siblings to important positions.

The End: As the name suggests, this episode recounts the end of one of history's greatest military figures. Post 1806, Bonaparte makes a series of blunders and is forced to abdicate the throne and exiled to the island of Elba in 1814. He returns only to be defeated at the Battle of Waterloo. In the five years he spends at the Atlantic island of St Helena as a political prisoner, he narrates his memories, talking about his military campaigns, justifying his decision and building a legacy that lasts even today.

ROME: RISE AND FALL OF AN EMPIRE

TRACING THE JOURNEY OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire

Rising from the ashes of the erstwhile republic in the first century BC, the Roman Empire is considered to be of the greatest ever in the history of mankind. In the six centuries of its existence, this super power grew exponentially; with its epicenter in the eternal city of Rome in the Italian peninsula, it dominated most of Europe, besides colonizing some parts of Northern Africa and Eastern Asia. The famed Legions of Rome – a war machine based on perfect discipline and meticulous planning, led by fierce generals helped in conquering new lands and keeping the enemies at bay, both internal and external. Roman engineers came out with innovations in various streams of science and technology that made it the most advanced civilization that the world had ever seen. As the empire became stronger, art and literature flourished; emperors commissioned architectural marvels in honour of their gods or to commemorate their own legacy. However, in the fifth century, the empire which was by now a mere shadow of its former glory collapsed as internal politics weakened its very foundations, making it impossible for Rome to stand against the various barbaric hordes with which it had fought relentless wars over the ages for the control of the fertile Mediterranean basin. The History Channel documentary – Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire traces the journey of this mighty empire, from the last days of the republic to its ultimate collapse in 476 AD. Relying primarily on the accounts of ancient historians, the thirteen part series depicts the important stages that the Roman Empire went through in those 500 odd years in form of visual re-creation and opinions of experts in Roman studies from various universities.

For a person like me who’s knowledge of the Roman Empire was restricted to a few events like the crowing of Augustus following the brutal murder of his uncle Julius Caesar on the Ides of March, the burning of the imperial city during the days of Nero and the adoption of Christianity under the reign of Constantine, this documentary was a reservoir of information. In fact for anybody who enjoys history and who has time to spare, this series is a must watch. Each episode tells us about a particular period of the Empire, the prominent people including the emperors, powerful noblemen and enemy chiefs leading their savage tribesmen to plunder Roman territories; the intrigues and conspiracies in the royal court; the battles fought both at home and in the farthest corners of the empire as well as the socio-economic conditions prevalent in contemporary Rome. However, what goes against the series is the time; with each episode running for about 46 minutes, the total run time is close to 10 hours. Also, if you do not like political history, the series tends to get repetitive as it progresses. The best way to watch it and enjoy it, perhaps is to see one or at max two episodes per day. While the writers have done their homework very well, I do not understand how they missed out on the reign of Nero, especially the persecution of Christians and the martyrdom of St. Peter following the great fire. All in all, the whole documentary is great for any history buff and the learning at the end is worth all the effort. The episodes are as follows:

1. The First Barbarian War: In the early second century BC, as the republic struggles against the barbarian tribes in the north and the Numidians in the south, General Marius rises to the occasion, beating off the threats from all sides. As he is elected for seven consulship for an unprecedented seven terms, the foundations of dictatorship are laid. 

2. Spartacus: Seeing the pathetic conditions of the gladiators, Spartacus raises the banner of revolt as the republic plummets into a major civil war. While the slave army prevails in the beginning, threatening to march on to Rome, the consuls Crassus and Pompey see off this giant threat from within. 

3. Julius Caesar: An ambitious soldier, Caesar is the master mind of the Triumvirate that controls the political affairs in Rome. Appointed the governor of rich southern Gallic provinces, he captures the whole region in the next decade. Returning to the capital to reap the benefits of his military campaigns, he beats the conservatives led by his former ally - the great general Pompey, who see Caesar as a threat to democracy. As he declares himself the dictator for life, he is murdered and every stab that he takes also hastens the end of the republic. 

4. The Forest of Death: As the empire begins the process of Romanizing the tribes to the east of the Rhine, Armenius – a barbarian prince who rises to the position of a commander in the Roman army, rebels against Rome’s invasion into the lives of his people. He forms a coalition of tribes and ambushes the imperial army at Kal Kriese destroying three legions. Devastated at the loss, Emperor Augustus sends his general Germanicus to revenge this ignominious defeat and salvage the lost pride of Rome. Locked in a bitter war, Aremnius is killed by his fellow tribesmen whereas the Roman general dies of disease. 

5. Invasion of Britain: As Claudius is unexpectedly crowned the emperor, he decides to invade the island of Britain – the land of the Druids to prove his worth to his army and his subjects. Caractacus, the prince of the Catuvellauni tribe and the master of guerrilla warfare leads a long drawn campaign against the Romans till he is captured by general Scapula and paraded through the streets of Rome in a procession where he is surprisingly granted pardon by the emperor. 

6. The Dacian Wars: In 96 AD, the unpopular emperor Domition who faced several disastrous defeats in Germania and Dacia is assassinated in a court conspiracy. Trajan, who had an illustrious military career in his early years, is chosen for the top job. He defeats the Dacian king Decebalus and captures his entire treasury with which he builds the famed Trajan’s column in Rome. In his later years, he leads a campaign into Parthia where he meets with partial success. 

7. Rebellion and Betrayal: The initial years of the reign of Marcus Aurelius as the sole emperor is marked by plague that destroys a tenth of Rome’s civilian population and a large portion of its army, besides barbarian invasions in the north. As he matures in his role, he wins a series of victories over the Germanic tribes, suppresses the revolt in Egypt and also defeats his rival to the throne and his former friend - Avidius. 

8. Wrath of the Gods: Believing that the many problems plaguing the Empire are due to the dissatisfaction of the Pagan Gods over the functioning of Rome and her institutions, Emperor Decius orders all citizens, irrespective of their religion to offer sacrifice to the ancient gods. His reign which is marked by the persecution of thousands of Christians ends when he is slaughtered on the battlefield by the savaging Goths. 

9. The Soldier’s Emperor: Aurelian ascends an empire which has lost its farthest corners to rebellious armies and is threatened by barbarian invasions into the Italian peninsula. However, the warrior king who makes regular sacrifices to Soul Invictus – the God of Victory, beats back the invading Alamannis, defeats the Palmyrene Queen Zenobia and puts down the revolt of Tetricus in Gaul, reuniting the once torn empire. 

10. Constantine the Great: Grateful to the Christian God for his victory at Meluvian Bridge, Constantine embarks upon a religious revolution granting equal rights to the Christians – a sect which has been persecuted for ages. His patronage to this new religion will make Rome the capital of Christendom in the coming centuries. By the time of his baptism, he has unified the empire and built the city of Constantinople, which will in the course of time became the capital of the Eastern Empire. 

11. The Barbarian General: Eastern Emperor Theodosius and his lieutenant the half Vandal, half Roman Stilicho re-unite the empire with the help of Visigothic king Alaric. After the former’s death, his young son Honorius ascends the throne in the West with the barbarian general as his guardian who enters into a treaty with the Visigoths to capture the rich province of Illyricum from the east. However as anti-barbarian sentiments spread across Italy and ethnic riots rock the cities, Honorius refuses to abide by the pact and has Stilicho executed. As the treaty falls, Alaric sacks Rome. 

12. The Puppet Master: In the middle of the fifth century AD, three generals – Majorian, Aegidius and the barbarian born Ricimer defeat the unpopular emperor. Lucimer who craves for absolute power has both his former friends assassinated and becomes the real authority. The Eastern Emperor Leo installs Anthemius in Rome and sponsors a campaign against Vandals. It is a failure thanks to sabotage by Lucimer who sees the new emperor as a threat. The latter leads an army from Milan to Rome and deposes the emperor. As there is no government in Rome, the barbarians savage the country. 

13. The Last Emperor: As Nepos marches to the West with the backing of the East, the presiding emperor surrenders. Orestes, a Roman and Odoacer,a barbarian rise to the highest positions in the new court. Sent to put down the Visigoths, Orestes befriends them, making his son the emperor, thereby sidelining his former friend. As he refuses to give the barbarian land he had promised, they join Odoacer. In the battle that follows, Odoacer's army defeats Orestes, making him the first barbarian king of Italy, marking an end to the Roman Empire.