The secrets of lives once lived. Never before could you get so close to 7000 years of history! From the bloodletting of Maya kings and a pharaoh's last journey to the secret pleasures of a Roman empress. Original location cinematography in 25 countries takes you from Cuzco in Peru to Petra in Jordan. From ancient Mesopotamia to modern Tibet, lost worlds live again on these must-have DVDs!
Episodes List:
Mesopotamia - Return to Eden
Explore the land of the Bible and see evidence of the world's oldest civilizations. Go back to the dawn of civilization, following clues that lead to the Garden of Eden
Ancient Egypt - Quest for Immortality
Discover the enduring legacy of the pharaohs in the magnificent riches of their tombs and among the fragile relics of their mummies. Explore the ancient Egyptians' fascination with death and their quest for immortality.
Aegean - Legacy of Atlantis
Follow the trail of clues that lead from the ancient myths of the Aegean world to their real-life counterparts. Experience the lives of the legendary heroes as they are rediscovered in the ruins of this ancient Mediterranean world.
Greece - A Moment of Excellence
Enter the extraordinary lives of the classical Greeks at the height of their civilization. Examine the conflicting forces of passion and reason that shaped the art and ideas of the western world.
China - Dynasties of Power
Witness the glory of ancient China's greatest rulers and the secrets of their giant tombs. Learn the ruthless military tactics and weapons technology of these all-powerful rulers and discover how the building of the Great Wall would unify that nation.
Rome - The Ultimate Empire
Enter the Colosseum alongside the gladiators and their foes as they prepare for battle. This episode re-creates the glory of Rome at the zenith of its power and explains how the Romans conquered the western world. Learn the mistakes that led to the Empire's chaotic collapse.
The Maya - The Blood of Kings
Witness the dark rituals of human mutilation as the Maya rulers draw their own blood to offer to the gods. This episode reveals Maya culture at its peak---while its cities matched the sophistication and power of those in Europe in AD 800, this civilization declined suddenly a century later---leaving behind questions and enigmas.
The Inca - Secrets of the Ancestors
Witness the conquest of an Inca ruler at the pinnacle of his power. Follow Inca roads into the past and explore the secrets of their ancestors---the Moche, the Nazca, and the Paracas---whose legacies inspired the greatest South American empire ever.
Africa - A History Denied
Uncover the hidden history of Africa's great coastal kingdoms and its mysterious counterparts in the heartland of Zimbabwe and southern Africa. For years, this legacy has been denied---only now can the true story be revealed.
Tibet - The End of Time
Follow the tale of glory and tragedy as a young boy---the reincarnation of the Tibetan God-King---witnesses the collapse of a timeless culture. This episode explores a genuine Shangri-la and its struggle to survive in a hostile contemporary world.
Amazon.com Reviews:
28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
By Jill Basham (Woodbury, TN USA)
Being a homeschool mom I am always looking for the most interesting, hold your attention type ways of teaching history. I have watched several tapes on ancient history that were dry & rather dull. "Lost Civilizations" is anything but dull. My 9 yr. old loves it, and even my 6 yr. old will sit for 45 minutes at a time and watch it. It covers Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt & the Aegean on Vol.1. Greece, China & Rome on Vol.2. The Maya's and The Inca's on Vol. 3. Africa and Tibet on Vol.4. The scenery is breath-taking! We watch the tapes every year as a review. And if you can believe it, my kids put it in sometimes for fun. I highly recommend this set!
48 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
By Josephus "apocrypha1611" (Knoxville, TN United States)
I teach high school ancient history and these DVD's are pure gold - don't pass them by! The DVD's on Tibet, Egypt, Classical Greece, Minoans, Rome, the Inca, the Maya, & China are great. The DVD on Africa is a bunch of P.C.ism - it is the only bad one in the bunch. I only wish they would've done a DVD on India &/or the Aztec instead of the Africa DVD.
32 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
By David Arndt (Grand Rapids, MI United States)
If you are someone who would think nothing of spending $25 on a 50 minute PBS documentary, this might not be the ideal set for you. It's appeal to me was its value. It covered a huge amount of material in an acceptable, if not always outstanding, manner. A previous reviewer complained about the amount of Biblical references in the first episode on Mesopotamia. To me the approach of the series was quite understandable. The Bible is one of the most ancient and reliable sources of information in addition to being a cultural reference point that many viewers would naturally reflect upon. But by no means is the series an unscientific propaganda piece for religous groups. Religion is not the focus of the series. Consider, for example, that several episodes do not hesitate to make a comment on the sexual practices of the culture under discussion when relevant. The series does not confine its self to "Lost" civilizations, so I suspect the title was more a product of the marketing department. But the episode on the Agean Sea culture (Atlantis?) was quite interesting. The episode on the lost history of Africa is something one does not hear much about. The sheer breadth and variety of cultures discussed makes this a valuable general introductory tool. (read less)
The secrets of lives once lived. Never before could you get so close to 7000 years of history! From the bloodletting of Maya kings and a pharaoh's last journey to the secret pleasures of a Roman empress. Original location cinematography in 25 countries takes you from Cuzco in Peru to Petra in Jordan. From ancient Mesopotamia to modern Tibet, lost worlds live again on these must-have DVDs!
Episodes List:
Mesopotamia - Return to Eden
Explore the land of the Bible and see evidence of the world's oldest civilizations. Go back to the dawn of civilization, following clues that lead to the Garden of Eden
Ancient Egypt - Quest for Immortality
Discover the enduring legacy of the pharaohs in the magnificent riches of their tombs and among the fragile relics of their mummies. Explore the ancient Egyptians' fascination with death and their quest for immortality.
Aegean - Legacy of Atlantis
Follow the trail of clues that lead from the ancient myths of the Aegean world to their real-life counterparts. E... (read more)
