Documentary
At its height, the Roman Empire encompassed Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. How did it keep prospering for over 400 years? And why did it come to a rapid end? What can we learn from the Roman Empire and what guiding principles does it offer us today?

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Examine the history of Ancient Rome with The Roman War Machine, a four-part documentary series narrated by Joseph Campanella. From its establishment in 300 BC to the crushing defeat at the hands of the German chief Akininis in 9 AD, The Roman War Machine examines every aspect of this legendary fighting force. Throughout each episode we’ll take a closer look at ancient Rome’s war politics, Roman legions, commanders, their disciplined war tactics and battles. See how Caesar used his soldiers for political gain as well as in the field of battle, follow Hadrian’s troops as they build monuments still standing today and learn what life was like for the common soldier with the help of ancient documents and historical re-enactments.

Told from the perspective of the rebel leaders, the series chronicles a wave of rebellions against absolute power by those the Roman Empire called “barbarians” – tribes they viewed as beyond the fringe of civilization that lived a brutish and violent existence. But these also were men and women who launched epic struggles that shaped the world to come with a centuries-long fight to defeat the sprawling empire.

Archaeologist and historian Richard Miles traces the development of Western civilization, from the first cities in Mesopotamia to the fall of the Roman Empire. In this six-part series, Miles travels through the Middle East, Egypt, Pakistan and the Mediterranean to discover how the challenges of society -- religion and politics, art and culture, war and diplomacy, technology and trade -- were dealt with and fought over in order to maintain a functioning civilization. Stories are told of disappeared, ruined and modern cities, from ancient Iraq to modern Damascus, to reveal how successes and failures of the ancients shaped the world today.