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Showing posts with the label History

Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap

Ice-T takes us on an intimate journey into the heart and soul of hip-hop with the legends of rap music. This performance documentary goes beyond the stardom and the bling to explore what goes on inside the minds, and erupts from the lips, of the grandmasters of rap. Recognized as the godfather of Gangsta rap, Ice-T is granted unparalleled access to the personal lives of the masters of this artform that he credits for saving his life. Interspersed with the performers' insightful, touching, and often funny revelations are classic raps, freestyle rhymes, and never before heard a cappellas straight from the mouths of the creators. What emerges is a better understanding of, and a tribute to, an original American art form that brought poetry to a new generation.

Sex in the Ancient World: Egyptian Erotica

Leading experts attempt to solve the mystery surrounding a 3,000-year-old artifact discovered in ancient Egypt, which resembles an erotic image, as Egyptians were known to turn to the gods in fertility rituals.

Man on the Moon

Documentary telling the story of the US space programme, from the early days of the space race with the Soviet Union to the first moon landing in 1969. Includes interviews wth astronauts and ground staff, rare archive footage and an introduction by Neil Armstrong.

In the Shadow of the Moon

Between 1968 and 1972, nine American spacecraft voyaged to the Moon, and 12 men walked upon its surface. They remain the only human beings to have stood on another world. In the Shadow of the Moon brings together for the first, and very possibly the last, time surviving crew members from every single Apollo mission which flew to the Moon, and allows them to tell their story in their own words. The definitive story of going to the moon, told by those who went. Between 1969 and 1972 an elite group of men achieved an incredible dream. They were, and remain, the only human beings to set foot on a planet other than our own. These personal testimonies are interwoven with digitally remastered footage from Nasa film archives, much of it previously unseen and all of it hauntingly evocative of a bygone era. The result is an intimate and epic film which vividly communicates the daring and the danger, the pride and the passion, of this band of special young men.

The Real Story: The Hunt for Red October

In 1975, The Sentry, a state-of-the-art Russian warship, was taken over by a rogue Soviet officer. This remarkable mutiny not only inspired the best-selling political thriller and the Sean Connery/Alec Baldwin blockbuster, "The Hunt for Red October," it almost triggered World War III. For the first time, The Real Story takes you deep into the details of the events depicted in the film, revealing firsthand accounts of bravery and tragedy from the men aboard the warship and the officers who ordered its destruction.

Icons of Power - Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 -- 5 May 1821) was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution. As Napoleon, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815. His legal reform, the Napoleonic Code, has been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions worldwide, but he is best remembered for his role in the wars led against France by a series of coalitions, the so-called Napoleonic Wars. He established hegemony over most of continental Europe and sought to spread the ideals of the French Revolution, while consolidating an imperial monarchy which restored aspects of the deposed ancien régime. Due to his success in these wars, often against numerically superior enemies, he is generally regarded as one of the greatest military commanders of all time.

Warrior Empire - The Mughals

Warrior Empire: The Mughals is a sweeping, in-depth portrait of India’s most colorful, violent, and majestic era. From 1526 to 1858, this dynasty of nomadic warriors indulged their appetite for territorial expansion, spreading their rule throughout the Indian subcontinent. Though they conquered their kingdom with crushing brutality, the Mughals were also brilliant technological innovators and masters of art and architecture. This program offers lush, detailed images of Mughal accomplishments such as the glorious Taj Mahal, palaces, forts, water systems, elaborate gardens, and richly crafted artwork. Step-by-step scientific recreations of advanced Mughal metallurgy and weaponry show the meticulous production of chain mail armor for a battalion of elephants, lethally flexible composite bows, rocketry, and sword-smith techniques passed down through the generations, and still alive today. Join us for an enthralling history of the inventive warfare, material excess, architectural marve...

The True Story Of Alexander the Great

Explore the fascinating true story of Alexander the Great, the most extraordinary warrior of all time whose military conquests remain unrivaled to this day. Leading his armies through 22,000 miles of sieges in 8 short years, Alexander brought east and west together in the mightiest clash of cultures the world has ever known. Join National Geographic on a quest to uncover the mystery surrounding Alexander's life and examine what inspired him to push onward. Stunning recreations and insights from historians shed light on the question: Did Alexander, fearing no mortal, become his own most dangerous enemy?

The Great Moghuls

The Great Moghuls (1990) is a Channel Four Television documentary series covering the dramatic story of the rise of the Moghul Empire (1526-1857) of India. Over six generations, from father to son, the Great Moghuls captured, consolidated and profoundly influenced control of the vast sub-continent of India. The six-part series was written and presented by Bamber Gascoigne based upon his 1971 book of the same name. It was produced and directed by Douglas Rae and filmed in India.

Rise And Fall Of The Spartans

They were the finest fighters of the ancient world. Their bravery and skill helped preserve Western Civilization in the face of a massive invasion from the east. Concepts they developed, like the boot camp and frontal assault, remain fixtures of military life and tactics to this day. Along with the Athenians--with whom they fought a decades-long war--they helped to shape, advance and preserve the glory that was Greece. Sparta's culture, lifestyle, history and legacy. Author Steven Pressfield, (Gates of Fire) reflects on the significance of the Battle of Thermopylae, where a force led by 300 Spartan warriors stalled the advance of a hundred-thousand-plus strong Persian army for nearly a week. Scholars like Barry S. Strauss of Cornell University and Yale's Donald Kagan explore the factors that drove the Peloponnesian city-state to strive for martial excellence. And ancient accounts explain how Sparta's warriors were trained and detail their prowess in battle. Their bravery an...

Scottsboro: An American Tragedy

The history of the "Scottsboro Boys," a group of African American men who were victims of a racist miscarriage of justice that became a national controversy.

Blood of the Vikings

Blood of the Vikings was a 5 part 2001 BBC Television documentary series that traced the legacy of the Vikings in the British Isles through a genetics survey.The Vikings did not just raid and retreat to Scandinavia, but settled in Britain for years. They left their genetic pattern in some parts of the UK population. Concentrations of Norwegian genetic heritage were found in part of Cumbria in northwest England, the area around Penrith, the Shetland and Orkney Islands and the far north of the Scottish mainland. In addition the research revealed surprising new information about Celtic and Anglo-Saxon heritage on the British mainland. Men who were tested in mainland Scotland had a percentage of Celtic genetic heritage similar to the population of southern England. This showed 1) that Celtic heritage persisted among men in southern England after Anglo-Saxon settlement; and 2) that the Scots were not predominantly Celtic.

The Last Days

Five Jewish Hungarians, now U.S. citizens, tell their stories: before March, 1944, when Nazis began to exterminate Hungarian Jews, months in concentration camps, and visiting childhood homes more than 50 years later. An historian, a Sonderkommando, a doctor who experimented on Auschwitz prisoners, and US soldiers who were part of the liberation in April, 1945, also comment. Most telling are details: Renée packing her bathing suit, Irene swallowing the diamonds her mother gave her to buy bread, Alice's memorial for her sister Klara, Bill escaping police by jumping into a line of Jews going to Buchenwald, and Tom told by a US soldier to have "all the damn bananas and oranges you can eat."

Holocaust on Trial

This program contains graphic footage of historical events. Parental discretion is advised. A BRITISH COURT CHALLENGES A HISTORIAN'S DENIAL OF WORLD WAR II GENOCIDE — FIFTY YEARS AFTER THE FINAL SOLUTION The slaughter of millions of Jews during World War II was the defining tragedy of the twentieth century. But some claim the Holocaust was a myth, and that the few who did survive the death camps are liars. British historian and author David Irving is a non-believer who claims, among other things, that Hitler never mandated mass extermination of the Jews. Hailed by his supporters as the pre-eminent historian of the Third Reich and reviled as a Holocaust denier by his critics, Irving faced a highly publicized libel case in British court in early 2000 brought against him by American scholar Deborah Lipstadt.

Slave Ship Mutiny

Three disparate Capetowners reveal a long-forgotten, dramatic slave ship revolt en route from Madagascar to South Africa. About half of Cape Town's population are descendants of White, Asian, and Black slaves captured by the Dutch East Indies Company from all around the Indian Ocean. After the captives force the surviving crew below deck, a brave Malagasy warrior and a devious Dutch company agent fight a battle of wits with many surprising turns. For some aboard, the journey ends on infamous Robben Island, where Tokyo Sexwale and Nelson Mandela were later imprisoned.

The Egyptian Book Of The Dead

For millennia, the culture and philosophy of the ancient Egyptians have fascinated artists, historians, and spiritual seekers throughout the world. Now, this reissue of a Chronicle Books classic brings to light once more the legendary 3,500-year-old Papyrus of Ani--the most beautiful of the Egyptian funerary scrolls ever discovered. Restored to its original sequences, the elaborately bordered papyrus conveys its intended sense of motion and meaning in a way no other book on the subject can match. From mysticism and philosophy to anthropology and astronomy, this sumptuous volume will appeal to casual readers, serious scholars, and the generally inquisitive mind. The translation of the text of each image is placed on the page directly below the image, allowing the reader, for the first time in 3500 years, to gaze on the images while reading the words of the papyrus. Uncluttered with footnotes or other extraneous matter, the papyrus is displayed with the intent of allowing the modern read...

Namibia - Genocide and the Second Reich

A hundred years ago, three quarters of the Herero people of the German colony of Namibia were killed, many in concentration camps. Today, the descendants of the survivors are seeking reparations from the German government. This film tells for the first time this forgotten story and its links to German racial theories. Described by the BBC as the story of Germany’s forgotten genocide. This powerful documentary by David Adetayo Olusoga took a sensitive and uncompromising look at the tragic circumstances leading to the massacre of three quarters of the Namibia population in German concentration camps built in Africa. The programme included graphic reconstructions and did not shirk from showing disturbing scenes which revealed the savagery of european colonial ideology put into practise. The documentary also showed the 2004 footage of Germany’s ambassador to Namibia expressing regret for their killing of thousands of Namibia’s Hereros during the colonial era. Unsurprisingly, the Germa...

A History of Scotland

Neil Oliver, archaeologist, broadcaster and charismatic presenter of the award-winning documentary series Coast, charts the birth and growth of the Scottish nation in a compelling and comprehensive series. In ten thought-provoking, episodes Neil Oliver brings a fresh perspective to Scotland’s past and challenges many of the perceived notions of Scottish history. With stunning, BAFTA-winning cinematography and mesmerising narrative the series tells of battles and allegiances, political intrigue and religious conflict. The series charts the journey from the diverse tribes’ first stirrings of identity around 2,000 years ago through to devolution and the reopening of the Scottish Parliament. It reveals the fascinating struggles, power brokers, incidents and characters across the years from William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Sir Walter Scott to the Highland-lowland rivalry, the Covenanters, the Darien disaster and the tobacco lords. Using the very latest in historical research, A His...

Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie

A documentary presenting mankind's most ambitious effort at perfecting the means to its own annihilation. Featuring newly unclassified atomic test footage.

The Worst Jobs in History

The Worst Jobs in History is a television series hosted by Tony Robinson on Channel 4. The second series was shown in March 2006 on History Television in Canada, then in April 2006 on Channel 4 in the UK. The first season is also shown with some regularity on History International. Tony Robinson tries his hand at each of the jobs, ultimately nominating which one he thought was the worst in each programme. First series This was broadcast in 2004 and concentrated on a different historical period per programme: Roman and Anglo-Saxon; Medieval; Tudor; Stuarts; Georgian and Victorian. Some of the more repulsive or dangerous jobs included fuller, chimney sweep, executioner, leech collector, Plague burier, rat-catcher, leather tanner, gong farmer and sin-eater. There was a one-off special called The Worst Christmas Jobs in History in December 2005.