Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire

Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire

2006, History  -    -  Playlist 55 Comments
7.20
12345678910
Ratings: 7.20/10 from 173 users.

Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an EmpireAncient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire is a BBC One docudrama series, with each episode looking at a different key turning point in the history of the Roman Empire.

Factually accurate and based on extensive historical research, it reveals how the greed, lust and ambition of men like Caesar, Nero and Constantine shaped the Roman Empire.

It describes how Rome destroyed Carthage, was conquered by Caesar, how it suppressed the Jewish revolt, and converted to Christianity.

CGI is mixed with compelling drama and spectacular live-action battles to tell the definitive television story of how the Empire was formed, how it achieved maximum power, and why it eventually failed.

Caesar. At the close of the Gallic Wars, Caesar finds his army encircled by a massive force of Gauls but wins a decisive victory with a brilliant counterattack at the Battle of Alesia. An inspiring speech to his troops promising to rescue Rome from its corrupt rulers and restore it to its people raises opposition from Senators Cato and Marcellus.

Nero. Nero witnesses the Great Fire of Rome from his villa in Antium and hurries back to the capital to try to control the fire and save lives. Seneca tells him to rule like the gods and he vows to build an inspirational city of marble and stone on the ruins.

Rebellion. The First Jewish-Roman War begins when the Jews rise up against their corrupt governor, drive the Romans out of Judea and defeat a counter-attack at the Battle of Beth Horon. The future Emperor Titus is sent to recall his father Vespasian from exile in Greece to lead the legions against the rebels in Galilee.

Revolution. Tiberius Gracchus first makes a mark on history winning the golden crown from General Scipio Aemilianus by being first over the wall at the victorious Battle of Carthage. Back in Rome, now the capital of the world, he finds the growing gap between rich and poor threatening the foundations of the republic.

Constantine. In Rome the tyrannical Maxentius consults the old gods Jupiter, Apollo and Mars to be told that, the enemy of Rome will be defeated, while outside the city Lactantius tries to convince Constantine to convert to the one true faith of Christianity.

The Fall of Rome. The Roman Empire is under barbarian assault from Huns and Vandals and Emperor Honorius's chief advisor Flavius Stilicho has negotiated a treaty with the Goth leaders Alaric and Athaulf but the Emperor has him executed for conspiracy.

More great documentaries

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

55 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Greg
Greg
6 years ago

This is the older (1990's) History Channel series of the same name of which I own on dvd etc. I have no idea about the BBC one series this site is claiming but the video is defiantly the US made History channel series.

jawad
jawad
7 years ago

This isnt the documentary in the title. dont mis label garbage please and thanks. fix your website cuz this is wrong!

Duckworthy
Duckworthy
8 years ago

Piggy-backing on the 2 titles recommended by Mr. John Cury on the lives of the Roman Emperors - both of which are, indeed, excellent, I have a very handy volume called "The Roman Emperors: A Biographical Guide to the Rulers of Imperial Rome, 31BC - AD476" by Michael Grant. Although out-of-print, I found my copy off-line in 2011 without much effort or expense. At any rate, it provides a decent biographical overview of the nearly 100 men who could call themselves "Emperor" over this 500-year period.
Regarding the documentary itself: imagine my excitement at finding a 6-hour production on ancient Rome. It was like a dream come true! But then, imagine my near "Roman Suicidal" level of disappointment when I learned I could only access the 50-something minute segment, "Rebellion". I'm going to try and track this down elsewhere.

Lakshman Karen
Lakshman Karen
10 years ago

good history

Josef Walkure
Josef Walkure
11 years ago

God, how I hate these docdramas... Really, has history fallen so low that we have to pander to such base ignorance?! We might as well trod out the purple dinosaur and friends and 'break it down Barney Style'.

malcolm_mclean
malcolm_mclean
11 years ago

every fourth or so video is blocked...

malcolm_mclean
malcolm_mclean
11 years ago

part 3 - 06.

The video is being blocked by BBC on copyright grounds.

Not even 20 minutes into this - don't bother watching this - you will not get far!

Louise Helbo
Louise Helbo
11 years ago

Bryan, I think it was "just" salt.

L0LAW0NKA
L0LAW0NKA
12 years ago

Who said the Roman Empire fell completely? Societies around the world are still operating under Roman influence. Just look at our language, the alphabet itself, the math, the science, the politics... yup, we're still under Roman influence. Isn't that amazing?

Fred Bazzeeda
Fred Bazzeeda
12 years ago

broken: part 4 and 6. displayed msg:
"this video contains content from BBC Worldwide, who has blocked it on copyright grounds.

Hassan Abd El Fattah
Hassan Abd El Fattah
12 years ago

the actor who perform nero is perfect.....he was totally mad did you see the " don`t you daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaare " in 1:16 part 5,,,,,totally mad

John Cury
John Cury
12 years ago

Damn it, allot of the parts are blocked. Will try to find it from somewhere else. I thought the guy playing Julius was very untalented. His speeches sucked.
I have read 2 books on the lives of the roman emperors which I can recommend to anyone who wants to know more,
1 THE LIVES OF THE TWELVE CAESARS By C. Suetonius Tranquillus
2 THE CAESARS BY THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Both can be found on gutenberg

Shaan Vs
Shaan Vs
12 years ago

This is a fantastic series with some good acting and a great background score. Specially the theme track is great.

Serban Dragulin
Serban Dragulin
12 years ago

Leave it to the brits to make a first class docudrama with first class actors. I mean.....wow.

Guest
Guest
12 years ago

i should of read the comments first. Grr was watching this great Doc. until I got to the blocked part.

Brad Seguin
Brad Seguin
12 years ago

omg... missed the giant battle because the video is blocked... it's educational jeez...

Layla Phelps
Layla Phelps
12 years ago

Wow Nero was a nutcase!

Layla Phelps
Layla Phelps
12 years ago

Eh one part was blocked. Oh well. The entire conspiracy party was nuts lol.

Chris Killjoy Chase-Onions
Chris Killjoy Chase-Onions
12 years ago

I love how they didn't accurately portray Roman armor through most of the episodes

Geoffrey F
Geoffrey F
12 years ago

The jews killed Caesar because he took the money power away from them. He made coins with his face on them. And these he gave to the people.

athenascurse
athenascurse
12 years ago

They came to find that most the emperors that went mental it was due to Lead poisoning. Everything they drank, bathed in. Was full of lead.

Stephen Hart
Stephen Hart
12 years ago

The actor who portrayed Nero was sensational! He delivered a great and very convincing performance!

danielmcd3
danielmcd3
12 years ago

Strange seeing frank gallagher leading an army

danielmcd3
danielmcd3
12 years ago

by God, Nero was one mental dude.

Paul So
Paul So
12 years ago

It's sad how Rome fell because of it's pride and prejudice against the barbarian...If only they see how trustworthy and honorable Alaric is then they would have given a land and saved rome...but oh well, what's done is done.

Steven King
Steven King
12 years ago

"An inspiring speech to his troops promising to rescue Rome from its corrupt rulers and restore it to its people raises opposition from Senators Cato and Marcellus."
Now I know where the Cato Institute derived it's name.

Benoit Field
Benoit Field
12 years ago

I love this, yes it's over dramatized, but I look at it more like entertainment than educational, I know this whole history inside and out anyway.

Ivan Simo Simic
Ivan Simo Simic
12 years ago

Uffaaa... I love history, but in the first 7 min. of this doc. I can not stand the dramatization. Last doc. about the Greek history was perfect, I hoped that it will be similar. OK, I see now it is docudrama series... But, still do not like it :)

Liisa Mialee
Liisa Mialee
12 years ago

Some parts are blocked on copyrigth grounds by BBC Worldwide. But overall very interesting.