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A Historian Goes to the Movies: Ancient Rome

By: Gregory S. Aldrete, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
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Summary

How have films like Ben-Hur, Spartacus, Gladiator, or even a satire like Monty Python’s Life of Brian created our popular perceptions of ancient Roman history? In what ways have they led us astray? And why, despite the occasional box-office flop, do movies set in ancient Rome still have the power to captivate us, and to turn each of us into theater-going history buffs?

In these 12 lectures, an award-winning historian gives you a front-row look at the great movies that have shaped ancient Rome’s role in popular culture and memory. Packed with insights into both history and filmmaking, this series immerses you in the glory and grandeur (and, sometimes, the folly) of classic and contemporary films featuring over 50 years of cinematic talent, including directors like Stanley Kubrick and Ridley Scott and actors such as Elizabeth Taylor and Russell Crowe.

You’ll investigate portrayals of ancient Roman life on the big screen and small screen; learn how to tease out fact from fiction in some of Hollywood’s most stunning spectacles; and deepen your appreciation for films that, when made right, can be thrilling time machines into the past. Some films you may already be a fan of; other films you might have only heard of in passing. But all of them are essential to a well-rounded understanding of the intricate relationship between the world of ancient Rome and the world of the movies.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 The Great Courses (P)2020 The Teaching Company, LLC
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Very informative and enjoyable

For someone who enjoys sword and sandals epics and history in general. This set of lectures is perfect.

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An interesting course, easy on the brain

This is an interesting little course, organised and presented well by an established professor. My only complaint is Prof. Aldrede's inability to pronounce some Italian words (e.g., Cinecitta') and some words derived from Latin (e.g., amphitheatre). Other than that, this is an engaging and fun course, ideal for when you want to keep your brain busy but can't handle complex information.

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Perfunctory look at the Epic Movies of the fifties/sixty’s

I love these romps through the world of the ancient romans, and so over the years I have learnt something about them. Unfortunately I appear to know more than the writer, facts are just wrong ( Elizabeth Taylor was not the first actor to command a million dollars for a movie , she was the first actress , Marlon Brando beat her too it ) and the British people did not consider themselves living under the yoke of oppression after the war because they had a royal family. The writer does seem to have it in for the British royal family . Once you spot inaccuracies and personal opinions being presented as facts you do loose confidence in a book. Not for me

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1 person found this helpful