Ancient Greece: The Greatest Show on Earth
Ancient Greece: The Greatest Show on Earth is a three-part BBC documentary series presented by Dr Michael Scott, telling the story of Athens in the ancient world by exploring the sources of Greek drama and the development of the theatre - from the 6th century BC to the 2nd century AD. The series takes us on a journey to Athens to explore how drama first began. The first episode "Democrats" discovers that drama was about more than just entertainment - it was a reaction to real events, it was a driving force in history and it was deeply connected to Athenian democracy. The second episode "Kings" tells that during the fourth century BCE, Athens lost its Empire, but theatre, that most Athenian of inventions, thrived, spreading throughout the Greek world and beyond and giving rise to a new kind of comedy. And the third and final episode "Roman" is about how the Romans absorbed Greek theatre and adapted it to their own, very Roman, ends.
| Episode 1 - Democrats |
Episode 1 - Democrats
Classicist Dr Michael Scott journeys to Athens to explore how drama first began. He discovers how drama in Athens was deeply connected to Athenian democracy.
Episode 2 - Kings
Classicist Dr Michael Scott looks at the dramatic decline of Athens and the remarkable triumph and transformation of theatre.
Episode 3 - Romans
Classicist Dr Michael Scott examines the vital role played by the Romans in the preservation of Greek drama and in the history of theatre.
| Related Links |
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