Suscc Library: History 101: Western Civilization: Media

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Feature Films On Demand

Please use this link to access for other feature films for your educational needs.

For Use Off- Campus use the this user name and password.

User Name: suscc

Password: digital

Listed below are some examples of educational videos the database offers. Additional titles are available by searching the database.

Birthplace of Western Civilization During the sixth and fifth centuries B.C., a revolution occurred in Greece in the areas of art, theater, architecture, and philosophy. Sculptures appeared more realistic and less stylistic.
Publication Date: 2004
Ancient Greece Whether looking at Western language, history, or institutions, no other civilization has so greatly influenced our contemporary world. This program re-creates the Greek world, from the morning market to the evening symposiums, from burial rituals to the Olympics. Beginning with Homer’s account of the Trojan War, this program explores Greek civilization using 3-D re-creations of the Parthenon and Agora, maps, and commentary by scholars to provide insight into the daily lives of Greek citizens. (46 minutes)
Publication Date: 1996
The Medieval Mind (Series) The Cathedral of Chartres, built from 1150 to 1220 and widely recognized as a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, is now a world heritage site. This program offers a narrated tour of the cathedral, along with a historical portrait of the political and religious fervor of the medieval architects who saw it through to completion. A BBC Production. (50 minutes) A BBC Production.
Publication Date: 1998
The Beginnings: The Greeks and the Romans This program traces Greek civilization from the Minoans to the city-states dominated by Athens. The Trojan War, Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis are discussed as major historical turning points. The rise of the Roman Empire and its 500-year dominance of Europe and the Mediterranean are attributed to its engineering and architectural expertise and military prowess. Emperor Diocletian, Constantine, and the invasion of the Visigoths are discussed in relationship to the 5th-century downfall of the empire. (25 minutes)
Publication Date: 1997
Thebes, Part 1: Life on the West Bank of the Nile (Full Video) It has long been held that ancient Egyptians viewed the east bank of the Nile as life on Earth and the west bank as life in the hereafter, a vision that strictly ruled their urban planning. But recent archaeological digs at Thebes have revealed a somewhat different story. This program examines the houses of priests and other structures that indicate bustling activity on the funereal west bank—among the temple complexes as well as at Deir el-Medina, a village for the onsite laborers and craftsmen who were previously thought to be the only permanent residents of the necropolis.
Publication Date: 2004
The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance-Birth of a Dynasty (Full Video) How did the Medici, whose community included many affluent families, rise to singular prominence? This program explores the origins of their dynasty; the accomplishments of Giovanni, founder of the Medici banking business and the family’s first notable patriarch; and the role his son, Cosimo, played in solidifying the House of Medici. Viewers learn about the social, cultural, and economic conditions of 15th-century Florence as well as several art and architecture projects commissioned by the Medici, such as Brunelleschi’s cathedral dome. Distributed by PBS Distribution. Part of the series The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance. (56 minutes) Distributed by PBS Distribution.
Publication Date: 2004
Ancient China From the creation legend of Panku to the demise of the Han Dynasty, this program traces Chinese history and explores the roots of Chinese culture today. Visit the Great Wall of China as scholars discuss why it remains even today a symbol of oppression, exemplified in the legend of the weeping woman; the Imperial Palace and how it exemplifies Chinese beliefs in harmony; and the Beijing Opera, whose works are an elaborate retelling of traditional folktales. The influences of Buddhism, ancestor worship, and Taoism in China are also discussed, along with stunning footage of the Buddhist caves and the terra-cotta army. (50 minutes)
Publication Date: 1996
Persian Empire Around 630 B.C., an alliance between Babylonia and Medes conquered Assyria. Cyrus led Persian expansion from India to Greece. A BBC Production.
Publication Date: 2010

Feature Films for Education

Please use this link to access for other feature films for your educational needs.

For Use Off- Campus Use This User Name and Password to Login.

User Name: 000001

Password: email one of the addresses below

For more passwords for Feature Films email either Ms. Michelle Wimbish at mwimbish@suscc.edu or Mr. John Carlisle at jcarlisle@suscc.edu. 

Listed below are titles of featured films the database offers on the subject of western civilization.

Cleopatra Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt experiences both triumph and tragedy as she attempts to resist the imperial ambitions of Rome.
Publication Date: 1963
Demitrius and the Gladiators In first-century Rome, Christian slave Demetrius is sent to fight in the gladiatorial arena and Emperor Caligula seeks Jesus' robe for its alleged magical powers.
Publication Date: 1954
The Name of the Rose 14th Century Franciscan monk William of Baskerville and his young novice arrive at a conference to find that several monks have been murdered under mysterious circumstances. To solve the crimes, William must rise up against the Church's authority and fight the shadowy conspiracy of monastery monks using only his intelligence which is considerable.
Publication Date: 1986

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