For anyone looking for an alternative to the X-Factor final on Sunday evening, the BBC provided some educational programming in Rome’s Lost Empire, presented by Dan Snow and Dr Sarah Parcak.
Image: BBC
As an archaeologist from Alabama State University, Dr Parcak had recently used satellite imagery to discover thousands of sites of interest in Egypt, and hoped to do the same with the Roman empire.
Some of the sites visited included the Rose-Pink City of Petra (Seen on An Idiot Abroad, with Karl Pilkington), and Portus, which once a massive harbour of Rome, where they discovered a straight canal, which saved time compared to sailing up a winding river.
When they visited each of the sites discovered by satellite, CGI buildings; including an amphitheatre, farm buildings, and ‘Rome’s lost lighthouse’, magically popped up as they may have appeared at the time. I think some people be unconvinced by the artists’ impressions of the buildings based on the shape and the size of the base. Thankfully, some of the experts did say it may be this or that, so it wasn’t completely stated as fact.
Snow’s comments were slightly annoying at times, describing things one word at a time. “Arabia. Exotic. Sophisticated. A land of adventure. And opportunity.” But don’t let that put you off, he was an interesting presenter for the rest of the show. I’m sure some people will feel the show was a bit dumbed down, but as a non-expert in Roman history, it was a welcome choice away from that other show on ITV.
Watch Rome’s Lost Empire on BBC iPlayer here
then if i had built it ! it would be mainly tidel ? that dont look right , mainly on the way up , then fed by rivers on the way down so it would take a roughly known time to return . probaly the first one way system ! ha .
personally i think the canal built between rome n the port which Sarah discovered was a return route ! drop off on the way up . then come straight back !!! thats my theory !
I’m glad to say I’ve loved this program. Not only does it show some important principles of the Roman empire, but it also has shed some bright light upon lost information. I’m well aware that this is not the ultimate approach of Rome, but I’m very convinced that this program as a result of its approach has shed some new light upon the existence or Rome and it’s being and keeping alive. It showed very convincingly that new technologies can give us new information and thus new insights into history. Thereby it’s not giving is a finished job, but the tools to do a job. Hail dr. Parcak as a specialist and mr. Snow as a program maker.
Let’s not forget that programs like these are not simply there to be scientific, but to make certain scientific insights available to the public in general. In that respect undoubtedly this program has succeeded.
I downloaded this to iplayer desktop and it will now not play and is corrupt I am assuming there is some kind of copyright issue very frustrating none the less; the the BBC Scotland show on Berine it did not even appear on iplayer poor show. I found this program very useful indeed and there was a lot of information if you only know how to interpret it especially if you are looking for something, lastly was that not the point using the Roman Empire as a vehicle for the Satellite technology
I don’t particularly like rubbishing people’s work but this is a very poor programme. The satellite technology is interesting but is merely a modern tool and may have its place in certain situations. It lacked any vestage of the slightest intellectual rigor. It certainly missed the Time Team treatment. In many respects is was a trail for satellite technology used in archeology using the Roman Empire as a vehicle
The programme was broadcast last Sunday (7 days ago) and is now not available on the iplayer. I thought that programmes were available for 10 days after they’re broadcast but it seems the BBC just remove items as and when they feel which is so frustrating!
dAN sNOWOMAN hOSTORIAN & IT SHOWS .SUCH LUDICROUS REMARKS AS ” LETS GO FIND SOME ROMAN STUFF” ARE BANAL IN THE EXTREME.AS ABOVE I ALSO FOUND THIS PROGRAMME SLOW & BORING. I ALSO FOUND ALL THE GIMICKY NONSENSE ABOUT SATELLITE PHOTOGRAPHY MOST IRRITATING WHEN IT PROVED TO BE
GROSSLY INFERIOR TO AIRCRAFT PHOTOGRAPHY. PHOTOGRAPHY.
Dan Snow may be a ‘military historian’ but is as susceptible to classic Roman wartime propaganda as the next viewer. I’m referring to the part on the Dacians, a ‘tribe (why not kingdom?) that was getting to big for it’s own boots’, who had the nerve to raid the Roman empire and had to be made an example of. Next, we are led to wonder how only a 500 man strong garrison could have been strong enough to ‘pacify’ the conquered area, after it’s ‘warriors’ (why not army?) had been defeated.
Most historians agree Dacia was invaded because emperor Trajanus was badly in debt: taking the land with it’s tiny army and numerous goldmines, selling it’s population into slavery, repopulating the country with pensioned-off legionnaires and selling pieces of land both filled Roman coffers and answers the question why no big garrisons were needed. The technological answer of this program is that the mentioned garrison was in fact part of a much larger encampment. This leaves me wondering: how does this ‘rewrite history’, as Dan claims?
The pace of the program is slow indeed, but that seems to happen with any program on history that uses the occasional three syllable term. No blame on Snow here. Fast forwarding through the program I find it is all very much drawn out, without any substance. Boring in other words. I wonder what the other show on ITV was.