Rome's Lost Empire (2012 TV Movie) User Reviews

Recreation of Roman History Using Computer Technology that Serves as an Imperialist Allegory

[l_rawjalaurence · 5/10 · 12 June 2014]

In association with space archaeologist Sarah Parcak from Alabama State University, presenter Dan Snow travels to several Roman sites in Italy, Africa and the Middle East to show how computer technology - specifically the use of satellites and laser beams - can help us discover more about hitherto inaccessible sites. The computer graphics are colorful enough, but the program's entire thrust seems false: we wonder why the professional archaeologists interviewed throughout the program - for example Prof. Simon Keay - have not managed to make similar discoveries over the last three decades. Are they just antediluvian in their methods, or has the entire emphasis on (re- )discovering the past been manufactured especially for the program? More significantly, perhaps, is the fact that we are introduced to very few local archaeologists, except in Transylvania, where a Romanian professor from the University of Cluj is suitably impressed by Parcak's technology. In the Middle East and Africa, no locals appear at all, suggesting, perhaps, that the program's aim is not necessarily to foreground the power of new technology, but rather to re-emphasize western (specifically American, with a little British support) domination over the current archaeological agenda, especially when the research location is outside the western world. We are encouraged to feel good when Parcak makes these discoveries, as they evidently represent a major contribution to archaeological knowledge. The problem is, I don't believe the program's claims at all.

Poor with a lot of historical errors.

[Yubaiam · 1/10 · 17 March 2013]

The documentary lacks historical accuracy of names and places and adequate sources.I thought BBC is a serious company that woks with serious specialists.

I cannot believe BBC approved such a failure and propagation of false information as historical facts. Beside all of these, Dan Snow showed a probe of unprofessionalism, arrogance and insensitive to the Dacian culture at least. Dr Pacak as an archaeologist should have done her homework about the accuracy of the information used in this documentary.For people who love serious history i would not lose the time to watch it.

I cannot take this documentary as fact, neither an adventure.