In recent years, Monty Pythoner Terry Jones has created a wonderful niche for himself on television. His historical documentaries are fantastic--highly original, fascinating and a bit funny. He's managed to re-examine and breath life into such topics as the Crusades, life for the average Roman, the Middle Ages--among others. H
When this show begins, the host, Terry Jones, tosses a deliberately controversial idea at the audience--that most of our weapons, technology and intelligence all have ancient roots. In other words, while we might like to think that we are smarter and so much more advanced than folks in the ancient world, many of our modern weapons of war have ancient roots or parallels. Then, he goes on to provide many interesting examples of advanced ancient technology. Then, he explains the evolution of our weapons through the ages. Additionally, Jones contends that much of the inventiveness mankind has experienced is based mostly on warfare. Even modern medicine, plastic surgery and secret codes all have their roots in warfare.
Like so many of Jones' documentaries, it excels at examining familiar material in a very unfamiliar manner. Add to this his nice sense of humor and nice, easy-going manner and you have a winner of a documentary--and one that is very original. All three of these "Ancient Inventions" documentaries are of a similar exceptionally high quality--and they are never dull.
When this show begins, the host, Terry Jones, tosses a deliberately controversial idea at the audience--that most of our weapons, technology and intelligence all have ancient roots. In other words, while we might like to think that we are smarter and so much more advanced than folks in the ancient world, many of our modern weapons of war have ancient roots or parallels. Then, he goes on to provide many interesting examples of advanced ancient technology. Then, he explains the evolution of our weapons through the ages. Additionally, Jones contends that much of the inventiveness mankind has experienced is based mostly on warfare. Even modern medicine, plastic surgery and secret codes all have their roots in warfare.
Like so many of Jones' documentaries, it excels at examining familiar material in a very unfamiliar manner. Add to this his nice sense of humor and nice, easy-going manner and you have a winner of a documentary--and one that is very original. All three of these "Ancient Inventions" documentaries are of a similar exceptionally high quality--and they are never dull.
