Jane Sloan Media Librarian jsloan@rci.rutgers.edu June 2006

Research Resources: Subject Research Guides: Media Collections:
Ancient Civilizations

This guide is a browsing aid to selected titles in the video/DVD collections at Rutgers Libraries. The most up-to-date, accurate, and complete information regarding the libraries' holdings is available only through IRIS, our online catalog.

The Africans. Program 3, New gods 1986

The roles of Christian missionaries, Western secularism, Muslim sects, Egyptian pharoahs, and native religions are discussed in visits to Senegal, Zaire, and Egypt.

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

MEDIA 2-1166

Al-Nasir Salad al-Din Saladin 199

Saladin unites the Arab nation, liberates Jerusalem from its European captors, and defeats the venal and treacherous Crusaders. The love interest subplot finally sees the union of a female Crusader and Saladin's Christian Arab lieutenant.

1 videocassette [145 min.] :

MEDIA 2-5408

The Ancient Egyptian 1984?

Uses photographs of Egyptian sculpture, artifacts, wall paintings of tombs and temples, and animated sequences in outlining the history of Egypt from 2700 B.C. to the Roman conquest, and to portray the temperament, religion and daily activities of the Pharaohs and citizens of ancient Egypt. Describes the geological changes in northern Africa during prehistoric times. Includes views of the building of the Aswan Dam on the Nile.

1 videocassette (26 min.) :

MEDIA 2-3043

The Archaeology of Jerusalem from David to Jesus 1990

Pt. 1. From the beginning to the Babylonian destruction -- pt. 2. From the return of the exiles to the world of JesusFascinating history of Jerusalem from the Canaanite beginnings to the Arab conquest, supported by archaeological findings. Starting with the Canaanite settlements, the sequence includes the building of the city by Kings David, Solomon and Herod, its destruction by the Babylonians and the Romans, and its transformation by the Arabs. A couple of archaeological discoveries are presented and discussed in detail: King David's tomb, the underground water tunnel and the Siloam Inscription, Jesus' tomb, the oldest biblical text--preceeding by 400 years the Dead Sea Scrolls.

2 videocassettes (1 hr., 14 min.) :

DANA. DANA 667 cassette 1 667 cassette 2

Assurnasirpal, the Assyrian king 1980

Documents the history and culture of the Assyrian empire, focusing on the prosperous reign of King Assurnasirpal II.

1 videocassette (25 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2533

Babylon the gate of the gods 198

The ruins of Babylon, seen in their present-day condition and collections of artworks from the National Museum of Iraq are shown and discussed to demonstrate the sophistication and splendor of Babylonian culture.

1 videocassette (25 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2539

Believe, imagine, dream Croire, imaginer, penser/part 1 2001

By replacing paganism with monotheism and tribal life with empire-building, the Arabs of the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties effected a complete paradigm shift in their worldview. This program studies the codification of Islamic law and assimilation of non-Arab texts--and the ensuing competition between the ulema, or doctors of the law, and the philosophers, who saw reason as an equal to divine enlightenment. The contributions of key figures, including the Caliph al-Maamun, Yaqub ibn Ishaq al-Kindi, Abu al-Nasr al-Farabi, Avicenna, Muhammad ibn Tufayl, and Averroes, are also examined.

1 videocassette (26 min.) :

MEDIA 2-5517

Central America the burden of time 1992

Discusses how, isolated from the rest of the world, the Aztecs, Maya and Inca created sophisticated civilizations that in many ways paralleled ancient Mediterranean empires. Also discusses how the arrival of the Conquistadores caused near obliteration of their culture and how parts of it survive today in the mountains of Central America.

1 videocassette (57 min.) :

MEDIA 2-5899

The Chaco legacy 1988

Examines archaeological theories about the rise and fall of Chacoan culture, which flourished 900 years ago in the area of Chaco Canyon, N.M.

1 videocassette (59 min.) :

MEDIA 2-958 2-4209

China the mandate of heaven 1992

Explores the ancient culture of China and the ideas that have sustained that culture for over 2000 years. Also looks at the influence of China on Western civilization.

1 videocassette (57 min.) :

MEDIA 2-5861

City of the gods 1994

Fifty miles north of modern Mexico City stands the ancient site of Teotihuacán. Built more than 2,000 years ago, the city's colossal pyramids of the sun and moon are the largest pre-Columbian monuments in the New World. Murals found there provide archaeologists with information about this ancient metropolis.

1 videocassette (28 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2447

The Collapse 1993

The program reveals that ancient civilizations suffered from the consequences of overpopulation and over-exploitation of resources and shows that, through archaeology, we can apply the lessons of the past to the present.

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

MEDIA 2-1899

Conquistadors 2001

[Pt. 1.] The fall of the Aztecs -- [pt. 2.] The conquest of the Incas -- [pt. 3.] The search for El Dorado -- [pt. 4.] All the world is humanFour part series on the discovery of the Americas by the Spanish conquistadors and the subsequent fall of the Aztec and Inca empires.

4 videocassettes (240 min.) :

MEDIA. MEDIA. MEDIA. MEDIA 2-4037a cassette 1 2-4038a cassette 2 2-4039a cassette 3 2-4040a cassette 4

Egypt's golden empire 2002

Pt. 1. The warrior pharaohs / directed by James Hawes -- pt. 2. Pharaohs of the sun / directed by James Hawes -- pt. 3. The last great pharaoh / directors, Richard Bradley, Clara Byrne, James HawesExamines the rise and fall of Egypt's New Kingdom, 1560 BCE to 1080 BCE.

3 videocassettes (180 min.) :

MEDIA. MEDIA. MEDIA 2-4168a cassette 1 2-4169a cassette 2 2-4170a cassette 3

Egypt the habit of civilization 1992

Looks at the Pharaonic Egypt, the longest lasting of the ancient civilizations-- it created state institutions on which nations are still built.

1 videocassette (57 min.) :

MEDIA 2-5900

Egyptology Tutankhamun's tomb and the Rosetta Stone 2003

"When Howard Carter entered the long-sought tomb of Tutankhamun, it did not take him long to confirm that it was indeed the final resting place of the legendary Boy King. But his knowledge of hieroglyphics had only been made possible by the enigmatic Rosetta Stone, deciphered precisely 100 years earlier by Jean-Franc ois Champollion. This intriguing, highly realistic program cinematically dramatizes the efforts of Carter and Champollion, a century apart, to make sense of an ancient world that had been kept silent for thousands of years by an indecipherable language."--Container.

1 videodisc (51 min.)

DANA 143

El Templo Mayor de Tenochtitlán 1991

Explorers the ancient ruins of the temple of Tenochtitlan and the surrounding area. The hosts speculate about the life and culture of those who once inhabited that city.

1 videocassette (56 min.) :

DANA 704

The Fall of the Maya 1993

The mystery of the Maya civilization is explained through the archaeological findings of the ancient city of Cop n in the Honduras' jungle.

1 videocassette (23 min.) :

MEDIA 2-3110

Five millennia Mesopotamiaan architectural heritage 1980

Explores the Mesopotamian origins, basic motifs, and lasting influences of Islamic architecture using classic examples still in existence throughout the territory that is now modern Iraq.

1 videocassette (26 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2535

The gods of our fathers 1994

Explores the evolution of patriarchy as one effective way of organizing mass societies, from evidence in ancient Egyptian villages along the Nile. As the world changes, it needs to find alternatives to patriarchy.

1 videocassette (51 min.)

MEDIA 2-6442

The great Egyptians 1997

King of the pyramids -- The real Cleopatra -- The mystery of TutenkhamenLooks at three famous names in the history of ancient Egypt.

3 videocassettes (50 min. each) :

DANA. DANA. DANA 997 cassette 1 997 cassette 2 997 cassette 3

The greatness of Africa 1998

Overview of Ancient African civilization from the world's oldest monarchy in Qustul to the civilization of Egypt.

1 videocassette (ca. 23 min.) :

DANA 1832

Hatra 1980

Profiles the art, architecture, and history of the ancient Mesopotamian city of Hatra in present-day northern Iraq. Located along a major silk trade route, the city was a meeting ground for the cultures of Mesopotamia and Greece. The dual influence of these cultures is demonstrated using footage of the city's barely excavated ruins and works of art.

1 videocassette (25 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2534

In the shadow of the Incas 1990

The history of ancient Andean Indian cultures in Peru and northern Bolivia is revealed by examining the archaeological evidence which remains at various sites. Sites visited include Machu Picu (Peru), Tiahuanaco (Bolivia), and Cerro Sechín (Peru).

1 videocassette (43 min.) :

DANA 230

India the empire of the spirit 1992

Looks at the Hindu religion, the basis of Indian culture. Explores the traditions that were born in the Indus Valley 5,000 years ago and shows how these traditions are still honored today.

1 videocassette (57 min.) :

MEDIA 2-5863

Information withheld ; Shifters 1993?

Information witheld dramatizes the nature of signs and symbols in an ascending order of complexity, from traffic signals and hieroglyphs to Michelangelo's painting of The Madonna and child with St. Joseph. Shifters dismantles the narrative mode and distinguishes six recurrent themes, including Egypt, Napoleon, the scholars, the abuse of a cat and a melodrama. The subtext of this videotape concerns the oppositions of imperial power and the working class suggested through architecture emblematic of them.

1 videocassette (56 min.) :sd., col. ;

DANA 418

Jing Ke ci Qin Wang The emperor and the assassin 2000

Ying Zheng, the King of Qin, has one driving ambition: to unify China's seven kingdoms into one magnificent empire.

1 videodisc (ca. 161 min.) :

MEDIA 10-48

Lost city of the Aegean 1993

Archaeologists excavate the Minoan colony of Akrotiri on the island of Thera, showing how the BC 1628 volcanic eruption reshaped the island and forever changed the world, and suggesting the possibility of this being the lost civilization of Atlantis.

1 videocassette (28 min.) :

DANA 387

The Maya collection 1996

Series of videos featuring Maya architecture in Mesoamerica.

10 videocassettes (ca. 600 min.) :

DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA 1025 cassette 1 1025 cassette 2 1025 cassette 3 1025 cassette 4 1025 cassette 5 1025 cassette 6 1025 cassette 7 1025 cassette 8 1025 cassette 9 1025 cassette 10

Maya lords of the jungle 1988

Visits ancient sites on the Yucatan Peninsula where new findings are forcing a reappraisal of the past of the Mayans. Researchers display and interpret their findings, setting aside the errors of the past, and quietly working a revolution in pre-Columbian archaeology.

1 videocassette (59 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 995 2-966

Mediterranean on the rocks 2000

Alan Alda travels to the Mediterranean Sea and investigates: how ancient peoples built papyrus boats; why an invasive species of algae, Caulerpa taxifola, threatens the environmental health of the area; how copper was made at a 2,500 year-old archaeological site in Cyprus; how scientist track the finback whale and treat and release injured sea turtles back to the sea.

1 videocassette (ca. 60 min.)

MEDIA 2-6980

Mesopotamia : I have conquered the river 2003

Literally "the land between the rivers," Mesopotamia was host to some of the worlds earliest and most powerful civilizations. Shot on location, this program seeks to understand how the Sumerian city-states, cradled by the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, built a vibrant agricultural economy and why, after centuries, the wheat crop suddenly failed.

1 videodisc (59 min.) :

MEDIA 10-142

Minoan civilization 1993

Examines the remains and reconstructions of Minoan civilization at Knossos and Phaistos on Crete, and discusses the problems, partial resolutions, and knowledge resulting from the decipherment of Minoan scripts. Also covers what is known about the origins, lifestyles, and symbology of the Minoans, as well as the significance of the Minotaur and Theseus myths.

1 videocassette (53 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2677

Mummies tales from the Egyptian Crypts 1996

v. 1. The great pyraminds -- v. 2. The sphinx -- v. 3. Hieroglyphs -- v. 4 King TutEgyptologists and the latest computer technology bring the wonders of ancient Egypt to life.

4 videocassettes (50 min. each) :

DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA 1057 cassette 1 1057 cassette 2 1057 cassette 3 1057 cassette 4

The Nile 1986

In this breathtaking travelogue, The Nile, the Cousteaus embark on a daring ten-month expedition along the entire course of the world's largest river, capturing on film the nile's astonishing natural beauties, menacing dangers and primative cultures and animal sanctuaries. Treasure troves of natural wonders are unearthed by the expedition as it moves from Uganda to Khartoum to Egypt, before concluding at the man-made wonders of the Nile, the Jonglei Canal and the Aswan High Dam. Emphasises some of the negative results of the building of dams and irrigation channels.

1 videocassette (116 min.) :

MEDIA 2-1392

A people is born 1984

Covers the birth of the Jewish people amid the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia, from 3500 B.C.E. to the 6th century B.C.E.

1 videocassette (58 min.)

MEDIA D-291

Power, prestige and wealth 1993

The program reveals the different methods used by archaeologists to study how rulers have gained and kept power.

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

MEDIA 2-1896

Pyramid 1988

Explores the geography, history, archaeology, mythology and religions of the ancient Egyptians through a combination of live footage and animation.

1 videocassette (58 min.) :

DANA. DANA 659 659

Ramses favorite of the gods 1999

This comprehensive program appraises the life of the pharaoh whose name literally means "Ra begot him" and re-creates his world during the age of the New Kingdom, providing penetrating insights into the culture, religion, and daily life of Egyptians at all levels of society.

1 videocassette (52 min.) :

MEDIA 2-5961

Realms 1993

The program focuses on the complex political arrangements of ancient civilization and the basic functions of those systems.

1 videocassette (60 min.) :

MEDIA 2-1897

The Seven wonders of the ancient world 1990

Examines the location and the people responsible for the construction and original function of each of the seven wonders: The Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Pharos (lighthouse) at Alexandria, Egypt.

1 videocassette (59 min.) :

DANA 1128

The Silk Road 1990

"Learn of the lost kingdom of Lou-lan, which vanished into the sands of the desert when the nearby lake Lop Nor moved away...find relics of the Silk Road from over a millenium ago."--Container.

1 videocassette ( 55 min.) :

MEDIA 2-3510

The Silk Road 1990

"Tour the world-famous Ma-gao Caves--over 500 caves, more than 30 miles in length, wtih 3000 murals and statues in the middle of the Gobi desert."--Container.

1 videocassette (ca. 55 min) :

MEDIA 2-3508

The Silk Road 1990

Be the first foreign visitors in over seventy five years to the ancient Buddhist city of Miran, before attempting to cross the Taklamakan Desert.

1 videocassette (ca. 55 min.) :

MEDIA 2-3507

The Silk Road 1992

A visit to the place once called the land of fire located between the Tian-Shan Mountains and the Taklamakan Desert; the Fire Mountains; Thousand Buddha Caves; and the Jiao-he Castle.

1 videocassette (55 min.) :

MEDIA 2-3512

Stonehenge mystery in the plain 1980

Myth and legend surround this ancient stone circle on the Salisbury Plain, whose architects remain unknown. Speculation abounds on its origins, its purpose, and its influence on the remote landscape of Southern Britain.

1 videocassette (24 min.) :

MEDIA 2-972

The story of civilisation: Chinese 2001

Profiles ancient China and Japan, exploring both society and culture as well as the myths and legends surrounding these civilizations.

1 videocassette (50 min.) :

DANA 1663

The story of civilisation:The first empires 2001

Profiles ancient Greece and Egypt, exploring both society and culture as well as the myths and legends surrounding these civilizations.

1 videorecording (50 min.) :

DANA 1661

The story of civilisation: the Viking age 2001

Profiles the Viking world of pillage and plunder, but also Viking religion, arts and crafts.

1 videocassette (50 min.) :

DANA 1666

The story of civilization: the Americas 2001

Profiles the Aztecs, refers to the Mayans of Mexico and summarizes the history of native Americans. Explores both society and culture as well as the myths and legends surrounding these civilizations.

1 videocassette (50 min.) :

DANA 1664

Sumer, Babylon, Assyria the wolves 1991

Peter Young presents a guided tour of the British Museum showing artifacts from Assyria, Babylon, and Sumer. Shows the scope and military history of those regions.

1 videocassette (26 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2678

The Sumerian kingdom of Ur 198

The ruins of Ur, seen in their present-day condition, and collections of artworks from the National Museum of Iraq present the variety and high level of Sumerian culture. Also touched upon are the history of archaeology and excavation at Ur, and the Marsh Arabs, descendants of the Sumerians, who still inhabit the land where the Tigris and Euphrates meet.

1 videocassette (25 min.) :

MEDIA 2-2540

The Ten commandments 1990

The epic story of Moses, the prophet who led his people, the Israelites, out of bondage in the land of Egypt to the Promised Land.

2 videocassettes (219 min.) :

DANA. DANA 1134 cassette 1 1134 cassette 2

This old pyramid 1992

This program reveals the ancient secret of how the pyramids were built by actually building one. A noted Egyptologist, Mark Lehner, and a professional stonemason, Roger Hopkins ("This old house"), join forces in the shadow of the great pyramid of Giza to put clever and sometimes bizarre pyramid construction theories to the test.

1 videocassette (90 min.) :

DANA. MEDIA 385 2-2515

Time Life's Lost civilizations 1995

Egypt, quest for immortality -- Maya, the blood of kings -- Mesopotamia, return to Eden -- Aegean, legacy of Atlantis -- Greece, a moment of excellence -- China, dynasties of power -- Rome, the ultimate empire -- Africa, a history denied -- Inca, secrets of the ancestors -- Tibet, the end of timeCombines evocative recreations with three-dimensional computer animation and documentary footage from 26 countries to describe the history and social life and customs of vanished civilizations.

10 videocassettes (48 min. ea.) :

DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA. DANA 1026 cassette 1 1026 cassette 2 1026 cassette 3 1026 cassette 4 1026 cassette 5 1026 cassette 6 1026 cassette 7 1026 cassette 8 1026 cassette 9 1026 cassette 10

Woman's place 1985

Discusses Egyptian temples as houses of the gods, and examines the relationships between the men and women as expressed in the love poetry of the time.

1 videocassette (23 min.) :

DANA 696