LEGACY: EGYPT: THE HABIT OF CIVILIZATION (TV)
Summary
One in this series of historical documentaries that chronicles the breadth and diversity of Earth's civilizations, explores the fundamental differences among cultures, and examines the unique ways that people perceive the world. In this program, host Michael Wood explores the roots of the ancient Egyptian civilization, an optimistic culture that attempted to overcome time and death and that made civilized life an integral part of existence. The documentary examines the birth of the first unified state of Egypt in 3000 B.C., focusing on its buildings and artifacts, the centralized power of the state, the royal rituals, and the cult of the dead, all of which contributed to the culture's ideology. Wood also examines two defining events that forever changed the groundwork upon which Egypt developed: Alexander the Great's conquest of Egypt in 332 B.C, turning the country away from its ancient roots and toward the Greek-speaking Mediterranean world for 1000 years; and, the emergence of monotheism and the basic tenets of Christianity, which eroded the celebration of the physical world, the familiar paganism, and the heretofore steady cosmos. The program includes footage of the Temple at Edfu; the oldest pyramids from 2500 B.C.; artifacts of Narmer, the legendary unifier of Egypt; and an ancient Alexandrian mosque. No commercials. (This program is closed-captioned.)
Acquisition and cataloging of this program was made possible by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WNET New York, NY
- DATE: February 3, 1992 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:56
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:26905
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Architecture, Egyptian; Art, Egyptian; Christianity; Egypt - Antiquities; Egypt - Civilization; Egypt - History; Egypt - Politics and government - To 332 B.C.; Great Pyramid (Egypt); Mythology, Egyptian; Temple at Edfu
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1992
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Leo Eaton … Executive Producer
- Roger James … Executive Producer
- Peter Spry-Leverton … Producer, Director
- Chris Ledger … Associate Producer
- Donna R. Hunt … Associate Producer
- Michael Wood … Writer, Host
- Edward Wynne … Music by