Search - Carthage: A Journey Back in Time (Lost Treasures of the Ancient World) on DVD

Lost Treasures: Carthage

Jose A. M. Nolla | San Juan, PR Puerto Rico | 10/08/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Gives a good description with imagery enhancements of how Carthage looked in its prime (246 BC). It however does not give you a guided tour of the city visiting the Senate building or the Palace at the Byrsa as it was at that time, though it includes overall views of the naval harbor and admiralty building that housed one of the greatest secret libraries of its time that included records of Carthaginian routes to Ireland, Britain and Germany to the north, around Africa to the south and new lands across the sea to the west. I would have liked a tour through imagery of that period of Carthage at a time were defeat in Sicily decided its future, moving from a Kingdom to an Empire or a Republic, with the latter winning out.Carthage was the greatest republic of the ancient world, as told by Aristotle and other philosophers of that time."

Carthage for Beginners

Jeffery Mingo | Homewood, IL USA | 05/03/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It's often repeated that the Roman Empire was huge. However, historians and teachers then just focus on the City and don't discuss pre-colonial life. (A small exception is seen in Russell Crowe's "Gladiator" character being from Spain.) This documentary speaks of Carthage before and during the Roman conquest. Carthage is now what we call Tunisia.

This is a British documentary probably meant from British audiences. The scholars interviewed are not diverse. Many have teeth that could be featured in the Simpsons' "Big Book of British Smiles." The work has computer graphics and actors pretending to be ancient people.

The work goes into why Carthage was important, how it got its name, etc. Like much on Rome, they speak of gladiators, bath houses, and mosaics.

I wasn't glued to this documentary. However, I appreciated what I learned and thank the makers for putting it together."