Search - The Dark Ages (The History Channel ) on DVD

A Fantastic Introduction to the Dark Ages!

Matthew S. Schweitzer | Columbus, OH United States | 07/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
The History Channel really delivers in this awesome documentary on the history of The Dark Ages, the period between the Fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of the Middle Ages. It is generally remembered as a bleak period when civilization in the West teetered on the verge of total collapse and barbarian warlords fought with each other when they weren't busy fighting Viking hordes, Muslim invaders, or Byzantine armies.

The Dark Ages uses recent scholarship and high production values to recreate the period just after the fall of Rome in the late 5th century A.D. The Roman Empire in the West had collapsed and a ragtag band of barbarians made up of Goths, Vandals, Franks, and Lombards wage bloody warfare against each other to divide up the pieces of the once-great Empire. In the East, the remnants of the Empire live on under the Emperor Justinian who becomes obsessed with recapturing Rome and reconquering the West. Meanwhile, the Franks, easily the most powerful of the post-Roman tribes, have begun to establish a great kingdom under the Merovingian dynasty, led by King Clovis, whose conversion to Christianity helps secure its place in the history of Europe. The documentary then touches on the Viking raids along the English and Irish coasts, the desperate struggle to crush the invading Muslim armies that threaten to capture all of Spain and France, and ultimately, the consolidation of Western Europe as part of the Holy Roman Empire under Charlemagne.

This is probably one of the best History Channel DVDs out there and shows that a good amount of time and effort went into create this production. While of course it cannot tell every detail of the nearly 500 year period of the Dark Ages, it does a good job of providing an excellent introduction to the subject. It is one which recommends itself to anyone who claims to be a student of history.
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Brill-i-ant!

Ian Nicholas | Los Angeles, CA | 05/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I usually enjoy the re-enactment-type specials on the History Channel, but this one was a notch above anything they've ever done before. The production values were absolutely cinematic: the photography was stunning, and the score was so beautiful that I hope they put out a soundtrack for this show, or at least offer the music as an iTunes download. This show never drags, and crams an amazing amount of history into its 90 minutes of airtime. At the end, it feels very epic, like you've traveled on this journey with someone. Definitely worth the buy, or at the very least, the rental."

Not so dark ages

Stratiotes Doxha Theon | Richmond, Missouri | 09/07/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A fascinating and entertaining account of the not-so-dark ages. Solid scholarship wrapped in colorful graphics and reenactments. Very well done. The only criticism might be that it is far too short and leaves one wanting more details."

An illuminating look at the Dark Ages

James D. Crabtree | Fayetteville, North Carolina | 12/16/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"An excellent program on the Dark Ages, beginning with the old Roman Empire and its collapse and ending with the Crusades and the Renaissance. The rise of the barbarian kingdoms (which would later become nation-states), Byzantine intrigue, the Plague, the role of the Church, the expansion of Islam and the Viking raids are all presented to the viewer. The use of some computer graphics and actor portrayals makes the subject come alive. Of course, this can hardly be considered an in-depth look but as an introduction or just a dalliance into a field you have no intention of becoming an expert in it serves well. The seperate program on The Plague is also quite interesting and well done."