Television Review: Engineering an Empire
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this engaging educational show
uses reenactments (some realistic, others computer-generated)
to depict historical events including battles and, in one
instance, human sacrifice. These scenes are usually mild, with
only a hint of blood. Some shows may include descriptions of
unusual socio-cultural practices, like sibling marriage or
polygamy.
Families can talk about the connections between history and
contemporary living. How do some of the engineering feats seen
on the show affect life today? Are kids or parents surprised to
learn where certain things originated? Can kids think of
something in their lives that could be improved through
engineering? What did you learn from each episode?
ENGINEERING AN EMPIRE is an educational series that looks at history and culture through the lens of engineering feats. Hosted by actor and scholar Peter Weller ( RoboCop), the show uses a variety of methods -- from reenactments to computer-generated blueprints -- to illustrate technologies that built great ancient civilizations, like Athens, Egypt, and Mayan Mexico. In the episode "Greece: Age of Alexander," for example, viewers learn about Alexander the Great's use of catapults and special spears, which gave his army an advantage over its enemies and eventually allowed them to conquer outlying areas and spread Greek culture to Egypt and beyond. Location shots add interest to the lessons, like when Weller sits on the steps of an enormous Greek theater while describing its acoustics. Experts from universities in the United States and beyond provide detail and color commentary on aspects of the culture being examined.
While some kids will be bored to tears by descriptions of ancient history, those interested in how things work will find much to hold their attention. Descriptions use some complex language, but Weller keeps things down to earth -- describing Macedonia, for instance, as the nerd in the class who wanted to join the frat boys of Athens.
Since much of empire building involves war, combat is one of the show's primary topics. Viewers learn about weapons and see some digital reenactments of violence, as well as some realistic scenes of slain soldiers or human sacrifice, though usually without much detail.
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