About this product: It was probably the greatest construction project of antiquity: in 520 B.C. King Darius I of the Achaemenids had a forty-acre terrace piled up at the foot of the Kuh-e-Rahmat the Mount of Mercy in the central Persian plateau. Here the new capital of the Persian Empire was to arise: Parsa, or Persepolis. Architects, craftsmen and artists from all the corners of a world empire that extended over three continents, from Indus to the Black Sea, from the Caspian Sea to Ethiopia, were mobilized to construct a magnificent city.
This program reconstructs the imposing site. The architects Wolfgang Gambke and Kourosh Afhami rebuilt Persepolis virtually with an animation program also used by architects and urban planners. Working on this project for several years, they produced several thousand outlines, details, structures. Not only does the documentary breathe life into the splendor of Persepolis, it also recreates a picture of a world empire which was exemplary in its organization and administration. And what was perhaps its most important feature: a realm whose inhabitants, even in the conquered regions, could rely on tolerance in questions of faith and, to a certain extent, on the rule of law. After his soldiers had pillaged the terraces of Persepolis and burnt it to the ground, Alexander visited the ruins and is said to have repented the destruction.
About this product: Shot in over 60 locations in the province of FARS and 5 years in the making, IRAN, The Forgotten Glory is the first independent documentary film series taking the audience on a journey into the depths of ancient Persian civilization, capturing the majesty and the splendor of the Achaemenid and Sassanid empires and their influence on world history, religion, art and culture by revealing the ancient tales hidden in the ruins and reliefs which exist today as a testament to their legacy. Part I Birth of a Nation 52 min This episode narrates the emergence of civilization in the Iranian plateau and the rise of the great Achaemenid Empire whose territory extended from India to the boarders of Europe. Through visiting ancient locations in the province of Fars, such as Pasargadae, Persepolis and Naqsh-i-Rostam (Valley of the Kings), and illustrating the life and deeds of Cyrus-the-Great, Darius and Xerxes, this episode recounts the birth of a nation, the rise of religion, culture, art and the impact of Zoroastrianism within the first great Persian empire and its eventual fall led by Alexander of Macedonia... Part II Renaissance of Glory 43 min Following Alexander s attack, this episode narrates the establishment of the Seleucid and Parthian dynasty over the Iranian plateau followed by the rise of Ardeshir Papakan, a Persian man who rebelled against the Parthians in the name of god and defeated the last Parthian king Artabanus V and established the Sassanid dynasty in 226 A.D. Through visiting the remains of this great empire in Firuzabad, Bishapur and Darab, and demonstrating the life and deeds of Ardeshir, Shapur and Khosro Anushirvan, this episode reveals the cultural, historical and religious context of Iran prior to Islam, and the fall of the Sassanid empire led by the invasion of nomadic Arab tribes and the arrival of Islam...
About this product: This is the story of the bloody conflicts between the Greeks and the Persians that lasted for more than 50 years in the 4th century BC. It includes the famous battle of Marathon, a victory that has echoed down the years, and Thermopylae, where the Spartans made a heroic defense of the pass. The running battles did not cease until 449 BC, when the Persians finally gave up hope of annexing Greece.
Packed full of impressive reconstructions and battle depictions, this DVD features a host of top experts in the field of ancient and classical history, with a special appearance and commentary from actor Brian Blessed, an enthusiastic student of the Greek-Persian conflicts.
Scene Selection * Introduction * Greek Disunity * Battle of Marathon * Persian Retaliation * Battle of Thermopylae * Battle of Salamis * The Last Great Encounter * After the Wars
Special Features * Test Your Knowledge * Picture Gallery * Interactive Menus * Excerpts From Other Titles In The Series
About this product: The incredible displays of technological prowess continue in the third volume of Engineering An Empire. Watch the mights rise of the British Empire as it paves the way for the modern world, and explore the incredible engineering feats of the Persian Empire. Learn about Mayan ingenuity from 250 to 900 AD and search for clues regarding the civilization's strange disappearance.
* GREAT BRITAIN: Through the centuries, the British Empire used extraordinary engineering technology to become an industrial and military titan, giving rise to such inventions as the first locomotive.
* THE PERSIANS: The engineering feats of the mysterious Persian Empire include a water management system, a paved cross-continent roadway, and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
* THE MAYA: By 900 AD, the once-glorious Mayan cities disappeared. Unravel the mystery surrounding this mythic civilization through its spectacular infrastructure and architecture.
About this product: Wings over the Gulf
The assortment of U.S. planes that flew over the Persian Gulf was arguably the most diverse group of aircraft to ever see combat. From the high-tech radar of the F-15 Eagle and the stealth technology of the F-117 Nighthawk to the old-school design of the A-10 Warthog and the F-16 Falcon, the air campaign of Operation Desert Storm proved a massive undertaking. Examine the key aircraft of the Gulf War and learn how each played a critical role in bringing the conflict to its end.
About this product: As British sailors are held in Iran and paraded on Iranian TV, World Report visits the northern Persian Gulf to meet the American and coalition men and women patrolling the perilous Gulf waters. Next, we stay in the Middle East for a revealing report by Jeffrey Brown on the artistic voices that still are heard amid the din of violence and discord between Palestinians and Israelis. Finally, we shift gears and meet a man who in many ways made Tiger Woods possible. Charlie Sifford is for golf what Jackie Robinson was in baseball. He broke the color barrier, but only at great personal cost. As all eyes turn to Augusta, Georgia, for the Masters this week, we have a candid interview with Charlie Sifford about race, sports and what can and can't be forgiven.
This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.
About this product: When a young girl becomes lost in the hustle and bustle of Tehran, her journey turns into a dazzling exercise on the nature of film itself. In this ingenious and daringly original feature, world renounced director Jafar Panahi (The White Balloon, Crimson Gold) has wrapped a blunt political critique inside the layers of a deceptively simple film.
About this product: In 1990, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait resulted in more than one million troops facing off against each other in the desert of the Persian Gulf.
At the request of Kuwait, United States military forces were deployed to the gulf under the military direction of General Norman Schwarzkopf.
The Allied Coalition's air war was know as Operation Desert Storm and involved the most sophisticated technological weaponry available, beginning with the first Apache attacks and continuing with the use of Stratofortress planes, AWACS, Stealth bombers, SMART bombs, Drones and other highly advanced machinery.
The ground war was known as operation Desert Saber, and the forces deployed were considered to be the finest army ever committed to battle, maintained at peak readiness and training.
The ground systems utilized included two impressive tanks: the M1A1 Abrams and the M1M-104 Patriot.
The battles of the ground war demonstrated that American military maneuverability outclassed the primitive tactics of the Iraqis, who emphasized pitched engagements and linear movements as Soviet advisers had taught them.
The Allies focused intense attacks on Iraqi aircraft shelters, while the Iraqis fought back with surprise scud missile strikes targeted at barracks.
Featuring devastating frontline footage, British News crews capture the tactical strategy, technology and resolution of the Gulf War.
About this product: This unique documentary chronicles the events in the Gulf from 2 August 1990, when Saddam Hussein's forces first moved into Kuwait, to 28 February 1991, when they were unequivocally beaten by a combination of superior firepower, and even more importantly, willpower. Using material provided by The British Forces, The Pentagon and the pooled news gathering resources of ITN and-the BBC, this film shows all the sophisticated armory of the coalition forces, from infantry small arms to tanks, minesweepers to aircraft carriers and battleships, missiles and bombs to the most advanced combat aircraft in existence.
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