Commentary
Power-Mad Conquerers Are The Focus Of History's 'Ancient Empires'
- by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, August 31, 2023
Alexander the Great’s insatiable lust for conquering other nations is given the hero’s treatment in a new three-part series premiering Monday on History Channel.
Not only was this lust insatiable, but he pursued it without apparent regard for the lives of those he led into battle and certainly those who they opposed.
As ancient warfare has been portrayed in countless movies and TV shows, before the invention of gunpowder, combat was hand-to-hand using swords, shields, daggers, clubs and other razor-sharp implements of death.
The two-hour, Part One of the series -- titled “Ancient Empires” – gives the clear impression that the Macedonia-born Alexander left in his wake a veritable ocean of blood in the 13 years (336-323 BC) in which he marauded through the ancient world planting his flag on conquered lands from Egypt to India.
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At times in the show, he is described as “ruthless,” but at the same time, the historians who give their interstitial commentary on his life and career border on excusing him for his excesses.
Despite his bloodlust, they are in awe of his accomplishments and the legacy he left to world history.
In today’s parlance, Alexander (above photo, played by Thom Yorke) is portrayed as a disruptor and an agent of change. So he killed a few people. You have to crack a few eggs to make an omelet!
“There was the world before Alexander and the world after Alexander,” says one historian. “Alexander completely changed human history.”
That’s not too surprising. When one subjugates through brute force a huge swath of the known world, the conquered peoples better change, or else!
Other imperial figures from ancient history whose stories get told in “Ancient Empires” include Julius Caesar and Cleopatra.
The format is the same as previous History miniseries on historical figures. Dramatizations of scenes from their lives dominate these shows, while some screen time is given to a series of historians and college professors who give context to the action we are seeing.
I guess there is an opportunity here to learn the story of Alexander the Great if one cares to listen closely.
But when all is said and done, a show like this runs the danger of glorifying individuals who would be decried today.
“Ancient Empires” premieres Monday night (September 4) at 8 p.m. Eastern on History Channel.
Jack, it seems that we are arguing about attentiveness rather than "viewing" re the "15-second rule". There are many parts of even the most serious and involving dramas where they are setting up a premise ---or plot for the episode or establishing the personalityof the bad guy, etc. and when this happens the "audience" generally is less likely to be fully attentive---eyes always on screen----than later when the drama ufolds and moves into its climax---a shoot out, wild car chase, etc. But "the audience" is "watching" the show as far as Nielsen knows, regardless of what's on the screen---unless the panel member signifies otherwise--which almost never happens. The same thing applies for a news segment of little interest to the viewer or a portion of a commentary show where the guest has nothing worthwhile to say or waxes repetitive. But here, again, Nielsen has no way to draw a distinction and counts all of those who claimed to be"watching" as commercial "viewers.
I'm not blaming Nielsen for this as it was never intended that the people meter method or, for that matter, the old diaries or telephone coincidentals were measuring involvement or attention. So we are, in effect, in agreement. I would add that if TV show producers tried to make every portion of their shows high intensity affairs---without peaks and valleys---this would be a virtual impossibility to deliver on. What's more few viewers could handle non-stop high attentive content for five hours per day, day after day---even if such were available. They would frazzle their minds---or burn out---and the only cure would be to cut way back on their TV consumption.
My problem with rules of thumb or formulas of most kinds is that they do not necessarily apply to all or even a majority of situations. They are useful guide posts and should be born in mind as the core concept makes sense, but that's all.