Alexander's Lost World

Alexander's Lost World is a six-part series in which adventurous Australian photojournalist David Adams explores the route that Alexander the Great took when he conquered the Persian Empire more than two millennia ago. Challenging the conventional scholarly consensus regarding the Greek king's motives and accomplishments, Adams begins by speculating that the Black and Caspian Seas were once joined by a waterway, suggesting that the memory of ancient voyages (recalled in the legend of Jason and the Golden Fleece) was what drew Alexander to undertake his expedition, which was purportedly meant for profit as well as well as political revenge. Adams follows the course of the mighty Oxus River, arguing that the traditional belief that Alexander established numerous cities is largely fiction, making a case instead that the conqueror encountered a flourishing Eastern civilization that had existed for centuries and was in many respects superior to his own. Adams winds up by claiming to discover the source of the Oxus in the high mountains that are home to tribes calling themselves descendants of Alexander. All in all, there are plenty of “might have beens” in Alexander's Lost World, which features several conclusions that should be greeted with healthy skepticism. Still, by taking viewers to little-known locales in central Asia, exploring unusual archeological sites, drawing on interesting artifacts for evidence (such as geometric patterns on rugs), and skillfully employing maps and CGI re-creations, this series consistently makes the journey an intriguing one, and Adams is an energetic guide. Extras include deleted scenes, a photo gallery, and an illustrated viewer's guide. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)