Egypt: Engineering an Empire

Characterized by ornate obelisks, sturdy dams, mighty fortresses, and—above all—the pyramids of the pharaohs, the architecture of ancient Egypt is still amazing to behold. Peter Weller hosts this History Channel documentary chronicling how the world's first empire—fueled by conquests and the life-giving Nile River—developed around 3000 B.C. at the geographical crossroads between Africa and the Middle East. Scholars explain how Egyptian concepts of the afterlife led pharaohs to prepare elaborate burial chambers at the start of their reigns—gargantuan efforts that took decades to build and employed up to 10,000 workers. Great ingenuity was required—under the supervision of the pharaoh's architect—to plan for subterranean chambers, carve and chisel stones, and transport the building materials many miles to construction sites, where (it was assumed) the pharaoh and his family would enjoy eternity surrounded by fragrant oils, furniture, jewelry, and other artifacts. For centuries the fortunes of Egypt's empire shifted like the desert sands, before eventually entering a prolonged decline, but the architectural legacy left behind inspired the Greeks, Romans, and other master builders. Combining informative interviews with noted Egyptologists and excellent computer graphics (including interior views of the tombs), Egypt: Engineering an Empire also includes a trio of behind-the-scenes featurettes. Highly recommended. [Note: this is also available in a multimedia classroom edition (priced at $49.95), which includes a companion CD-ROM with an interactive lesson plan incorporating video clips, printable primary source documents, and more.]. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)