Conquest of America

Originally broadcast on the History Channel, Conquest of America tells the story of the European exploration of the American mainland in four episodes (each devoted to a corner of the continent--Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, and Northwest), combining commentary from historians, crisp location photography, and beautifully conceived dramatic recreations. The explorers were not modest, with oversized egos that fueled seemingly impossible pursuits ranging from vain hunts for legendary cities of gold to perilous voyages through uncharted icy waters. Hostile elements, poor planning, interference from rival countries, and an understandably less-than-appreciative Indian population made these explorations anything but smooth, and this series effectively portrays the hardships faced during these expeditions. More often than not, the glory-hunting conquerors met unpleasant ends: England's Henry Hudson was set adrift in a rowboat without food and water by his mutinous crew, Danish captain Vitus Bering perished from scurvy, and French explorer Jean Ribault was slaughtered by Spanish forces in a war over control of Florida. Considering that the stories behind the explorations have either been condemned to thumbnail sketches in elementary and middle school textbooks or lost to oblivion for too long (especially the Russian presence in the American Northwest and the California coast--how many have heard of explorer/diplomat Nicolai Rezanov?), this magnificent production serves as a much-needed history lesson, serving up these half-forgotten stories with a passion and intelligence rarely seen in made-for-television history documentaries. DVD extras include a pair of "making-of" featurettes. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: H, C, P. (P. Hall)