Overview

Course No. 8635

Dive into the captivating world of ancient Rome through the lens of popular cinema. This course offers 12 engaging lectures that analyze the historical accuracy of iconic films such as Ben-Hur, Gladiator, and Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Gain insights into how these movies have shaped our perceptions of history and culture.

Course Outline

1. Quo Vadis Kick-Starts the Sword-and-Sandal Genre (32 min)
   • Discover how Quo Vadis initiated the golden age of sword-and-sandal films with its portrayal of good versus evil in ancient Rome.

• Ben-Hur: The Greatest Chariot Race (32 min)
  • Analyze the historical accuracies and inaccuracies in Ben-Hur, focusing on its famous chariot race and naval battle sequences.

3. Spartacus: Kubrick’s Controversial Epic (34 min)
   • Explore the complexities and controversies surrounding Spartacus, including its production challenges and its narrative deviations from historical facts.

4. Cleopatra: Spectacle Gone Wild (33 min)
   • Examine the impact of Cleopatra on Hollywood and its creative liberties with historical figures like Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.

• The Fall of the Roman Empire and Ancient Epics (33 min)
  • Investigate why The Fall of the Roman Empire flopped financially while attempting to reconstruct significant historical events.

6. I, Claudius: The BBC Makes an Anti-Epic (32 min)
   • Analyze the 1976 BBC miniseries that offers an intimate portrayal of imperial Rome, focusing on its character-driven narrative.

7. Life of Brian: The Roman World’s a Funny Place (33 min)
   • Understand how Monty Python’s Life of Brian parodies Roman epic films while addressing themes of religion and societal norms.

8. Gladiator: The Historical Epic Revived (34 min)
   • Discover how Gladiator revitalized the historical epic genre and assess its representations of ancient Rome.

9. Rome: HBO’s Gritty Take on Ancient History (33 min)
   • Review HBO’s Rome for its realistic portrayal of daily life and significant events in ancient Roman society.

• Centurion and The Eagle: The Legions in Britain (31 min)
  • Explore the portrayal of Roman military life in the films Centurion and The Eagle, discussing their insights into Roman imperialism.

• Scipione l’africano and Fellini Satyricon (33 min)
  • Compare and contrast these two distinctly styled Italian films, observing how each reflects its cultural context.

12. Bread and Circuses in Sci-Fi Films (33 min)
    • Analyze how the concept of “bread and circuses” has influenced contemporary sci-fi films and their plots.