The 13th Warrior

After the introductory powerpoint you will see the USA film "The Thirteenh Warrior" , which is based on Michael Crichton's pseudo-historical novel Eaters of the Dead. In order to revise the different topics you have learned about in class for the last weeks you are asked to answer the following questions while watching the film.

-Where and when is the action set?

-Can you see any social hierarchy in the groups depicted in this film?

-Compare the Arab and the Viking government system.

-Which evidence have you found in the film to prove that Vikings were superstitious?

-How does Ahmed learn the language spoken by the Norsemen? Which language is this?

 -Can the Norsemen in this film read or write? Why do you know?

-Which enemy does the group of Vikings have to fight against?

-Do you think that this film is entirely historical? Why?

Voluntary task.

Do a portfolio about the historical background and the legend of Beowulf to hand in on the last day before Easter holiday.

Pack of extra resources about the Ancient Age

If you are still curious about the Ancient Age, try some of the following resources: 

Films:

Gladiator

An interesting film which is set during the Empire. It is not considered really 100% accurate in historical terms, but it 's truly exciting.

Agora

The film takes place in Egypt at the end of the Empire and tell us about the conflict among believers of three different religions -Paganism, Christianity and Judaism, as well as its consequences on the scientific work of a woman, Hypatia. It also depicts the destruction of the most famous library of the Ancient Age, which was located in Alexandria. 

Centurion

Adventure film which is set in Caledonia (Roman name for Scotland). Tons of action and light humour for a simple plot about a centurion and some legionaries under his command who have to face the terrible picts (Scots) in order to rescue their general, who is taken prisoner by the locals at the beginning of the film.

Series: 

Rome

HBO series with two seasons. First season has twelve episodes, while the second one has ten. It was cancelled as it resulted to be very expensive. Although it is not really accurate historically you can watch it as an entertaining introduction to Ancient Rome.The whole series is set between the end of the Republic and the beginning of the Empire.

Books:

The Last Legion, by Valerio Massimo Manfredi

A novel whose action is set during the last days of the Western Roman Empire: A band of legionaries are ready to fight against the barbarians in order to rescue young emperor Romulus Augustus. It is also a recent film.

Marco Didio Falco's novels by Lindsey Davis

 

Set of novels whose main character is a private eye (detective) who lives in Ancient Rome.

 

 

The Roman Circus

Ben Hur (1959) is one of the most famous films ever shot about Ancient Rome. This clip presents a chariot race which takes place in a circus, one of the buildings you have in your working sheet.

Something curious about this scene is that one of the stuntmen who was stamped on by a set of horses actually died, but the director of the film dind't cut his death as he thought that the whole scene was excellent.

Roman thermae or public baths

This clip presents the Roman thermae of Sant Boi de Llobregat (Catalonia), where real actors interact with a 3d reconstruction of this monument, one the best preserved examples of this typology.

Roman Housing: Insula and Domus

The following clip shows a 3d reconstruction of an insula in Conimbriga, a Roman city located in Portugal.

The next one shows another 3d reconstruction of an ideal domus with its different rooms and spaces (1:15 min).

Another 3d reconstruction of some peculiar domus whose structure reminds us an insula.

Roman Tour

This clip presents a virtual tour of Rome during the Empire.

Attila the Hun

Ferocious, cruel, rude, slash-and-burn... All these adjectives might be used to describe the most famous Hun who threatened both Roman empires. This clip shows how Romans tried to buy Attila's people off as well as the sacking of a city by his men.