Bettany Hughes
Bettany Hughes is an English historian who specializes in the classical/ancient world. Her style of narrating draws you into the story of the topic she is presenting. She does bring the ancient world to life. I was introduced to Bettany Hughes through her Ancient World series. The series or clips from that series would be an excellent addition to the classroom. They are a good introduction to Ancient History.
Bettany Hughes' Ancient World
*Alexandria: The Worlds Greatest City - YouTube (47:46)
Bettany Hughes explores the ancient historical city of Alexandria. The city was founded the Alexander the Great. At one point it was the world's biggest library however the city underwent a huge change which meant the library was destroyed. The Alexandria library in the 20th Century has been reborn. Hughes explores what the Ancient city looked like and incorporates clips from period dramas into this piece. *Recommend a full episode for a high school classroom.*
*Engineering Ancient Egypt - VIDEO NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Bettany Hughes explores the Great Pyramids as well as the construction projects of Ramses II and how they were used to make sure the pharaohs’ weren't forgotten. Hughes starts the series with the Great Pyramid, how the pyramids were built, and how ordinary Egyptians came together to build the Great Pyramid. Then she explores Pharaoh Ramses and his desire to keep building. *Recommend for a high school classroom. Use clips for a middle school classroom.*
*The Minoans - VERSION NO LONGER AVAILABLE, VERSION 2: Episode 1 (48:27) Episode 2 (48:18)
Bettany Hughes explores the Minoan Civilization and its mysterious collapse. She narrates a tale of the archeologists who discovered the site to the discoveries that are being made. Each discovery tells us a bit more about the story of the Minoans. She discusses the Minoan kings. It is a fascinating look on a precursor to the Greeks. This is one civilization that isn't covered in a school classroom when I was in school. *Recommend for a high school classroom.*
*Helen of Troy - VIDEO NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Bettany Hughes explores Troy and the world the most famous beauty Helen occupied. Was the story a complete work of fiction or are there kernels of truth in the story? Do men need a reason to go to war? Hughes takes us to the sites that Helen occupied starting with Sparta. Then she tells us why Helen ended up in Troy and the war that followed. She recreates what a Bronze Age Helen would have looked like and discusses what would have attracted Paris to her. *Recommend for a high school classroom.*
*The Spartans - VERSION NO LONGER AVAILABLE, VERSION 2 Episode 1 (48:37) Episode 2 (48:43) Episode 3 (48:45)
Bettany Hughes explores the world of Sparta and how the Ancient Spartans strive for perfection. Sparta was even set in the mountains, which could be similar to a fortress. She tells the story of a civilization that was highly militarized and was revolutionary. Women had more rights in Sparta than they did in the Ancient World. However, there were very few written records left behind by the Spartans. This documentary was produced after the 300 movie. *Recommended for a high school classroom, research purposes, and clips.*
*Athens: The Truth about Democracy - VIDEO NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Bettany Hughes visits ancient Athens and explores the foundation of democracy. Athens was a radical place because for the first time that the people acted a political agents. The archeology demonstrates that the people took some thoughtful and complex steps to protect their democracy. Hughes presents Athens warts and all. This episode is a good foundation for studying Ancient Greece. *Recommended for a middle school and high school classroom, research purposes, and clips.*
*When the Moors Ruled Europe - VIDEO NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Bettany Hughes explores when the Moors ruled Europe, starting with the Fall of Islam in Spain. She kicks off the episode in 1492 after King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella finally seized Granada and when they did they tried to wipe out all traces of Moorish rule in Spain. It was the end of a kingdom that had lasted 700 years. Hughes tours the various sites left behind by the Moors. *Recommended for a middle school and high school classroom, research purposes, and clips.*
Bacchus Uncovered - VIDEO NO LONGER AVAILABLE, Available on Amazon through BBC Select
During World War II and amid the chaos of the Blitz, British archeologists discovered a temple in London. It was from Roman London and was dedicated to the god Bacchus. It seemed to be a fortuitous discovery at the height of the war. Bettany Hughes goes and explores the history of Bacchus. He was the Roman god of wine and ecstasy. Hughes starts her journey in Athens. Bacchus was known by another name to the Greeks: Dionysius. He was both mortal and divine. *Recommended to use clips in an English class on mythology.*
Genius of the Ancient World - Amazon
Bettany Hughes explores Socrates, Buddha, and Confucius and each of their philosophies throughout three episodes. They were the giants of the ancient world. She kicks off the series in India learning about the life of the Buddha, then explores Socrates and the hemlock cup, and finally concludes with Confucius who looked to the past to solve issues in the present. This series provides a good introduction to the philosophies that shaped the world. *Recommended for both a history and philosophy class.*
*Alexandria: The Worlds Greatest City - YouTube (47:46)
Bettany Hughes explores the ancient historical city of Alexandria. The city was founded the Alexander the Great. At one point it was the world's biggest library however the city underwent a huge change which meant the library was destroyed. The Alexandria library in the 20th Century has been reborn. Hughes explores what the Ancient city looked like and incorporates clips from period dramas into this piece. *Recommend a full episode for a high school classroom.*
*Engineering Ancient Egypt - VIDEO NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Bettany Hughes explores the Great Pyramids as well as the construction projects of Ramses II and how they were used to make sure the pharaohs’ weren't forgotten. Hughes starts the series with the Great Pyramid, how the pyramids were built, and how ordinary Egyptians came together to build the Great Pyramid. Then she explores Pharaoh Ramses and his desire to keep building. *Recommend for a high school classroom. Use clips for a middle school classroom.*
*The Minoans - VERSION NO LONGER AVAILABLE, VERSION 2: Episode 1 (48:27) Episode 2 (48:18)
Bettany Hughes explores the Minoan Civilization and its mysterious collapse. She narrates a tale of the archeologists who discovered the site to the discoveries that are being made. Each discovery tells us a bit more about the story of the Minoans. She discusses the Minoan kings. It is a fascinating look on a precursor to the Greeks. This is one civilization that isn't covered in a school classroom when I was in school. *Recommend for a high school classroom.*
*Helen of Troy - VIDEO NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Bettany Hughes explores Troy and the world the most famous beauty Helen occupied. Was the story a complete work of fiction or are there kernels of truth in the story? Do men need a reason to go to war? Hughes takes us to the sites that Helen occupied starting with Sparta. Then she tells us why Helen ended up in Troy and the war that followed. She recreates what a Bronze Age Helen would have looked like and discusses what would have attracted Paris to her. *Recommend for a high school classroom.*
*The Spartans - VERSION NO LONGER AVAILABLE, VERSION 2 Episode 1 (48:37) Episode 2 (48:43) Episode 3 (48:45)
Bettany Hughes explores the world of Sparta and how the Ancient Spartans strive for perfection. Sparta was even set in the mountains, which could be similar to a fortress. She tells the story of a civilization that was highly militarized and was revolutionary. Women had more rights in Sparta than they did in the Ancient World. However, there were very few written records left behind by the Spartans. This documentary was produced after the 300 movie. *Recommended for a high school classroom, research purposes, and clips.*
*Athens: The Truth about Democracy - VIDEO NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Bettany Hughes visits ancient Athens and explores the foundation of democracy. Athens was a radical place because for the first time that the people acted a political agents. The archeology demonstrates that the people took some thoughtful and complex steps to protect their democracy. Hughes presents Athens warts and all. This episode is a good foundation for studying Ancient Greece. *Recommended for a middle school and high school classroom, research purposes, and clips.*
*When the Moors Ruled Europe - VIDEO NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Bettany Hughes explores when the Moors ruled Europe, starting with the Fall of Islam in Spain. She kicks off the episode in 1492 after King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella finally seized Granada and when they did they tried to wipe out all traces of Moorish rule in Spain. It was the end of a kingdom that had lasted 700 years. Hughes tours the various sites left behind by the Moors. *Recommended for a middle school and high school classroom, research purposes, and clips.*
Bacchus Uncovered - VIDEO NO LONGER AVAILABLE, Available on Amazon through BBC Select
During World War II and amid the chaos of the Blitz, British archeologists discovered a temple in London. It was from Roman London and was dedicated to the god Bacchus. It seemed to be a fortuitous discovery at the height of the war. Bettany Hughes goes and explores the history of Bacchus. He was the Roman god of wine and ecstasy. Hughes starts her journey in Athens. Bacchus was known by another name to the Greeks: Dionysius. He was both mortal and divine. *Recommended to use clips in an English class on mythology.*
Genius of the Ancient World - Amazon
Bettany Hughes explores Socrates, Buddha, and Confucius and each of their philosophies throughout three episodes. They were the giants of the ancient world. She kicks off the series in India learning about the life of the Buddha, then explores Socrates and the hemlock cup, and finally concludes with Confucius who looked to the past to solve issues in the present. This series provides a good introduction to the philosophies that shaped the world. *Recommended for both a history and philosophy class.*
This list is current as of November 26, 2022
