BBC's Latest Foray into Ancient History is a Grim Reminder of Our Own Society's Demise
The BBC's latest iteration of the landmark series, 'Civilisation', has arrived at a time when existential crises are plaguing the very institution that produces it. The programme's fourth instalment, 'Rise and Fall', brings to life the monumental nosedive of four ancient worlds: Rome, Egypt, the Aztecs, and Japan.
Through an on-trend compendium of diverse experts, including Alastair Campbell, Antony Gormley, and Luke Kemp, the show masterfully chronicles the catastrophic consequences of societal collapse. Climate catastrophe, war, pandemic, mass migration, insatiable greed generated by colonisation, and gross inequality – all these factors are laid bare as the seeds of destruction sown within ancient societies.
The programme is replete with a stunning selection of cultural artefacts from the British Museum, including the ornate silver Projecta casket (AD350-400), used to illustrate how wealth inequality led to the downfall of Rome. The show's commentators astutely point out that "wealth inequality is the most common and crucial element in societal collapse," corroding the social fabric and hollowing out societies.
As one commentator aptly puts it, the past holds the key to understanding our present predicament. Unfortunately, those in power often fail to learn from history, leaving us to confront the same issues that led to the downfall of ancient civilisations.
The show's countdowns – 15 years until the fall … eight years … two years – serve as a grim reminder of the inexorable march of time and the terrifying nature of history. Gone are the days of docile, feel-good documentaries; instead, we're presented with an apocalyptic landscape that is increasingly anxiety-inducing.
The show serves as a stark warning: every civilisation throughout history has had an expiry date. In our own time of crisis, it's disconcerting to see how much our viewing schedules are dominated by feelings of extreme anxiety and dread. Perhaps this is the stage we're at in our own demise – a grim reminder that some lessons from history might be too late to learn.
The BBC's latest iteration of the landmark series, 'Civilisation', has arrived at a time when existential crises are plaguing the very institution that produces it. The programme's fourth instalment, 'Rise and Fall', brings to life the monumental nosedive of four ancient worlds: Rome, Egypt, the Aztecs, and Japan.
Through an on-trend compendium of diverse experts, including Alastair Campbell, Antony Gormley, and Luke Kemp, the show masterfully chronicles the catastrophic consequences of societal collapse. Climate catastrophe, war, pandemic, mass migration, insatiable greed generated by colonisation, and gross inequality – all these factors are laid bare as the seeds of destruction sown within ancient societies.
The programme is replete with a stunning selection of cultural artefacts from the British Museum, including the ornate silver Projecta casket (AD350-400), used to illustrate how wealth inequality led to the downfall of Rome. The show's commentators astutely point out that "wealth inequality is the most common and crucial element in societal collapse," corroding the social fabric and hollowing out societies.
As one commentator aptly puts it, the past holds the key to understanding our present predicament. Unfortunately, those in power often fail to learn from history, leaving us to confront the same issues that led to the downfall of ancient civilisations.
The show's countdowns – 15 years until the fall … eight years … two years – serve as a grim reminder of the inexorable march of time and the terrifying nature of history. Gone are the days of docile, feel-good documentaries; instead, we're presented with an apocalyptic landscape that is increasingly anxiety-inducing.
The show serves as a stark warning: every civilisation throughout history has had an expiry date. In our own time of crisis, it's disconcerting to see how much our viewing schedules are dominated by feelings of extreme anxiety and dread. Perhaps this is the stage we're at in our own demise – a grim reminder that some lessons from history might be too late to learn.
. It feels like we're stuck in a never-ending cycle of destruction, just like those ancient societies that are depicted in the show. The more I watch, the more I feel like we're staring into the abyss and wondering if there's any way to turn back the clock. I'm tired of all the anxiety and dread that's dominating our lives 
. Can't we learn from history already? It seems like every warning sign is being ignored by those in power 
.
. Maybe it's time for us to learn from history instead of ignoring it? Fingers crossed 
.
... this 'Civilisation' series on BBC is giving me major déjà vu 
. I mean, ancient Rome and Egypt already experienced these same societal collapse issues, climate catastrophes, wars, pandemics, and economic inequality... wouldn't it've been better if we just listened to the past instead of ignoring those lessons? 
The show's not exactly painting a rosy picture either, but maybe that's what we need – a harsh reminder that we're not so different from those ancient civilizations after all. It's a bit unsettling watching our own society's demise unfold on screen, but at least it's sparking some much-needed conversations about the state of the world today 
. I mean, have you seen the way they break down these ancient civilizations? It's like we're seeing our own future playing out before our eyes 
. The thing that scares me most is how detached we've become from the world around us, and how little we seem to learn from past mistakes 
. It's like we're doomed to repeat the same patterns of destruction until we get it through our heads 
. I mean, ancient societies had their own set of problems just like we do today – greed, inequality, war... it's not like we're entirely original here. But what's interesting is how this show highlights the importance of learning from history, right? 
I think it's a bit of both. We need to take responsibility for our actions and work together as a society to make positive change, but we also need to acknowledge that our systems are imperfect and can be flawed. Maybe this show should be seen as a wake-up call for us all to take a closer look at ourselves and our role in the world 
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I'm all for looking back at history and learning from it, but isn't that just putting the cart before the horse or something?
It feels like we're just stuck in this never-ending cycle of anxiety and dread.