IMDb RATING
8.7/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
Sir Kenneth Clarke walks through the ages exploring the glorious rise of civilization in Western man.Sir Kenneth Clarke walks through the ages exploring the glorious rise of civilization in Western man.Sir Kenneth Clarke walks through the ages exploring the glorious rise of civilization in Western man.
- Won 2 BAFTA Awards
- 4 wins & 2 nominations total
Browse episodes
Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsIn the episode titled "The Pursuit of Happiness", series writer and narrator Lord Clark introduces his theme by claiming that "the founders of the American Constitution . . . thought fit to mention the pursuit of happiness as a proper aim for mankind." This is a very common error (on both sides of the Atlantic), as the phrase "pursuit of happiness" appears in America's Declaration of Independence (1776), not in her Constitution (1788-89).
- ConnectionsEdited from Mozart's Don Giovanni (1955)
Featured review
Enlighteneing, engaging, and intimate program of scholarly work
First broadcast in 1969,Civilization was produced not only to showcase the new medium of color television but also to reassure a then turbulent society of its established roots.
Before viewing Civilization I had never heard of Kenneth Clark, or K Clark as he was known to his contemporaries. At first glance he appears to be the product of a stodgy old order, a stereotypical brown flannel suit poised very uneasily in the Age of Aquarius. However his soft demeanor, articulate observations and frank but reasonable opinions quickly become very endearing qualities. I soon found myself very disappointed I had never met the man, or at least lived through his era.
I can say with confidence that if you seriously enjoy history, particularly the European variety, you will enjoy Civilization. Even if you don't, the stunning and intimate portrayal of 1500 years of art may still be captivating enough to hold your attention. This program is unlike anything broadcast in the post-MTV era, and it sets a standard of culture and erudition that puts networks which should know better, like the History Channel, to shame.
Before viewing Civilization I had never heard of Kenneth Clark, or K Clark as he was known to his contemporaries. At first glance he appears to be the product of a stodgy old order, a stereotypical brown flannel suit poised very uneasily in the Age of Aquarius. However his soft demeanor, articulate observations and frank but reasonable opinions quickly become very endearing qualities. I soon found myself very disappointed I had never met the man, or at least lived through his era.
I can say with confidence that if you seriously enjoy history, particularly the European variety, you will enjoy Civilization. Even if you don't, the stunning and intimate portrayal of 1500 years of art may still be captivating enough to hold your attention. This program is unlike anything broadcast in the post-MTV era, and it sets a standard of culture and erudition that puts networks which should know better, like the History Channel, to shame.
helpful•262
- reese_millican
- Sep 12, 2007
- How many seasons does Civilisation have?Powered by Alexa
Details
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content