Ever felt that you should brush up on your history? If you have, then maybe you’ve also felt that you don’t have the time or energy to crack open a history book. In lieu of reading, the library has a great collection of history documentaries to help you get started.
Viewers are taken on a breathtaking journey through 400 years of U.S. history. Live-action recreations of key historical events give viewers an immersive view of history in the making. Features the vocal talents of Rudy Giuliani, Sean Combs, Al Sharpton, Buzz Aldrin, Colin Powell, Donald Trump, Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep, Tom Brokaw, and many others.
The definitive story of the Civil Rights era from the point of view of the ordinary men and women whose extraordinary actions launched a movement that changed the fabric of American life, and embodied a struggle whose reverberations are felt today.
Explore the extraordinary story of what happens when a freedom-loving nation outlaws the sale of intoxicating liquor, and the disastrous unintended consequences that follow. The utterly relevant cautionary tale raises profound questions about the proper role of government and the limits of legislating morality. When the country goes dry in 1920, after a century of debate, millions of law-abiding Americans become lawbreakers overnight.
Wars, assassinations, impeachments, and political scandal rocked America in the 20th century and still reverberate today. Join legendary newsman Mike Wallace as he examines the people, events, and issues that shaped the nation. Ten episodes include: Epidemic of Fear; Ronald Reagan and the Rise of the Right; The Impeachment of Clinton; First Ladies; and others. Bonus features include a viewer's guide with questions to consider, a featurette, and more.
The American Revolution:
A documentary of the American Revolution. Chronicles events leading up to the war, the revolution, and the writing of the Constitution. Features dramatic readings from letters and diaries of the period, comments by historians, and live-action recreations.
The British Isles:
A compelling and comprehensive series that charts the birth and growth of the Scottish nation. Each of the ten thought-provoking episodes brings a fresh perspective to Scotland's past and challenges many of the perceived notions of Scottish history. With stunning, award-winning cinematography and mesmerizing narrative, the series tells of battles and allegiances, political intrigue, and religious conflict.
David Starkey examines the story of the English crown from the fall of Rome to the 1660s. Starkey covers nearly 250 years, from Charles II to Victoria. Replete with infidelities, betrayals, and rivalries, English history emerges as a compelling family saga.
The Civil War:
An epic documentary bringing life to America's most destructive - and defining - conflict. Here is the saga of celebrated generals and the ordinary soldiers. A heroic and transcendent president and a country that had to divide itself in two in order to become one again.
The extraordinary world of ancient Egypt comes to life in a bountiful collection of documentaries that journey back to a time of giant pyramids, mysterious hieroglyphs, and elaborate burial tombs. From the secrets of the Sphinx to the glittering sepulcher of the legendary Tutankhamen to the pharaohs and feats that created the world's very first superpower. Get an inside look at the recently discovered KV-5, believed to be the family tomb of Ramses the Great.
The French Revolution:
Lead students through the grandeur of Versailles, the marriage of Louis XVI to Marie Antoinette, the violent disintegration of the revolution nearly a decade later and the impact on the modern world.
World War II:
A fascinating program that uncovers familiar anecdotes and fascinating details about the people who comprised the Nazi Party, and raids the treasure trove of archives the Nazis left behind. Includes rarely-seen German newsreel recordings along with other unique footage carried home by Russian troops.
Tells the story of ordinary people in four quintessentially American towns - Waterbury, Connecticut; Mobile, Alabama; Sacramento, California; and Luverne, Minnesota - and examines the ways in which the Second World War touched the lives of every family on every street in every town in America.