THE FALL OF ATHENS
The Peloponnesian War

• Code A1
• DVD Video - Duration: 80 minutes, 4x20 minute sections: The Causes, The Attic War, The Sicilian Expedition, The Ionian War.
• Filmed on location in Greece, Turkey, Sicily, The Nicholson Museum, Sydney, Australia
• Produced by Astarte Resources © 1994
• Support Material available for download
• Suitable for ages 16+

This video documentary follows the course of the Peloponnesian War throughout it's twenty seven year history by taking students to the actual sites of the major turning points of the war. Across Greece, Sicily and Turkey, students witness the unfolding of this epic narrative.

Part One of the video examines the causes of the conflict and students are taken both to the cities of the major protagonists and to the remote sites where intercity rivalries began the breakdown of peace.

Parts Two to Four explore the war itself and students visit many sites as they follow the war's ebb and flow until its final conclusion on the shores of the Hellespont at Aegospotami.

This video is designed to be an in-depth examination of this important period of history. Accompanying the video is a fact sheet giving biographical, chronological and geographical information to students as they view the video.

Either as an introduction or as revision, this programme will help to lift this period of history from the pages of a book to the splendid landscapes of Greece, Sicily and Turkey.

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THE PERSIAN WARS
The Storm From The East

• Code A5
• DVD Video - Duration: 50 minutes
• Part I 499-490 BC (20 mins.)
• Part II 480-479 BC (30 mins.)
• Filmed on location in Greece and Turkey
• Produced by Astarte Resources © 1997
• Support Material: A4 worksheet booklet (24 pages).
  Designed for class use.
• Suitable ages 16+

In 499 BC at the town of Miletus, an Ionian revolt against Persian rule began. This was to set in motion a train of events which would see the cities of mainland Greece fighting for their very survival.

The Persian Wars - The Storm from the East traces both the causes and the course of the ensuing Persian Wars - from the Ionian Revolt to the Battle of Plataea 20 years later.

Filmed entirely on location, this video takes the viewer on a journey between Asia Minor and Greece visiting the major sites of the campaigns including: Athos, Marathon, Thermopylae, Artemisium, Salamis and Plataea.

Activity Booklet

In addition a supporting worksheet booklet extends many of the themes raised during the video, and together, these resources provide an excellent introduction to this topic.

• To view a sample of the worksheet booklet (178k): Click Here.

To view this sample you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.

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FROM KNOSSOS TO ATHENS
A Journey Through Ancient Greece

• Code A4
• DVD Video - Duration: 25 minutes
• Filmed on location in Greece and in Sydney, Australia
• Produced by Astarte Resources © 1996
• Support Material: A4 worksheet booklet (24 pages). Designed for class use
• Suitable for ages 11+

The journey from Knossos to Athens takes us to many of the important sites of ancient Greek history: Knossos, Akrotiri, Pylos, Tiryns, Mycenae, Sparta, Corinth and Athens.

Students are guided around these sites to gain an overview of the history of ancient Greece between the Minoan and the Classical Periods - and the influence this history has on us today.

Ideal for junior courses dealing with Greek society or as a quick introduction to Greek history for senior students - especially those studying Minoan or Mycenaean topics where the site visits will be very useful.

Activity Booklet

Accompanying this video is a twenty four page worksheet booklet designed to expand the concepts raised during the video, From Knossos to Athens.

• To view a sample of the worksheet booklet (100k): Click Here.

To view this sample you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.

For prices, see our catalogue

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EXPLORING ANCIENT GREECE
The Land and its People

• Code A6
• DVD Video - Duration: 20 minutes
• Filmed on location in Greece
• Produced by Astarte Resources © 1998
• Support Material: revision booklet
• Suitable for ages 12+

The Exploring Ancient Greece series (see also ‘Society & Religion’) is designed to cover important aspects of ancient Greek society for lower secondary students.

The first release in this series - The Land and its People - explores the environment and geography of Greece and the effect this had on the people who lived there.

The video shows how certain resources - such as olive oil - allowed Greek society to expand and flourish and how other factors - such as the landscape itself - left their mark on the organisation and lifestyle of the ancient Greeks. From the foods they ate to the towns they lived in, the Greeks were - and still are - responding to their surroundings. An understanding of these environmental links will make further studies of Greek history and society all the more meaningful to students.

Revision Booklet

This video is accompanied by teacher notes and a revision booklet.

• To view a sample of the worksheet booklet (243k): Click Here.

To view this sample you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.

Combination Special

This title is available at a reduced price when purchased as part of the Exploring Ancient Greece Series (S3). See Specials and Discounts.

For prices, see our catalogue

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EXPLORING ANCIENT GREECE
Society & Religion

• Code A8
• DVD Video - Duration: 22 minutes
• Filmed on location in Greece and Turkey
• Produced by Astarte Resources © 1999
• Support Material: 16 page worksheet booklet
• Suitable for ages 12+

This second and final production of the series Exploring Ancient Greece (see ‘The Land and its People’) examines the role of religion in ancient Greek society.

In a land divided into many independent city states, this video illustrates how religion was a strong bond that helped the ancient Greeks to identify with each other and to distinguish their society from the world of the barbarian.

In order to demonstrate this, the video takes students on a journey visiting many of the major sites associated with ancient Greek religion.

The journey begins in Turkey with a visit to the large temple of Apollo at Didyma, before moving to the Greek mainland and the important sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia.

The journey then continues north to the island of Aegina and its very well-preserved temple, before crossing over to Athens for an examination of the temple of Hephaistos and the buildings of the Acropolis.

While on the Acropolis, students are introduced to three of the most popular religious festivals of ancient Greece - the Panathenaic Festival, the Eleusinian Mysteries and the great drama festival of the City Dionysia.

As students examine the sites associated with these festivals they discover that celebrations such as these, along with the major religious sanctuaries, played a vital function in defining and unifying ancient Greek society.

Activity Booklet

This video is accompanied by a 16 page worksheet booklet.

• To view a sample of the worksheet booklet (32k): Click Here

To view this sample you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.

Combination Special

This title is available at a reduced price when purchased as part of the Exploring Ancient Greece Series (S3). See Specials and Discounts.

For prices, see our catalogue

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PANDORA’S BOX
The Roles of Women in Ancient Greece

• Code M1
• An illustrated lecture by Dr. Ellen D. Reeder
  Curator of Ancient Art, The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore.
• DVD Video - Duration: 47 minutes
• An illustrated lecture using many museum examples
• Produced by the Institute for Mediterranean Studies © 1995
• Suitable for ages 16+

This video features 138 works of art from Fifth Century Greece providing perspectives into the lives, customs, rituals and myths of Classical Greece.

The lecture begins with what constituted the ideal woman in Greek society.

Subsequent sections go on to explore the ancient Greek concepts of: woman as a vessel - images of containers and containment to house and hearth; woman as a wild animal who needs to be tamed and the myths that dramatise the anxiety and apprehension the Greeks felt regarding the taming of women.

Astarte Evaluation

Suitable only for senior classes as the content matter is detailed and in-depth. As such, teachers will have to judge the appropriateness of showing the whole video to their particular class although segments can be easily used to illustrate individual points.

The subject matter, however, ensures that this title is a valuable teacher reference on this important aspect of Greek history.

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THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
Athletes, Games and Heroes

• Code M2
• An illustrated lecture by Dr. David Romano, Keeper of the Collections, Mediterranean Section, University of Pennsylvania Museum.
• DVD Video - Duration: 55 minutes
• An illustrated lecture using many museum and site examples
• Produced by the Institute for Mediterranean Studies © 1996
• Suitable for ages 16+

“This video is very rich indeed. In a programme of three sections, entitled: The Games - Rituals and Rules, The five day ancient Olympiad and Athletes and Heroes - Rewards, scandals and politics, a full and informative text, supported by inscriptional, literary and mythological examples, is illustrated by images from vases, sculpture and coins.

The ruins at Olympia are illuminated by plans and the reconstruction model. Spot-lit maps and arresting graphics are used to advantage.

The potential audience for this video is wide. Teachers of Classical Civilisation should not hesitate to consider its purchase.

At each stage the level of help required will be different, but there is so much here for follow-up work and discussion.”

From a review of The Ancient Olympics by Lyle Eville, The Cheltenham Ladies' College for the Joint Association of Classics Teachers (United Kingdom) Spring 1997.

Astarte Evaluation

Suitable primarily for senior classes although sections could be used with younger students to illustrate particular points.

Given the topic, most students will find something of interest in this video although teachers should be aware that the content is a little detailed in places.

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COMING OF AGE IN ANCIENT GREECE

• Code M7 (Video) or M8 (DVD)
• An illustrated lecture.
• DVD Video - Duration: 42 minutes
• An illustrated lecture using many museum and site examples
• Produced by the Institute for Mediterranean Studies © 2001
• Suitable for ages 15+

This video-lecture brings the world of Classical childhood alive. We see women at home teaching their daughters the domestic arts and aristocratic boys as they learn how to read, write, play musical instruments and fight. Childhood in slavery is also described and the role of slaves as caretakers of children is also dealt with.

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TYRANTS, REFORMERS & SOLDIERS

A Relaxed Learning Programme

• Code K2
• Audio CD
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Written and narrated by Kevin Crowe
• Produced by Astarte Resources © 1999
• Suitable: Ages 16+

This audio CD covers three very important aspects of ancient Greek history - the period of Greek tyrants, the reforms of Cleisthenes and the beginning of the Persian Wars.

Each section is approximately 20 minutes in duration and they cover:

Tyrants: The nature, causes and effects of tyranny on Greek society, three examples of tyranny including Pisistratus.

Reformers: The background of Cleisthenes and the nature of his reforms.

Soldiers: The expansion of the Persian Empire, the Ionian Revolt, Darius and Miltiades, the Battle of Marathon.

These programmes are for student use and follow a learning technique whereby complex issues are introduced in a relaxed manner.

Additionally, key words and phrases are used to help students recall the issues and events at a later date.

The CD could be used by students either in the classroom or in private as they examine a very important period of ancient Greek history.

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GREED, BRIBES & SCANDALS
The Ancient Olympic Games

• Code M5 (audio tape), Code M6 (audio CD)
• Audio CD/Tape
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Written by Dr. David Gilman Romano, an expert on ancient sport and athletes
• Produced by the Institute for Mediterranean Studies © 1999
• Suitable: Ages 14+

In this exciting programme we learn about the importance of the ancient Olympics during the Greek and Roman periods, along with an insight into the athletes themselves, the events and the stories behind them. In this way, the triumphs and traditions of the ancient Olympic Games are vividly brought to life in an easy to digest form.

The rich history of the Olympic Games, dating back to mythological times, gives a fresh perspective on the origins of the modern athletic competition.

It is not surprising to find that bribery, scandal and cheating were as much a part of the ancient Olympics as they are today and that the glory of an Olympic victory remains undiminished after two thousand years.

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