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Engineering an Empire

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Engineering an Empire
GenreDocumentary
Presented byPeter Weller
Narrated byMichael Carroll
Music byMichael Richard Plowman
Peter Boyer
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes14
Production
Executive producerDolores Gavin
ProducerRandy Martin
Running timeapprox. 44–90 minutes
Production companiesKralyevich Productions
Mechanism Digital
Original release
NetworkHistory Channel
ReleaseSeptember 13, 2005 (2005-09-13) –
January 8, 2007 (2007-01-08)

Engineering an Empire is a television documentary miniseries that originally aired on the History Channel. The series explores the engineering and/or architectural feats that were characteristic of notable societies and cultures.

It is hosted by Peter Weller, who is most famous for playing the titular role in RoboCop (1987). When the series was made he had recently earned a master's degree in Roman and Renaissance art at Syracuse University.[1] The show started as a documentary about the engineering feats of Ancient Rome and later evolved into a series.[citation needed] It originally ran for one full season of weekly episodes.

A video game, History: Egypt – Engineering an Empire, was released in 2010.[2][3]

Reception

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Engineering an Empire received critical acclaim. The premiere "Rome" won two Emmys after being nominated in four categories.[4]

Tracy Spurrier of the Archaeological Institute of America gave the episode "Egypt" a positive review and praised the show's live action and CGI reenactments of building the ancient monuments. However, she was disappointed about the absence of the Great Pyramids of Giza.[5]

Episodes

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Episode Number Episode Name Civilization Original Air Date
1 Rome Ancient Rome September 13, 2005
2 Egypt Ancient Egypt October 9, 2006
3 Greece Ancient Greece October 16, 2006
4 Greece: Age of Alexander Macedon October 23, 2006
5 The Aztecs Aztec October 30, 2006
6 Carthage Ancient Carthage November 6, 2006
7 The Maya: Death Empire The Maya November 13, 2006
8 Russia Russian Empire November 20, 2006
9 Britain: Blood and Steel British Empire November 27, 2006
10 The Persians First Persian Empire December 4, 2006
11 China Imperial China December 11, 2006
12 Napoleon: Steel Monster First French Empire December 18, 2006
13 The Byzantines Byzantine Empire December 25, 2006
14 Da Vinci's World Italian Renaissance January 8, 2007

References

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  1. ^ Dafoe, Taylor (12 October 2018). "Former Robocop Actor Peter Weller on How an Epiphany at a Picasso Show Motivated Him to Become an Art Historian". Art World. Archived from the original on 2023-10-02. Retrieved 16 November 2023. In 2004 he enrolled at Syracuse University, earning a Master's degree in Roman and Renaissance Art, then he earned his PhD in Italian Renaissance art history at UCLA in 2013.
  2. ^ Moreno, Jim H. (16 September 2010). "HISTORY Egypt: Engineering an Empire – PC Game Review". Armchair General. Weider History Group. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  3. ^ "HISTORY™ Egypt : Engineering an Empire". Slitherine Software. Archived from the original on 12 April 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  4. ^ Emmys.com - Rome: Engineering An Empire
  5. ^ Spurrier, Tracy (28 September 2006). "Ten Thousand Men, One Million Stone Blocks, and a Couple of Sleds". Archaeology Magazine. Archaeological Institute of America. Archived from the original on 2023-11-16. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
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