Poster for Byzantium: The Lost Empire

Channel 4 1997 1 season 4 eps TV-PG Ended

Byzantium: The Lost Empire

1997 1 season 4 eps TV-PG

7.4

Season 1

No results found

Season 1

45 min

S1 · E1 Sep 7, 1997

Building the Dream Episode 1

In the opening film of this series on the Byzantine empire, John Romer traces the origins and growth of Byzantium, which under the aegis of Emperor Constantine developed from a small Greek town into a vast empire. The newly named Constantinople soon became a match for Rome. Romer also shows how it rapidly became known as a religious centre and as a cradle of great art and architecture.

7.4 · You

45 min

S1 · E2 Sep 14, 1997

Heaven on Earth Episode 2

John Romer continues his exploration of the Byzantium empire by looking at the creation of Christian art, with the face of Christ and the Virgin Mary first being portrayed. From the Scala Sancta, the oldest chapel of the popes in Rome where an icon is said to be the true face of Jesus to the border fortresses of Roman Syria, never before filmed.

7.4 · You

45 min

S1 · E3 Sep 21, 1997

Envy of the World Episode 3

John Romer continues his exploration of the Byzantine empire by tracing the extent of its influence abroad. He shows that the desire of its ruler to spread the word of Christianity was not just evangelical but was also a method of subduing Constantinople's potentially dangerous neighbours. By the Middle Ages, Byzantium's influence had spread throughout Europe, but in 1204 the Venetians persuaded an army of Crusaders to divert from Palestine to Constantinople. The city was decimated, the Crusaders took control and for the next fifty years systematically looted it. In 1260 the Crusaders finally left, taking what loot remained with them, leaving what was a wrecked city.

7.6 · You

45 min

S1 · E4 Sep 28, 1997

Forever and Ever Episode 4

In the last programme in the series, John Romer tells how the Byzantium empire finally crumbled. Already weakened by the ravages of rogue Crusaders it succumbed to the invasion of the Ottoman empire of Turkey and the Christian centre of the world became the Islamic city of Istanbul. The scattered refugees took their art and culture worldwide, including Florence, Rome and even Romania to give the world a lasting artistic and cultural legacy that is the link between ancient Rome and Greece and the modern world.

7.7 · You

4 episodes in Season 1

Some details come from TheTVDB.

John Romer recreates the glory and history of Byzantium. From the Hagia Sophia in present-day Istanbul to the looted treasures of the empire now located in St. Marks in Venice.

Documentary

Where to watch

Not streaming anywhere

Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.

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Cast

1 person

John Romer

Self - Presenter

Also in

The Seven Wonders of the World

Testament

Derek Towers Director · Ron Johnston Director · John Romer Writer

Director

Derek Towers

Director

Ron Johnston

Writer

John Romer

Writer Executive producer

Elizabeth Romer

Composer

Howard Davidson

Total runtime 3h 0m · Episode length 45 min · Type Documentary

Show info

Premiered

September 7, 1997

Final episode

September 28, 1997

Status

Ended

Network

Channel 4

Country

United Kingdom

Type

Documentary

Episode length

45 min

Total runtime

3h 0m

Original language

English

Production

I

Ibis Film

Production

United Kingdom

Produced in

Languages

Spoken on screen

English

Some details come from TheTVDB.

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