The series "Empires: Egypt's Golden Empire" is interesting. It also has great looking visuals, nice locations shooting and lots of experts on ancient Egypt. So, it is a quality show. However, as a retired history teacher, I also noticed that the academic rigor of the show was often suspect. In other words, the show never really admitted that many of their conclusions were educated guesses--theories designed to try to explain gaps in information. Again and again, this episode talked as if it was all factual--which is a problem for history of times as old as 4000 to 5000 years ago. I really wish that the show had used words like 'perhaps', 'possibly' or 'it would seem'--and had been much more truthful in the process.
"Pharaohs of the Sun" is much different from the first episode in that it focuses solely on one dynasty and its three pharaohs--Amenhotep III, Amenhotep IV (also called Akenaton) and King Tutankhamen. The show also talked quite a bit about Nefertiti--though it never really explained WHY or how she was important (apart from being Tut's mother and being, supposedly, pretty). Amenhotep III did much to solidify Egypt's empire. As for Amenhotep IV, he changed his name (in order, apparently, to remove the word 'Amen' from his name) and forced the creation of a new capital at Amarna as well as enforced monotheism--both things which would not survive for long. His son, Tutankhamen, little was said of him because he died young and undistinguished--and the kingdom was left with no heir. His importance, it seems, is based solely on his treasure that Howard Carter discovered in the 1920s.
Episode 2 is MUCH better than episode 1--mostly because it did NOT make so many assumptions and espoused theories as facts. My only complaint, and I mention it above, is the show's insistence on focusing on Nefertiti--a woman who was not particularly important to Egyptian history. Very enjoyable and worth seeing.
"Pharaohs of the Sun" is much different from the first episode in that it focuses solely on one dynasty and its three pharaohs--Amenhotep III, Amenhotep IV (also called Akenaton) and King Tutankhamen. The show also talked quite a bit about Nefertiti--though it never really explained WHY or how she was important (apart from being Tut's mother and being, supposedly, pretty). Amenhotep III did much to solidify Egypt's empire. As for Amenhotep IV, he changed his name (in order, apparently, to remove the word 'Amen' from his name) and forced the creation of a new capital at Amarna as well as enforced monotheism--both things which would not survive for long. His son, Tutankhamen, little was said of him because he died young and undistinguished--and the kingdom was left with no heir. His importance, it seems, is based solely on his treasure that Howard Carter discovered in the 1920s.
Episode 2 is MUCH better than episode 1--mostly because it did NOT make so many assumptions and espoused theories as facts. My only complaint, and I mention it above, is the show's insistence on focusing on Nefertiti--a woman who was not particularly important to Egyptian history. Very enjoyable and worth seeing.
