Series
Watch In The Footsteps of Alexander the Great (1998) Online
No video is available for In The Footsteps of Alexander the Great - S1E1 yet. Check back soon.
7.910 votes19981hEndedDocumentary
Synopsis
In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great was a BBC documentary television series first shown in 1998. It was written and presented by British historian and broadcaster Michael Wood. Wood retraced the travels of Alexander the Great, from Vergina in Macedonia, where his father Philip II of Macedon died and Alexander was proclaimed king, through seventeen present-day countries to the borders of India and back to Mesopatamia, where he died. Whereas most of Wood's documentary series had titles beginning "In Search of...", the title of this series reflected a slightly different approach. The series was directed by David Wallace.
Episodes
Miniseries
PreviousNext
1. Son of GodNow viewing1998-07-141hAs Michael Wood stood on the bridge over the river at Issus, his view was obstructed by power lines and superhighways. It was hard to imagine the intensity of that now-famous battle in such ordinary surroundings.
When the two armies met here in November 333 B.C., Alexander and his army were on a mission of revenge. The atrocities of the Persian invasion of Greece 150 years earlier were fresh in their minds and they were determined to exact retribution. While Issus has changed greatly since that day, at the ancient town of Gordion the mood of Alexander's time was almost palpable. The town takes its name from the Macedonian Gordius, who was believed to have settled here, arriving in a wooden cart. As thanks for a journey well-ended, Gordius left his cart at the temple of Zeus. The ordinary cart had an intricate leather knot and pin holding the yoke to its shaft. Local legend had it that the person who could unravel this knot would rule all of Asia. Whether Alexander patiently worked the knot out, or hacked it apart with his sword, we do not know. But the knot was undone and the legend fulfilled. A thunder storm at Alexander's encampment that night confirmed this. Zeus approved.
2. Lord of Asia1998-07-211hOne wonders what makes this area in northern Iraq one of history's major fault lines -- places marked over and over again by historic eruptions that literally change the course of time -- places where two immutable forces come together, forcing one to give only after the greatest of struggles. The Persian army had massed near Babylon. If Darius had stayed here, Alexander would have been drawn southward into a battle site of Darius' own choosing. Instead the Persian leader pushed his troops 320 kilometers northward to meet the advancing Alexandrian army in the small town of Gaugamela, on one of the most active fault lines in history.
3. Across the Hindu Kush1998-07-281hAlexander had now set a determined pace that would bring his army straight into heart of the Persian empire, the city of Persepolis. While one of Alexander's generals lead his troops on a southerly loop through Shirazz, Alexander and 20,000 elite soldiers took a short cut through a narrow path in the Zagros Mountains known as the Persian Gates.
Alexander was deep into the pass before he realized he had fallen into a trap. The Persians had built a wall at the narrowest part of the gap and were waiting for him. Stones, javelins, and artillery rained down on the unsuspecting troops. Leaving their dead behind, Alexander's men withdrew.
There had to be another way, but Alexander interrogated prisoners to no avail. Finally, a local shepherd came forward. There might be a way, he offered; a narrow and difficult path around the back of the pass. Could an army pass through there, Alexander asked. Absolutely not, the shepherd replied. Alexander ordered his men forward on that very route.
Against all odds, Alexander's army crossed the secret and treacherous trail at night and closed his own trap on the Persians. Exactly where was this path? Our local guides debated this well into the night. But, morning found us on the path one of them first thought impossible. Alexander came here in January, he said. The snows would be too deep. Yet this had to be the only way.
4. To the Ends of the Earth1998-08-041hAlexander made an encampment here in the foothills of the Hindu Kush. The Russians did as well, establishing their main base here during the Afghan war. It was also the site of one of the greatest archeological finds of this century. Here, diggers uncovered the remains of a great city whose cultural roots were in Greece. The treasures in its storehouses there were incredible: Alexandrian glass, Chinese lacquer, Hindu ivory sculptures -- all testament to the cultural exchanges brought about by Alexander's campaign.
Cast
Top Billed Cast
Availability
Where To Watch Legally
No legal streaming, rental or purchase options for In The Footsteps of Alexander the Great were reported for this region.
Recommended
More Like This
SeriesMysteries at the Museum
8.82010
SeriesThe Reluctant Traveller with Eugene Levy
7.42023
SeriesHistory 101
7.12020
SeriesJANET JACKSON.
7.52022
SeriesHow Do They Do It?
7.52006
SeriesTop Gear
8.01978
SeriesDoctor Who Confidential
8.12005
Series30 for 30
7.52009
SeriesEarth at Night in Colour
8.22020
SeriesAntiques Roadshow
7.41997
SeriesSecrets of the Dead
6.42000
SeriesThe Circus
6.42016
Series1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
7.52021
SeriesPrehistoric Planet
8.32022
SeriesMedal of Honor
6.72018
SeriesProp Culture
7.82020
SeriesAmerican Experience
6.51988
SeriesHorizon
7.41964
SeriesDisney Gallery / Star Wars: The Mandalorian
7.42020
SeriesEli Roth's History of Horror
6.42018
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is In The Footsteps of Alexander the Great available to watch online?
Vidbox does not currently have a legal streaming, rental or purchase option on record for In The Footsteps of Alexander the Great in this region.
How many seasons does In The Footsteps of Alexander the Great have?
In The Footsteps of Alexander the Great has 1 season and 4 episodes.
When did In The Footsteps of Alexander the Great first air?
In The Footsteps of Alexander the Great first aired in 1998.
Is In The Footsteps of Alexander the Great still running?
In The Footsteps of Alexander the Great's status on TMDB is: Ended.
What genre is In The Footsteps of Alexander the Great?
In The Footsteps of Alexander the Great is classified as Documentary.