Ancient Engineering
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Ancient Engineering
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Ancient Engineering is a look at the feats of ancient structure building through a modern lens. Historical facts can sometimes be rendered in a scary way, and images of real mummies and lithographs depicting human sacrifice might be scary for youngest viewers. The show jumps from depictions of ancient civilizations to showcases of modern cities in the blink of an eye, which can be a little disorienting. Ancient cultures are explored in their diverse regions, but the experts who discuss them are primarily White.
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What's the Story?
In ANICENT ENGINEERING, iconic structures like the Egyptian pyramids and the Great Wall of China are researched and discussed with the help of modern engineers, historians, and architects. The episodes explore the historical situations that led to the buidling of these structures, but also compares their craftmanship and engineering to modern buildings. Modern-day experts are interviewed to give insight about the political, religous, and structural signifigance of these iconic monuments.
Is It Any Good?
Interesting, but a little repetitive, this educational series brings awe-inspiring ancient monuments to the modern consiousness. Some of the ancient building sequences in Ancient Engineering are recreated in real-time, but the footage is used over and over again in the montages, which can be a little tiring. And then in the next blink of an eye, there are views of modern skylines and discussion about skyscrapers and contemporary architects. It feels pasted together.
But parents who love to learn about engineering will feel like they are getting their due, and kids who like to dig into ancient mysteries might enjoy this show too. It's not flawlessly executed, but quite informative nonetheless.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about diversity in the ancient cultures in Ancient Engineering. How have diverse cultures changed the shape of what we see in the world?
In this show there is talk about tall and large buildings being "the ultimate status symbol." What status symbols are important to you? Does having cool technology or games define you?
Ancient people left mysterious remnants of their cultures behind. Are you curious to find out more about ancient civilization when you watch a show like this?
TV Details
- Premiere date: December 3, 2020
- Network: HBO Max
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: STEM, Science and Nature
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: September 24, 2021
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