I love the look and feel of documentaries from the 90s/2000s. You don’t get such good footage nowadays, usually it’s a narrator asking a pointless but charged question that’s played with for 20 minutes by a dozen different “experts” trying to make it more interesting than it is before revealing they were chasing a red herring the entire time
This programme was made in 2003/4 and its origins should be acknowledged. Ms. Hughes was born in 1967 according to Wikipedia. She is/was and continues to be a leading historian and educator.
SO this is what she used to look like before she put on all that weight? I was hoping this was current and that she had lost the weight. How disappointing.
The music for this documentary is the best thing about it - so evocative, so eerie..I felt as if it was indeed conveying the essence of what this lost civilization might have been and how it ended.
You know, I loved the music too, but I can easily see how someone would heavily dislike it. I find that it is eerie, unfamiliar, novel, and highly impactful because in a way I find that human history is all of those things to me. However, if you viewed human history in a different light, the song may feel disconnected and inappropriate.
I just LOVE Minoan art. Every type, even their styles and activities depicted WITHIN the artwork! They were very creative. Architecture leaves a bit to be desired, but that is nothing when you consider the creative art.
A fabulous tour of Crete and it's archeological treasures. But then again, if Ms. Hughes decided to give me a tour of New Jersey, I'd probably watch that too.
This documentary is so fascinating! Produced as a tremendous educational yet dramatic program, it gently weaves together geological and artifact evidence of a goddess-worshipping Minoan civilization that experiences a swift, chaotic, and eerie descent into the fog of antiquity. The presenter was excellent; and adding the ancient Greek quotations was a brilliant stroke of beauty. The music was especially compelling! Thank you.
I was so lucky to have traveled to Greece at age 14 with my mother in 1984 with 2 of her best friends who sadly have passed away too young in the last few years. We were there for an entire month and spent 10 days in Crete driving in an open jeep from one end to the other. The most memorable treasure of course was walking the grand road to Knossos and visiting the palace itself. While the Acropolis in Athens is of course spectacular, Knossos, for me, seemed so magical and is the one time and place I would choose to live if I could travel back in time.
Great video and thanks for showing the hippo ivory sculpture at the end , with prof MM I conserved the legs found in 1990 , the body was found in 1988. The legs were in over 200 pieces of ivory and 70 gold , making the belts scabbard and shoes . We sifted through 55 tons to try and find every last piece . They were covered in insoluble salt , like stalagmites , they were covered in calcium carbonate from long termburial
@@valeriekenny4483 Thx took MM and myself 7 weeks to do , loved doing it high point of my career , he specialised in measuring and recording , me in cleaning
If you visit the Minoan Museum in Heraklion and look at the artifacts, you will see in the Minoan period art that is eerily contemporary. Then you get the influence from the Greek mainland, and it is basically Attic. The earlier Minoan works are very beautiful. I am of Greek descent myself, but I tend to prefer the Minoan art. In Knossos there are murals and paintings that would be considered contemporary today. It is magical. This was a unique civilization.
I always enjoyed the ancient history documentaries presented by Bettany Hughes. This one dates from 2003. Always a great delivery, and such a beautiful lady!
While walking around Knossos a few years ago it struck me how under appreciated their civilization is in the larger scheme of things. In particularly because of how well preserved their monuments are! They might have been late to have been discovered but no doubt if they had been found earlier their role in world history would've been more pronounced. Nice to see this video does their accomplishments justice.
Arthur Evans did his very best to "restore " the artifacts. Maybe too much, known fact. With the help with a well known decorator/illustrator in those days. Known fact.
The lady's use of language and her accent are fascinating. I will challenge some of her interpretations but my admiration remains very high. I only wish, her Greek accent were better. Thank you!!!
This is the best documentary ive seen on Minoan culture and its place in Greek and middle eastern istory. Well done!!!!!! Thank you Bettany Hughes and everyone else for putting this together. Cheers!
It is just middle eastern. Especially ancient Greeks, belonged to the Middle East. Anatolia is a part of Middle East. The Middle East before ☪️ancer was amazing.
@@R2d2.. jokes on you the mother of Europe is Greece, and specifically in the islands of Aegean, where Crete resides, the myth of Europa also took place there.
Absolutely brilliant! I feel myself sucked into a history that I never know existed. The narrator not only brings the ancient civilization to our view but also bring it to life vividly. Great piece!
this was amazing. The Minoans have always fascinated me, along with their contemporaries. Sounds like they were hit by the Bronze age collapse, as well.
@General Melchett just say it.... she got fat... well it is 2021, let's judt say thick . . lol I forgot what video I justcwatched with her, but man the buttons on her jacket were struggling to hold themselves together. ..she still looked good though reminds me of Nigella lawson
I am trying but unable to avoid the attribute "perfect and awesome" for this presentation of the part of ancient history!! to me everything is perfect here - from the presenter herself to the information and the camera sets. Thank you, a lot!
Thank you RUclips algorithm.. Love Crete and Thera/Santorini.. Attended a day school in one of the Oxford colleges on this specific subject back in the late 70s. Thank you so much for the update. Hugely interesting and I felt like I was there and could smell the wild thyme and olive groves..
Greece is the most beautiful country in the world, the Islands are magical and the food and culture are untouchable. I go to Greece on holiday whenever I can.
Bettany Hughes is a most enjoyable a academic to listen to. I'm fascinated by Minoan civilisation and visited Crete in thd 90s. Both my mum and i went to Heraklion museum, incredible artifacts on show.
She is a really good presenter of places and History. Her voice is almost seductive. But...some inaccuracies and terminological inexactitudes have survived/slipped in her presentation!
Bettany Hughes is so stunning, how do island people build power, through fear and rumor that became myth, and fearful people are weak and easy to take advantage. love how she keeps you watching
-you could hear the Stalactites growing -... whoever wrote the script, must have had really a great deal of Fantasie. Absolutely incredible good episode. and a brilliant presenter!
Bettany - your history lessons are as masterly as your presentation. Thank you so much for your enthusiastic delivery of your knowledge and expertise - I am in love with your videos.
The cinematography, intrigue, sound track, and the narrator, makes this a real journey into the past. The script is very well written too, and so astoundingly narrated, wow! I like too the editing with artifacts, beauty of nature, ruins, all synchronized with the narrator's voice is a masterwork! She even swims in the pristine waters, climbs, hikes, rides a little scooter through the vistas, nice! Thanks for creating such a "journey" as I say into the past through the present, a portal in time! I'll be coming back to experience this again! I loved Crete and the islands in 1976 before this narrator was even born, kind of scary to think how short life is.
@@larryschweitzer4904 Hi Larry! Any relation to one of my idols, Albert? I was there only 2 months and always thought I'd be one for globe trotting adventures and only was in Newfoundland/Nova Scotia, though a fantastic place, Pine Ridge Lakota Sioux Rez about 5 times, also Mexico with the Zapotecs and Lacandon, 6 months, Guatemala 2 weeks, and that's it. I want to be a Dharma Bum for extended time and go by ebike all over the world including major time in Greece. Wow, did you see just hours ago sad news of major quakes on Crete? One of my favorite books, "Zorba the Greek", by Nikos Kazanzakis (sp?). I have a lot to do with my songwriting before I go and pandemic holding things up and enough money for a good ebike and a good 4 season tent, which those items are very expensive. I believe like Tolstoy wrote about Ivan Ilyich (sp?) "Don't die with your music in you."...
@mwj Agree! And thank you for your excellent post. I was in Crete with my husband in an old VWCombi van, 1976. We didn't know much about Crete's ancient history, being only in our 20's then. But we loved the place, the people, the markets, the beaches, and herds of multicolored goats with neck bells clanking. What was a surprise to us was the warmth and recognition of villagers who would smile broadly at us, and point to our New Zealand 🇳🇿 flag and badge on our VW's front grille. Of course! In World War II , the Australians and New Zealand troops [collectively called ANZACS] fought alongside the Cretan and Greek resistance to overcome the Axis powers. They have long memories indeed. I wish I could return. Greetings from Auckland New Zealand 🇳🇿 ❤
Wow, the host did an amazing job of bringing the history to life, even though the title is misleading, (where was the minotaur?) I was fascinated the whole time.
The Minoans are probably my favorite ancient civilization, partly because they are rather mysterious owing to the fact that we haven't yet deciphered their writing (Linear A) and so the best we have are the scant accounts of them from outsiders and archaeological remains. Also their art style is very distinctive and remarkably beautiful, it's no wonder they were renowned as highly skilled craftsmen and artists.
@@Adrian-vy5vn I suppose that could be answered by looking at the archaeological record, e.g. did the Minoans have better bone density than the Mesopotamians etc., in addition to other things that could indicate the health and longevity of ancient peoples.
@@Adrian-vy5vn I must admit that, from my completely subjective and personal point of view, I would rather be on wind-swept Crete than in sweltering Egypt or Mesopotamia (assuming the climate in the Bronze Age was roughly the same as it is today, of course)
An intriguing documentary with lots of great views of Crete. (The Minotaur is never mentioned, though, and bull leaping is only mentioned once at the very end.)
You're right, great documentary with awesome views of Crete of which are rarely seen. I think the title of this doc using the name Minotaur is a magnet. I was wondering myself where is the Minotaur in all of this and especially the spectacular acrobatic Art of Bull Leaping? Failing to mention the Minotaur and especially the horrific sacrificial rites involving the MInotaur, fine, as I think so much of Crete and its historical reputation is related to this dark historical fact, yet there is also so much beauty that their culture posessed like Beautiful Artwork and sculpture, Acrobatic forms, Athletics And of course Bull Leaping, not just activity of trade, politics and religion. Intriguing documentary nonetheless.
Brilliant and tastefully exposed history of a mysterious region & time. History in school focused on the bigtime civilization of Rome, Greece, and Egypt, whereas this gave me insight into a great period 1300b.c. on the Ageon Archipelago. Wonderfully done & Beautiful region of the world.
What a great documentary! Superlative narration skills built on deep knowledge of the subject mixed with a healthy dose of sensuality delivered by someone who is obviously very at ease and confident in the great outdoors.
In February, 1979 I travelled to Athens on a pass as an American Airlines employee. After touring there for a few days I longed to get away from the constant traffic noise, which was one of the reasons I had escaped Los Angeles, and thought to travel to an island. Knowing nothing whatsoever about it, I took a flight to Heraklion, which was pleasant, with smiling, relaxed people on the streets. I came across a picture postcard with images of Knossos and was amazed. I had never seen nor heard anything about it before. Soon afterwards I came across a bus that was going there and I boarded, backpack in hand. Once there I wandered around, taking in the murals and such, and decided that this would be a fine place to drop the hit of acid that I had managed to bring on the trip. It's worth noting that this was off season, and I had the place, er, palace, all to myself, other than a guard. I made it a rule to not step over any of the fallen walls, but to follow the walkways as I strolled, and it wasn't long before I was feeling the fine effects of the acid, and here is where I get to the point of this too-long note. As I stepped into one "room" I was overtaken by a strong wave of sensuality that stopped me in my tracks. I looked down and saw a sign which informed that I had entered the queen's love chamber. There must have been quite a lot of love for the vibes to have lingered for thousands of years.
Do you remember which room it was? (I'd love to look up photos of it if you could describe any details). Was it the room with the famous dolphin murals?
@@twilightinavalon It's difficult to say, other than what the little sign read. Keep in mind that there were no walls, only remnants of them. So, yes I could see the dolphin mural from there, and I believe it was close by. But if they still call it the queen's love chamber (or something similar), then it may be on a guide map.
Thank you Ms. Hughes for writing and presenting this insightful study of what may have been in Cretan culture and society. It is much appreciated that you chose to focus on the other places aside from Knossos and Phaistos. So we could learn about them more, I would have prefeed some mention of the Cyclidic idols and perhaps the game events were boys and girls both competed with the bull head toss.
I really love the spooky music and sound effects. Makes me feel like I'm really in the ancient past. And the narrator is great! Thank you for uploading this documentary before my trip to Knossos 😁 I feel well-informed and excited
I just love watching Bettany Hughes teach ancient history! GREAT SMILE, great British accent and very smart. This is an old episode … probably 1995. She still at it in 2023 at age 54.
The first who makes the excavations in Knossos was the Greek merchant and researcher of antiquity from Heraklion, Crete, Minos Kalokairinos (and not Sir Arthur Evans). Who in 1878 unveiled the foundations of warehouses full of jars. The work of Mr. Kalokairinos is recorded by William Stillman, the US consul in Crete at the time, and indicates that the finds were on the west side of the palace. In addition to the warehouses, Mr. Kalokairinos excavated a part of the foundations of the "throne room".
It is often true in history that the one who gets the public credit for "first" was not the actual first. Publicity vs "truth." How much else is wrong in our orthodox view of the world?
Just a common case of British imperialism and the superiority complex of "professional" dead white male archaeologists, explorers, and history professors. Just like Columbus thinks he "discovered" America. Eg, Indigenous Egyptian archaeologists have been written out of existence for centuries.
This is the best documentary ive seen on Minoan culture and its place in Greek and middle eastern istory. Well done!!!!!! Thank you Bettany Hughes and everyone else for putting this together. Cheers!
Excellent historical education in a beautiful and eloquent manner. So rich and articulated information that takes you to an another world. It relaxes the soul and mind.
Kreta still has many places for us to explore. I recommend it above all greek islands, pick an area, settle in. Eat at a local place, ask for the owner. Then ask him/her where you should visit within driving distance of your local. Its a huge island. Get a stick bc the mountains are fun!
It was my favourite island. I was glad to visit the site of Thera on Santorini but otherwise I loved touring around Crete, including 4 days on a Vespa. Chania was a gem that at least then had little made of it in guide books.
They said: By understanding of the past events and learning from it, one can easily benefits the present time and also help in shaping the future. My love and respect, by Nura KC Nigeria 🇳🇬
Bettany...hard to believe that is you in this film. The film, for one so young, is a master work. One of my sons was married at Thera 2 years ago. I shall never forget the sea water, the white buidings, the clear and cleaness of the many islands including Crete. It almost makes you want to cry to know that a civilization, in so many ways superior to those of the West today,. was disappeared so quickly and cruelly. Always we were taught the Mycenaens got "payback" on the Minoans...those who sacked Troy did Crete as well. Civil war?
Echoing the comment below, this documentary needs to be attributed to Brittany Hughes and the BBC. They made others that are equally superb. "Helen of Troy" for one. Please put her in the title so people can discover more.
The thing is the Minoans lived in southeastern Europe, not Western Europe. Hence, I was just wondering, how are the Minoans the first civilisation in Western Europe?
Geographically speaking, Crete is in the southernmost area of the Eastern Mediterranean sea. However, from what we know, they're detached from the Oriental civilizations.
Yeah it is kind of weird wording but they were the first "civilization" comprised of the genetic ancestry found in modern Europeans. The Minoans were EEF (Early European Farmer) type ancestry, as such is found today in Europe and the European diaspora populations. The genetic studies disproved the early myths that they were Egyptians or Phoenician colonists
They honestly do not make history documentaries like this anymore. 00's documentaries were just something else.
I agree. Documentaries of old used to be artful; now they tend to be designed for the short attention spanned individual.
Nonsense. This is modern fluff. It's 90s history documentaries that were just something else.
New productions are short and tilted with agenda, even going against established tenets for cockeyed political purposes.
@@georgehunter2813 Your comment reminds me of the new Netflix documentary series about Alexander the Great. What total trash!
@@stevenhavick5327 There is a general decline in arts overall....in everything.
I love the pace of this. Lingering shots, slow thoughtful delivery, careful pauses. Very easy to watch.
Soft Porn for History Nerds
I love the look and feel of documentaries from the 90s/2000s. You don’t get such good footage nowadays, usually it’s a narrator asking a pointless but charged question that’s played with for 20 minutes by a dozen different “experts” trying to make it more interesting than it is before revealing they were chasing a red herring the entire time
This!!!! As someone who loves ancient history and documentaries. It’s always a let down
This programme was made in 2003/4 and its origins should be acknowledged.
Ms. Hughes was born in 1967 according to Wikipedia.
She is/was and continues to be a leading historian and educator.
Thank you for this❤
She can lead me anywhere she likes.
SO this is what she used to look like before she put on all that weight? I was hoping this was current and that she had lost the weight. How disappointing.
@@cinemar Puerile!
Rude, she looks as good now as she did then.
The music for this documentary is the best thing about it - so evocative, so eerie..I felt as if it was indeed conveying the essence of what this lost civilization might have been and how it ended.
lol😂 I came to say how much it annoyed and distracted me. We are all different. I enjoyed the rest of the show, though.✌️
It’s genius. I couldn’t believe how evocative it was. I’m dying to know who is responsible for it.
I watch a channel called Fall of Civilizations and that music moves my spirit. It has a hopeful yet powerful sadness to it.
@@justkiddin84I totally agree and had to ffwd bits because it felt painful to my ears
You know, I loved the music too, but I can easily see how someone would heavily dislike it. I find that it is eerie, unfamiliar, novel, and highly impactful because in a way I find that human history is all of those things to me. However, if you viewed human history in a different light, the song may feel disconnected and inappropriate.
I love the stylization in Minoan art. It’s like you’re seeing reflections of figures and images in water. Or maybe through heat. Or time.
I just LOVE Minoan art. Every type, even their styles and activities depicted WITHIN the artwork! They were very creative. Architecture leaves a bit to be desired, but that is nothing when you consider the creative art.
A fabulous tour of Crete and it's archeological treasures. But then again, if Ms. Hughes decided to give me a tour of New Jersey, I'd probably watch that too.
Aaaaay, hating on New Jersey? Reminds me of an old Frank Sinatra song. Where Frank sings " is it Granada I see, or only Asbury Park? " :-):-) JK
I doubt you would be so eager if you saw her nowadays tbh.
@@steveholmes3471 She is still hot. Very hot lady.
@@steveholmes3471 Truth. WTH did she do to herself??
She'd make Flint Michigan look like heaven
I absolutely love napping to documentaries (I just find them really relaxing) and this one is PEAK for that. Saving for my next day off.
This documentary is so fascinating! Produced as a tremendous educational yet dramatic program, it gently weaves together geological and artifact evidence of a goddess-worshipping Minoan civilization that experiences a swift, chaotic, and eerie descent into the fog of antiquity. The presenter was excellent; and adding the ancient Greek quotations was a brilliant stroke of beauty. The music was especially compelling! Thank you.
Crete is like a windy paradise!
I'm completely in love with that place.
I was so lucky to have traveled to Greece at age 14 with my mother in 1984 with 2 of her best friends who sadly have passed away too young in the last few years. We were there for an entire month and spent 10 days in Crete driving in an open jeep from one end to the other. The most memorable treasure of course was walking the grand road to Knossos and visiting the palace itself. While the Acropolis in Athens is of course spectacular, Knossos, for me, seemed so magical and is the one time and place I would choose to live if I could travel back in time.
ty for sharing a beautiful memory
Lies again? Rome Roma True Anal
I was fortunate to spend 3 weeks on the Mediterranean visited all the islands💕
She is an amazing presenter in every way.!
@lane neal me too, Santorini 3 times, Crete and Rhode island once. I also took a speed ferry from Rhode island to Marinaras Turkey in July 2019
Great video and thanks for showing the hippo ivory sculpture at the end , with prof MM I conserved the legs found in 1990 , the body was found in 1988. The legs were in over 200 pieces of ivory and 70 gold , making the belts scabbard and shoes . We sifted through 55 tons to try and find every last piece . They were covered in insoluble salt , like stalagmites , they were covered in calcium carbonate from long termburial
Wow. What painstaking work!
@@valeriekenny4483 Thx took MM and myself 7 weeks to do , loved doing it high point of my career , he specialised in measuring and recording , me in cleaning
Wow. You did wonderful work.
Thx v much high light of my career so far @@ananya1721
I could watch and listen to Bettany Hughes ALL day about almost anything. :)
God yes
A lot of wrong she says
Must be lonely where you are.
If you visit the Minoan Museum in Heraklion and look at the artifacts, you will see in the Minoan period art that is eerily contemporary. Then you get the influence from the Greek mainland, and it is basically Attic. The earlier Minoan works are very beautiful. I am of Greek descent myself, but I tend to prefer the Minoan art. In Knossos there are murals and paintings that would be considered contemporary today. It is magical. This was a unique civilization.
A wonderful museum. I love how playful Minoan art seems to be.
Thanks for the amazing piece of information 🌎❤🇬🇷🌍❤🇬🇷🌏❤🇬🇷🇺🇲❤🇬🇷
They dressed snazzy. They really liked luxury items. And the dudes had a lot of bravado to leap over bulls for sport, like that.
Minoans were greek. In fact linear a and b were primitive forms of protogreek writing
@@edgardoaltmann8619 hrhmmm...
Britney Hughes has always been such an engaged narrator as to bring a new dynamic to the presentation
Bettany Hughes*
I always enjoyed the ancient history documentaries presented by Bettany Hughes. This one dates from 2003. Always a great delivery, and such a beautiful lady!
This is one of the best history documentaries I have ever seen. The narrative is exceptional. Many thanks.
Need better narrator
The title is a plain lie.
There was no corn in the Mediterranean at that time.
Doing a ceramic 5000 word thesis on Minoan ceramics history and you've just gave me a whole new view. Thank you Bettany x
Ideas and content, That's always a treat!
A magnificent re-telling of history replete with poetic language and passion for the tale.
And distortion of geography. "Western" Europe.
Watching and listening to Bettany Hughes is a great experience to discover the history of the ancient world.
i love bettanys style of presenting history,her eyes sparkle when she is telling the stories.everything comes alive.
Agreed, she's fantastic.
And her voice tells you she enjoys history so much
Well said.
Agreed. You can clearly see that she has a genuine passion for history :=)
@@jaymartin8273 I can clearly see a lot of things
While walking around Knossos a few years ago it struck me how under appreciated their civilization is in the larger scheme of things. In particularly because of how well preserved their monuments are! They might have been late to have been discovered but no doubt if they had been found earlier their role in world history would've been more pronounced. Nice to see this video does their accomplishments justice.
Arthur Evans did his very best to "restore " the artifacts. Maybe too much, known fact. With the help with a well known decorator/illustrator in those days. Known fact.
Yes. Knossos is not so much preserved, as created.
What eye and mind candy. That beach? Paradise. The art? Utter sophistication. The Narrator? Charming & informative. Love it.
Bettany Hughes is such a perfect narrator for these documentaries. She fits in the landscape and the times.
I’m going marry her one day. A top the walls of Troy.
I totally agree with you. She's also easy on the eyes. 🙂
You can pretty much see the thousand ships launched for her on the horizon.
Very beautiful too
She has ballooned
I simply love this woman. She is soooo great at presenting history to us. besides, she is sooooo gorgeous !!!
I love the Minoan Civilization.
The lady's use of language and her accent are fascinating.
I will challenge some of her interpretations but my admiration
remains very high.
I only wish, her Greek accent were better.
Thank you!!!
Crete, my favorite Greek island. So full of ancient history.
This just showed up in my feed. Very well done, thank you.
This is the best documentary ive seen on Minoan culture and its place in Greek and middle eastern istory. Well done!!!!!! Thank you Bettany Hughes and everyone else for putting this together. Cheers!
It is just middle eastern. Especially ancient Greeks, belonged to the Middle East. Anatolia is a part of Middle East.
The Middle East before ☪️ancer was amazing.
@@R2d2.. actually christian romans have destroyed these civilizations 😂
@@R2d2.. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Greeks belonged to the middle east , HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
@@R2d2.. jokes on you the mother of Europe is Greece, and specifically in the islands of Aegean, where Crete resides, the myth of Europa also took place there.
@@Qwertyuiop-xz3kj lmao the Romans were the greatest greek fanbois, they would never destroy the minoan, or mycaenean civilizations of Greece
Ive traveled all over western Europe, it's a wonderful country. Especially the pyramids are awesome.
lmao
@@Threezi04there are pyramids in Greece
@@MsObsidianReloadedThe commenter was joking lol, they’re teasing the title for calling Crete part of Western Europe
Crete is in east Europe !
@@MsObsidianReloaded Yes, Greece - the Jewel of Western Europe.
Whoever made the music that's in this video deserves an award. Amazing music that takes you to another place and another time...
Imagine a black dwarf
For real all one got to do is close your eyes n it will take up there ✌🏾🙏🏾
Bears some resemblance with age of mythology's soundtrack
The music in her program about Sparta is awesome as well
Doesn't sound too Greek tho tbh. Greek music had flutes and guitars and harps
Gosh I just love the audio work they did on this doc. Definitely one of those Doc's I'll get back to for the combo OST + content + presenter! WOW!
Somewhat misleading in the title, but this was great! Amazing host, beautiful locations and interesting history
Absolutely brilliant! I feel myself sucked into a history that I never know existed. The narrator not only brings the ancient civilization to our view but also bring it to life vividly. Great piece!
8
😊
7
The 😊
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this was amazing. The Minoans have always fascinated me, along with their contemporaries. Sounds like they were hit by the Bronze age collapse, as well.
I am so intrigued by the Minoan civilization. This is the best documentary I've seen on it.
Intelligent and beautiful... Bettany Hughes makes me love History even more!!!
Yep! Me too :=)
@General Melchett just say it....
she got fat...
well it is 2021, let's judt say thick . . lol
I forgot what video I justcwatched with her, but man the buttons on her jacket were struggling to hold themselves together. ..she still looked good though reminds me of Nigella lawson
Wtf is wrong w yall lol
@@topherbee6788 just pointing out the truth...what's wrong with that?
@@fcukyou2_ Just pointing out irrelevancies. Did you actually listen to what she said?
I am trying but unable to avoid the attribute "perfect and awesome" for this presentation of the part of ancient history!! to me everything is perfect here - from the presenter herself to the information and the camera sets. Thank you, a lot!
Their civilization was contemporary to old Egypt. Such a fascinating people.
That's right, not too far from both Egypt and Greece.
Beautifully done. Beautiful cinematography and thorough research. Well done professor Hughes and Thank You.
A wonderful and captivating presentation by ms Battany Hughes ! ❤
What an amazing documentary! I love the way it's being presented. I love the narration.
Fantastic documentary, thank you for this! The presenter has a great voice and I love how she litteraly dives into the matter 💚
She's smoking hot :D
Ahh yes, Bettany Hughes, making history glamorous since way back when.
Thank you RUclips algorithm.. Love Crete and Thera/Santorini.. Attended a day school in one of the Oxford colleges on this specific subject back in the late 70s. Thank you so much for the update. Hugely interesting and I felt like I was there and could smell the wild thyme and olive groves..
I’m going to need her in all Ancient History docs from here on out.
Greece is the most beautiful country in the world, the Islands are magical and the food and culture are untouchable. I go to Greece on holiday whenever I can.
Thank you for your kind words.
Intelligent and beautiful... Bettany Hughes makes me love History even more!!!
Came from Timeline World History. SO excited for this! This is my favourite period of history!
Bettany Hughes is a most enjoyable a academic to listen to.
I'm fascinated by Minoan civilisation and visited Crete in thd 90s. Both my mum and i went to Heraklion museum, incredible artifacts on show.
Never take it too seriously when somebody says first civilization of anything.
Good point!
Bettany is one of my favorite historians. Always enjoy watching one of her shows.
She is a really good presenter of places and History. Her voice is almost seductive.
But...some inaccuracies and terminological inexactitudes have survived/slipped in her presentation!
She is very smart and very good looking.
@@StanSwan she used to be good looking.
@@steveholmes3471 She still is :=)
@@jaymartin8273 Not anymore. She got huge.
Bettany Hughes is so stunning, how do island people build power, through fear and rumor that became myth, and fearful people are weak and easy to take advantage. love how she keeps you watching
masterful production
-you could hear the Stalactites growing -... whoever wrote the script, must have had really a great deal of Fantasie. Absolutely incredible good episode. and a brilliant presenter!
Water dripping. It makes a sound. Presume that's what she meant.
Bettany - your history lessons are as masterly as your presentation. Thank you so much for your enthusiastic delivery of your knowledge and expertise - I am in love with your videos.
the video's are good but id watch her in anything haha
Why is she not wearing a Hijab face covering? She shows great disrespect to Allah and the holy land.
@@yasim8251 Western people in general do not respect Allah. Allah is your god, not ours.
@@yasim8251 And correct me if I'm wrong, but I've never heard a land tell me to wear anything out of "respect". The land asks nothing of us.
@@yasim8251 Because she's a free european woman
I would like to know more about these soundtracks, they are amazing
I remember watching these as a young kid… doctor Hughes was legit one of my first celebrity crushes 😂
No doubt!
NOW, this is HISTORY. LOVE IT.
Wow amazing video taking you back in time and to fall in love with her voice. Thanks for the journey.
The cinematography, intrigue, sound track, and the narrator, makes this a real journey into the past. The script is very well written too, and so astoundingly narrated, wow! I like too the editing with artifacts, beauty of nature, ruins, all synchronized with the narrator's voice is a masterwork! She even swims in the pristine waters, climbs, hikes, rides a little scooter through the vistas, nice! Thanks for creating such a "journey" as I say into the past through the present, a portal in time! I'll be coming back to experience this again! I loved Crete and the islands in 1976 before this narrator was even born, kind of scary to think how short life is.
I agree. I spent some time on Crete in 1971. Nice people. Everything seemed to move very slowly. The presenter is beautiful.
@@larryschweitzer4904 Hi Larry! Any relation to one of my idols, Albert? I was there only 2 months and always thought I'd be one for globe trotting adventures and only was in Newfoundland/Nova Scotia, though a fantastic place, Pine Ridge Lakota Sioux Rez about 5 times, also Mexico with the Zapotecs and Lacandon, 6 months, Guatemala 2 weeks, and that's it. I want to be a Dharma Bum for extended time and go by ebike all over the world including major time in Greece. Wow, did you see just hours ago sad news of major quakes on Crete? One of my favorite books, "Zorba the Greek", by Nikos Kazanzakis (sp?). I have a lot to do with my songwriting before I go and pandemic holding things up and enough money for a good ebike and a good 4 season tent, which those items are very expensive. I believe like Tolstoy wrote about Ivan Ilyich (sp?) "Don't die with your music in you."...
@mwj Agree! And thank you for your excellent post.
I was in Crete with my husband in an old VWCombi van, 1976. We didn't know much about Crete's ancient history, being only in our 20's then.
But we loved the place, the people, the markets, the beaches, and herds of multicolored goats with neck bells clanking.
What was a surprise to us was the warmth and recognition of villagers who would smile broadly at us, and point to our New Zealand 🇳🇿 flag and badge on our VW's front grille.
Of course!
In World War II , the Australians and New Zealand troops [collectively called ANZACS] fought alongside the Cretan and Greek resistance to overcome the Axis powers.
They have long memories indeed.
I wish I could return. Greetings from Auckland New Zealand 🇳🇿 ❤
I needed Bettany Hughes to tuck me in at night, and whisper sweet Everythings in my ear!
I've watched this documentary many times because it is so beautiful and haunting.
Check out @Dan Davis History
He’s a great story teller
Brilliant documentary. Beautifully written and presented.
Especially Beth the Hughes
Wow, the host did an amazing job of bringing the history to life, even though the title is misleading, (where was the minotaur?) I was fascinated the whole time.
I'm glad you said that because I thought I fell asleep or something and missed it because I certainly did miss it...
Bettany Hughes is one of my favourite documentary presenters/writers. Never a dull moment when she is informing and educating.
she is beautiful, makes it easy to listen though my mind wanders
She's busty Jeff
She's at her best when she's walking away from the camera, softly narrating in a slow rhythmic oration
The Minoans are probably my favorite ancient civilization, partly because they are rather mysterious owing to the fact that we haven't yet deciphered their writing (Linear A) and so the best we have are the scant accounts of them from outsiders and archaeological remains. Also their art style is very distinctive and remarkably beautiful, it's no wonder they were renowned as highly skilled craftsmen and artists.
@@Adrian-vy5vn Well they probably had a high infant mortality rate and lots of disease too, but other than that it was probably pretty nice
@@ThatBernie they probably had a far better life than any other people from bronze age, including Egyptians and Mesopotamians
@@Adrian-vy5vn I suppose that could be answered by looking at the archaeological record, e.g. did the Minoans have better bone density than the Mesopotamians etc., in addition to other things that could indicate the health and longevity of ancient peoples.
@@ThatBernie that would be very interesting indeed
@@Adrian-vy5vn I must admit that, from my completely subjective and personal point of view, I would rather be on wind-swept Crete than in sweltering Egypt or Mesopotamia (assuming the climate in the Bronze Age was roughly the same as it is today, of course)
An intriguing documentary with lots of great views of Crete. (The Minotaur is never mentioned, though, and bull leaping is only mentioned once at the very end.)
You're right, great documentary with awesome views of Crete of which are rarely seen. I think the title of this doc using the name Minotaur is a magnet. I was wondering myself where is the Minotaur in all of this and especially the spectacular acrobatic Art of Bull Leaping? Failing to mention the Minotaur and especially the horrific sacrificial rites involving the MInotaur, fine, as I think so much of Crete and its historical reputation is related to this dark historical fact, yet there is also so much beauty that their culture posessed like Beautiful Artwork and sculpture, Acrobatic forms, Athletics And of course Bull Leaping, not just activity of trade, politics and religion. Intriguing documentary nonetheless.
And how come Crete in western Europe?
i need a soundtrack breakdown and camera details :') everything about this is perfect!!!
She makes watching history enjoyable
Brilliant and tastefully exposed history of a mysterious region & time. History in school focused on the bigtime civilization of Rome, Greece, and Egypt, whereas this gave me insight into a great period 1300b.c. on the Ageon Archipelago.
Wonderfully done & Beautiful region of the world.
These are wonderful supplementary videos for our homeschool curriculum. The kids love them.
What a great documentary! Superlative narration skills built on deep knowledge of the subject mixed with a healthy dose of sensuality delivered by someone who is obviously very at ease and confident in the great outdoors.
In February, 1979 I travelled to Athens on a pass as an American Airlines employee. After touring there for a few days I longed to get away from the constant traffic noise, which was one of the reasons I had escaped Los Angeles, and thought to travel to an island.
Knowing nothing whatsoever about it, I took a flight to Heraklion, which was pleasant, with smiling, relaxed people on the streets. I came across a picture postcard with images of Knossos and was amazed. I had never seen nor heard anything about it before. Soon afterwards I came across a bus that was going there and I boarded, backpack in hand.
Once there I wandered around, taking in the murals and such, and decided that this would be a fine place to drop the hit of acid that I had managed to bring on the trip. It's worth noting that this was off season, and I had the place, er, palace, all to myself, other than a guard.
I made it a rule to not step over any of the fallen walls, but to follow the walkways as I strolled, and it wasn't long before I was feeling the fine effects of the acid, and here is where I get to the point of this too-long note. As I stepped into one "room" I was overtaken by a strong wave of sensuality that stopped me in my tracks. I looked down and saw a sign which informed that I had entered the queen's love chamber. There must have been quite a lot of love for the vibes to have lingered for thousands of years.
so cool to read this! People were much cooler in the 70s, but as one born in 1996 I can’t wait to visit Crete :)
Please remember and remind yourself of this truism: You were on drugs and that's what drugs do. You're welcome.
Do you remember which room it was? (I'd love to look up photos of it if you could describe any details). Was it the room with the famous dolphin murals?
@@miguelmurill1 Exactly!
@@twilightinavalon It's difficult to say, other than what the little sign read. Keep in mind that there were no walls, only remnants of them. So, yes I could see the dolphin mural from there, and I believe it was close by. But if they still call it the queen's love chamber (or something similar), then it may be on a guide map.
Thank you Ms. Hughes for writing and presenting this insightful study of what may have been in Cretan culture and society.
It is much appreciated that you chose to focus on the other places aside from Knossos and Phaistos. So we could learn about them more, I would have prefeed some mention of the Cyclidic idols and perhaps the game events were boys and girls both competed with the bull head toss.
I really love the spooky music and sound effects. Makes me feel like I'm really in the ancient past. And the narrator is great! Thank you for uploading this documentary before my trip to Knossos 😁 I feel well-informed and excited
I love BH's documentaries. She presents history through the lens of science and research.
I just love watching Bettany Hughes teach ancient history! GREAT SMILE, great British accent and very smart. This is an old episode … probably 1995. She still at it in 2023 at age 54.
The first who makes the excavations in Knossos was the Greek merchant and researcher of antiquity from Heraklion, Crete, Minos Kalokairinos (and not Sir Arthur Evans).
Who in 1878 unveiled the foundations of warehouses full of jars.
The work of Mr. Kalokairinos is recorded by William Stillman, the US consul in Crete at the time, and indicates that the finds were on the west side of the palace. In addition to the warehouses, Mr. Kalokairinos excavated a part of the foundations of the "throne room".
Brittney is a wonderful TO watch
It is often true in history that the one who gets the public credit for "first" was not the actual first. Publicity vs "truth." How much else is wrong in our orthodox view of the world?
Likewise calvert at troy. He is given little credit for being the first to want to excavate there.
Just a common case of British imperialism and the superiority complex of "professional" dead white male archaeologists, explorers, and history professors. Just like Columbus thinks he "discovered" America. Eg, Indigenous Egyptian archaeologists have been written out of existence for centuries.
So says you
Absolutely the most thorough and thoroughly interesting historical interpretation of this civilization that ive ever seen!
Thank you!!
Brilliant video of the Minoan civilization with a very informative narrator.
Dan Davis History is awesome too
That vase at 10:10 is incredible. How did they do that?
Timeline sent me. I love ancient history. Thank you for your channel❤ I subscribed.
Bettany Hughes always has the best soundtrack in her shows.
I know, such amazing, atmospheric music...
Easy on the eyes as well
@@jamesgoulde You're not wrong there...
Some parts kinda remind me of Age of Mythology's game soundtrack. It's the eerie magic from ancient times
Right on
This is the best documentary ive seen on Minoan culture and its place in Greek and middle eastern istory. Well done!!!!!! Thank you Bettany Hughes and everyone else for putting this together. Cheers!
Thank you algorithm for putting this in my feed. Absolutely brilliant documentary!
I'd worship that beauty in the thumbnail.
Excellent historical education in a beautiful and eloquent manner. So rich and articulated information that takes you to an another world. It relaxes the soul and mind.
Thank you so much for uploading this video. It is helping me to get through the pandemic!
Just the flu.
@@johncapanis686 based and redpilled
Scam
excellent, informed, dynamic documentary
" dynamic" is a marvelous adjective here.
Congratulations excellent historic mythic documentary , your speech and descriptions are captivating thank you
Kreta still has many places for us to explore. I recommend it above all greek islands, pick an area, settle in. Eat at a local place, ask for the owner. Then ask him/her where you should visit within driving distance of your local. Its a huge island. Get a stick bc the mountains are fun!
So right
It was my favourite island. I was glad to visit the site of Thera on Santorini but otherwise I loved touring around Crete, including 4 days on a Vespa. Chania was a gem that at least then had little made of it in guide books.
Cyprus not to shabby either....
Not at all @@hara3435
Magnificent. History as it was meant to be viewed, horizontal and vertical presentations.
They said:
By understanding of the past events and learning from it, one can easily benefits the present time and also help in shaping the future.
My love and respect, by Nura KC Nigeria 🇳🇬
43:00 great stuff, when archeologists are able to dig up a site and put it's finds into a specific context.
Bettany...hard to believe that is you in this film. The film, for one so young, is a master work. One of my sons was married at Thera 2 years ago. I shall never forget the sea water, the white buidings, the clear and cleaness of the many islands including Crete. It almost makes you want to cry to know that a civilization, in so many ways superior to those of the West today,. was disappeared so quickly and cruelly. Always we were taught the Mycenaens got "payback" on the Minoans...those who sacked Troy did Crete as well. Civil war?
Echoing the comment below, this documentary needs to be attributed to Brittany Hughes and the BBC. They made others that are equally superb. "Helen of Troy" for one. Please put her in the title so people can discover more.
I was there in 2019 for 10 days, our group saw many historical places. This video added a lot more information to its fascinating history.
The mood through narration and music of this documentary is incredible
The thing is the Minoans lived in southeastern Europe, not Western Europe. Hence, I was just wondering, how are the Minoans the first civilisation in Western Europe?
Geographically speaking, Crete is in the southernmost area of the Eastern Mediterranean sea. However, from what we know, they're detached from the Oriental civilizations.
I think they meant the west in general.
they are not..but anything praise worthy is claimed to be Western...
Yeah it is kind of weird wording but they were the first "civilization" comprised of the genetic ancestry found in modern Europeans. The Minoans were EEF (Early European Farmer) type ancestry, as such is found today in Europe and the European diaspora populations. The genetic studies disproved the early myths that they were Egyptians or Phoenician colonists
@@fwd5614 Correct. Any attempt to crack the Linear A with one another Afro-Asiatic (or Hamitic-Semitic) language failed.