Metropolis

Experience the splendor of cities through the Ages
Journey to the heart of urban life and witness the splendor and brilliance of the world's most magnificent cities throughout the ages. Using computer animation and lavishly staged scenes, this series explores the invention and innovation as well as the experiences of daily life for the populations of these centers of power. The complete series includes the episodes: Athens - The Rule of the People, Alexandria - The Centre of Knowledge, Carthage - City of Seafarers, Rome - The Heart of the Empire, Mission to Constantinople, Escape to Venice and Murder in Paris.

Athens: The Rule of the People
Through a fascinating but arduous process, Athens brings the world a new political system - democracy. But even in this bastion of logic, the gods still have their say. Watch as the restoration of monuments on the Acropolis gives spectacular insight into some of the most famous buildings constructed in this cradle of western culture.

Alexandria: The Centre of Knowledge
Hellenistic culture creates a bustling metropolis deep in the Egyptian desert. Guided by the vision of Alexander the Great, architects erect the most powerful urban center of its time. Visit the Greek royal city in the land of the Pharaohs and ascend one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the legendary Alexandria lighthouse.

Carthage: City of Seafarers
Follow Phoenician sailors along the coast of North Africa to the city that will rule the western Mediterranean for decades - Carthage. Computer animation helps to unravel the mystery of the secret war harbor and reveal the underground mines where many seafarers' hopes of fame and glory were dashed by imprisonment.

Rome: The Heart of the Empire
In the 2nd century AD, Rome is both the crown jewel of a massive empire and an infamous capitol of crime. Here the elite's shallow lifestyle contrasts sharply with the meager existence of ordinary citizens. Extensive computer animation re-creates the Colosseum in all its glory alongside the city's seedy underbelly of dark alleys and inns.

Mission to Constantinople
1437. The wealthiest and most beautiful city in Christendom stands isolated in the heart of the Byzantine Empire, completely surrounded by the Ottoman Turks. Constantinople defies the Islamic onslaught only by virtue of its massive defensive works and ramparts, but unless they receive help from Rome, all may be lost.

Escape to Venice
1494. The world is in upheaval, but thanks to its powerful arsenal, Venice, the largest industrial complex of its time, remains wealthy and powerful - rich in both trade and the arts. Dive below the water, to see how this amazing floating city was constructed on a forest of logs and see buildings that were destroyed long ago come to life once again.

Murder in Paris
1455. The city is in the process of recovering from the horrors of the Hundred Years War, marauding soldiers and the Plague. The spirit of change and new beginnings is in the air. Computer animation, contemporary paintings and an examination of the city's lifeline - the Seine - provide a clear picture of Paris in the medieval ages.