Russia - Land of the Tsars

List Price: $39.95 Buy For: $23.99
Usually ships in 1 to 2 days


Add to Cart


Compare New & Used Prices From All Available Merchants:

Starring: Edward Herrmann
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Type: DVD
Studio: A&E Home Video
Release Date: 2003-06-24
Running Time: 200 minutes
Number of Items: 2

Description Not Available

So you think you know about Russia?
This is an excellent documentary about the Russia most of us know little about. Governments, including the US have had an uneasy relationship with Russia and it's politics since World War II and the Cold War. That is the Russia most of us visualize and have learned about in our schools.

This documentary covers the foundation of Russia and the expansion of it's land and people from their first leaders to the establishment and demise of the Romanov family and their 300 year dynasty. This documentary also gives insight into the cultural and religious beliefs of the Russian people and it's governmment.

It is a superb DVD that should be in any serious historian's collection.

Interesting
Before traveling to Russia I saw these documentary series and they are absolutely great. Very informative. I felt like I know the history of Russia before the communism as well as our Russian tour leader did...

Good background for our trip to Russia
This 2 set DVD provided good background on the Tsars history. The reviews between broadcast segments were smooth enough to not be distracting, but I was aware. Good visuals, so a good way to get history.

A good summation of Russian history.
A good summary of Russian history. Both informative and entertaining. I came accross this DVD by accident after an exhausting and disappointing search for a "Cold War" history DVD package. My search came up empty under the category...well at least nothing attractive. I recently viewed the first DVD and did not fall asleep. Looking forward to the biography segment in the package. Now on to my review of "Russia-Land of the Tsars".

PROS:

-General overview "made easy to understand of a complex history".
-Covers major players and events in Russian history.
-Good sound track.
-Hollywood style theme "Thriller"
-Exciting presentation.
-Good narrator.

CONS:

-Lack of Russian born historians and analysts.
-Short on Russian architecture.
-No mention of Josef Stalin.
-No Cold War coverage.
-B movie style renactment scenes.
-Price "should be under $20"

As a novice to Russian history...overall this was not a bad purchase. Better if price is under $20.

Good Overview
I became interested in the history of Russia when I read Robert Massie's books "Nicholas and Alexandra" and "The Final Chapter." I wanted to get a broader view of Russian history, and this DVD delivers: Mongol invasions, Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, Empresses Elizabeth and Catherine (the Great), Alexander I, Nicholas II ("the last Tsar") and all (or most) Tsars in between. Naturally there can be no in-depth analysis in the amount of time given, but it was interesting to learn about the development of the Russian navy, the railroad, etc. The first DVD ends with the death of Nicholas II and the imperial family. It touches on Lenin, but not much; even less on Stalin, and nothing of Russia's leaders since then. But certainly there are others sources available for those wishing to learn more about "modern" Russia. The second DVD goes into more detail about Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, and Rasputin. These documentaries were good, but I would have liked a more in-depth look at Catherine the Great.