[Whither the History Channel]

It did seem like it used to focus on WWII more than anything else. But that was better than 'documentaries' on UFOs or Biblical Prophecies.

Oh yes, we didn't call it the Hitler Channel for nothing. I'm looking forward to Hitler's UFO Prophecies.

 

There does seem to be something about TV that just dooms history coverage: is it the need for visuals (if I never see another Viking jumping off a ship it'll be a billion years too soon) or just the medium's association with light entertainment? I'd like to see a return to the pre-"reconstruction" format - just talking heads, maps, contemporary images and original artefacts - with the space to develop a proper analysis rather than spending half the time watching someone with a false nose lancing bubos (ok, serious reconstructions of how things were done, worn etc are sometimes ok, but I've seen enough guys hitting each other's swords in a field to last a lifetime).

 

With no live dead people to watch and little contemporary footage of ancient or medieval life, I think it's a shame more isn't done on the radio. I've heard some excellent programmes on BBC Radio 4. Tound-table discussions of the state of play involving the leading researchers in the field would be fascinating - and doable.

 

And I want the Open University back on UK TV. It's never been the same without it.

[Reuter late with news: - pyramids not built by slaves!]

Be fair, the piece says the finds "support the view" - ie that it's an existing view. And archaeology reporting must be a pretty thankless task in a global news outlet, so anything vaguely sensible that makes it through has to be a plus, however much sexing-up or restatement of the blindingly obvious may have been involved in getting it to press.

[Population of empire]

(Better late than never, but here goes:)

 

The higher slave estimate (10m of 50-60m people in the Empire as a whole) is presumably from William Harris in JH D

[Welcome and Introduce Yourself Here]

Greetings all, I'm davus (sometimes "Dave" in breve), from the frozen semi-barbarian wastes of Britannia. My principal fields are population & economy, which are probably a little off the beaten track but will hopefully be of occasional interest.