Michael Wood Genius Again
An excellent series! Once again Michael Wood's enthusiam, knowledge and insight enable you to actually feel the history, really making it come alive and it becomes all the more magical as a result.

He manages to cover vast periods of history without skimping on important moments, proceeding at a steady and perfectly measured pace for the viewer.

You feel you are seeing sights that few others have seen outside India, from recently discovered buildings to ancient sights.

I thoroughly recommend this DVD. Grab yourself some private time, sit back and prepare to be taken on a fascinating journey.

This is what historical programmers should be.
In my opinion, all others should be measured up to his standard.
My only regret is I can't give it six stars.



As thick as...
Wood is true to his name, in thick-honeyed tones he lays on a pc monologue totally devoid of insight. Wood is as thick as the proverbial two short planks of...

rambling enthusiasm
Smiling like a flower, without regard for maya, he spins the tale of great men from their artifacts and ruins, while also displaying profound regard for the sacred in whatever form and through whosoever manifest its effect upon their lives. The visuals often are irrelevant to the script and too much street distraction of people and traffic swirls in time lapse distract from substance. The current rise of technological India and middle class is completely absent and a significant deficiency from an historical perspective. This production is really effective subliminally, in its effect upon dreams and the unconscious. It should be viewed by anyone considering a visit to India as a submersion in its culture.

Contradicting its own words loof times but overall a good documentry.
Not seen many documentries covering such a good detail fo history.
But over all a interseting documentry. Full of information, The Buddha episode is covered very beautifully.

But it oftens contradicts its own words,

1) In first 15 min, the acient clan of Brahmins are reciting the hymns in Sanskrit in South India and then the Brahmins from Aryan race are reciting the Sanskrit hymns in Varansi and also impashis of Aryan Invasion theory.

2) Aryans came from central Asia around 1700 BC and they fought battles in Northern planes of India, The example given was Mahabharta, then after a minute the Mahabharata age was backdated to 3200 BC.

3) Indus valley civilization are not knowing usage of horces,

A Story Worth Watching
The Story of India is an informative and visually beautiful document from one of the UK's most popular historians. Comprised of six one-hour chapters, it is not the whole story of India, nor is it perhaps the best story of India. But anyone coming to this series wanting to learn something about the world's most ancient culture will find many treasures here.

Michael Wood attempts to cover the major events and trends of Indian history beginning with the migration of Africans into India 40,000 years ago, and ending with Independence in 1947. He impresses as someone deeply knowledgeable and passionate about his subject, and erudite in explaining it. Unfortunately the story often unwinds as Wood chases down bits of arcania of interest only to amateur historians and archaeologists, and on occasion the production wanders far afield for what Wood and his producer may have supposed might be attractive footage, such as the presenter riding in a tank in Iraq.

Some of the most interesting moments of the series are in the bonus material, unscripted footage of interactions between the camera crew and Indians that give an immediate sense of life on the subcontinent. It's too bad more such scenes could not have been included, and a lot of the historical trivia left out.

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