Tertiary Catalogue

Three people were integral to the fate of the Aztec people upon their meeting with the Spaniards: 9th emperor of the Mexica people, Moctezuma II, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and, lesser recognised but equally important, La Malinche, the invaluable native translator who aided Cortés’ bloody defeat of the empire. This video delves into the stories of each of these three people, providing excellent context to the period for students of History. Show Less

The quick and brutal demolition of the Aztec people, infrastructure and records was aided by the technological advancements of the conquistadors and the diseases they brought. This video considers the weapons, animals and allegiances used by the Spanish to defeat the Aztecs, the disease that played into their favour, and what happened to Tenochtitlán and its surviving inhabitants after the defeat. An excellent introduction to the Aztecs for students of History. Show Less

Seeking gold and riches, Hernán Cortés led a fleet of 11 Spanish ships to Mexico in 1518. This video investigates the reasons for Spanish expansion to the Americas and the series of resulting events that culminated in not only the destruction of Tenochtitlán, the most glorious city in the Aztec lands, but the destruction of the entire Aztec civilisation. An excellent introduction to the Aztecs for students of History. Show Less

The Aztecs were part of a rich and complex religious tradition that had existed in Mesoamerica for thousands of years. This video describes Aztec beliefs and values, discussing gods, temples and human sacrifice, the importance of the warrior for Aztec identity, and the influence of the Toltecs on Aztec art, architecture and mythology. An excellent introduction to the Aztecs for students of History. Show Less

The Aztecs were a magnificent civilisation who quickly established the largest and most powerful empire in Mesoamerica. This video explores the origins of the Aztec Empire from the 12th century, when the Aztecs departed from their native homeland, through to the 16th century, when the population of Tenochtitlán outnumbered that of London. An excellent introduction to the Aztecs for students of History. Show Less

Everyone in Tenochtitlán played a vital role in maintaining not only Aztec cultural traditions, but also the Aztec Empire overall. This video looks at life in the Aztec capital, covering the history and infrastructure of the city, the pyramid structure of Aztec society and the education received by young Aztecs. An excellent introduction to the Aztecs for students of History. Show Less

After Scotland signed a treaty with France, England’s Edward I launched an invasion of Scotland in retaliation, thus beginning the Anglo-Scottish wars of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. What ensued was a series of battles and rebellions, each more brutal than the last as weaponry and military strategy continued to advance. Examining the major battles and players, this video is essential viewing for students of Scottish history. Show Less

It is clear from the events of thirteenth and fourteenth centuries that allegiances and treaties—signed, broken or declared null and void—were central to either the protection or loss of Scottish sovereignty, which teetered on a knife’s edge for much of the period. Clear and concise, this video dives deeper into the Treaties of Birgham and Edinburgh-Northampton, the Auld Alliance and the Declaration of Arbroath, and the contribution of each to Scottish national identity and consciousness. Show Less

The national turmoil started by the death of Alexander III and fueled once more by the death of the Maid of Norway saw Scotland enter an era of fierce competition for the throne. This video examines the major players in this rivalry, including John Balliol, William Wallace, Andrew Murray, and the unrelenting King Edward I, and the battles that ensued between them. Clear and concise, this is essential viewing for students of Scottish history. Show Less

The thirteenth century was a time in which the unfortunate demises of two young rulers led to several creative attempts to maintain Scotland’s newly won independence. The arranged marriages of both Alexander III and his granddaughter Margaret, Maid of Norway, sought to protect Scottish sovereignty, but neither tragedy nor lack of heirs had been factored into these well-meaning plans. Clear and concise, this video is essential viewing for students of Scottish history. Show Less

Ancient Rome was an openly patriarchal society that adopted and adapted Hellenic culture, including many of the Greeks’ negative attitudes towards women. This video explores life for women at all levels of society in the Roman Empire, spotlighting historical figures such as Livia Drusilla, Agrippina the Younger and Boudicca. An excellent introduction to ancient Roman society and culture for junior to middle secondary students of History. Show Less

Despite being advanced in many ways, ancient Greece gave few rights to its women. This video explores life for ancient Greek women, examining life in Athens and Sparta, spotlighting historical figures such as Aspasia and Gorgo, as well as the role of female figures in Greek mythology. An excellent introduction to ancient Greek society and culture for junior to middle secondary students of History. Show Less

The Persian Empire was renowned for its tolerance and Persian women were considered to be the equal of men. This video explores life for ancient Persian women, including ordinary working women, royal women and women of the Persian military, spotlighting historical figures such as Irdabama and Artemisia. An excellent introduction to ancient Persian society and culture for junior to middle secondary students of History. Show Less

Although women in Egypt enjoyed many freedoms under the law compared to women in many other ancient societies, most did not lead independent lives. This video explores life for ancient Egyptian women, both common and royal, spotlighting historical figures such as Merit Ptah, Sobekneferu, Hatshepsut and Cleopatra. An excellent introduction to ancient Egyptian society and culture for junior to middle secondary students of History. Show Less

Man on the Bus is the true story of Martha, a Polish survivor of the Holocaust, who led a double life in Australia and her daughter Eve, a psychologist and filmmaker, who discovered the truth. The film follows Eve finding clues – in old recordings, a street directory and in Martha’s home movies, a mystery man is seen gazing into the lens. Eve’s investigation leads her to the Sobieski Castle in the Ukraine, the site of a massacre in which her maternal grandmother died. After her husband was executed, Martha was forced into hiding. Eve also traces her father’s amazing and heroic escape from a concentration camp. In Melbourne, Eve’s parents rebuild their shattered lives. However, their quest for normality is disrupted by a chance encounter on a bus that changes everything. Man on the Bus becomes a compelling tale of two defining human traits—endurance and frailty—and a metaphor for the 20th century’s most painful trauma. Show Less

The First World War was fought on a scale never seen before. This video investigates the many and complex causes of this global conflict. Pupils will learn about the system of alliances that contributed to the powder keg that was Europe in 1914, as well as the spark that ignited the Great War that would embroil nations around the globe. Show Less

This programme considers the aftermath of the Holocaust immediately following the war, when the full extent of its evil finally came to light. The plight of European Jews continued into the post-war period, with most unable to return to their homes and facing long and, at times, fruitless journeys to seek refuge overseas. Students will also learn how the pressure for a Jewish state intensified during this time, culminating in the formation of Israel. Show Less

Exploring the rise of anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany and the spread of Nazi control across Europe, this programme looks at how and why the Jewish people went from being distrusted and blamed for Germany’s ills, to being violently vilified through events such as Kristallnacht, to finally being rounded up for mass extermination. Intended for viewing by audiences from middle secondary and older, this background to the Holocaust will help students to contextualise one of the worst atrocities in human history. Show Less

The Holocaust was carried out at such a scale that the world took time to come to grips with the enormity of it. But, incomprehensibly, the Holocaust was not the last atrocity of its nature to be committed. Concluding the series, this programme outlines more recent attempts at genocide and takes students through the significance of coping with and commemorating the Holocaust many decades on, and long into the future. Show Less

How much did the Allies know of the horrors being committed against European Jews at the hands of the German Nazis, and were they in a position to act against them as they were occurring? This programme considers this unsettling question before exploring the Allied response after the war, when the full and harrowing extent of the Holocaust was revealed. A close examination of the Nuremburg Trials provides students with insight into the considered legal process of Nazi retribution. Show Less

With grand visions for a stable, peaceful empire, Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of a wall in his name spanning the width of northern Britainnia, demarcating the north-west frontier of the Roman empire. As this video explores, Hadrian's wall was mighty in proportion, not only as a defensive structure, but also as a physical reminder of the Roman empire's strength and power. Diagrams and purposeful narration make this a valuable resource for students of senior Classical Studies and History courses. Show Less

The City Dionysia was a religious festival and celebration of Athenian culture and its pinnacle event, a competition of the dramatic arts, was held at the Theatre of Dionysus, birthplace of Greek tragedy. Seating 15,000, including dignitaries from afar, the theatre staged plays which payed homage to Greek history and mythology and provided often outspoken commentary on politics and justice. An ideal resource for students in senior Classical Studies and History courses, this video explores the cultural significance of Athenian theatre and how it spread across the Greek world. Show Less

Athenian art and culture flourished under the leadership of Pericles, who wanted to create a society that history would remember. The Parthenon serves as one of the civilisation's most remarkable structures and evidence that Pericle's wish for a lasting Athenian legacy came true. Using primary and secondary sources, this video will help students in senior Classical Studies and History courses to understand why and how the Parthenon was constructed, the intricacies of its sculptures which are indicative of Athenian style, and its enduring significance. Show Less

Built to seat over 250,000 spectators, Circus Maximus was referred to by one Greek historian as "one of the most beautiful and admirable structures in Rome." The chariot racing that took place there was the epitome of Roman entertainment but, as this video explores, also served to distract the Roman public from important matters of civic life, placating them with the spectatcle. Using primary and secondary source materials, this video is an ideal accompaniment to senior Classical Studies and Ancient History courses. Show Less

When Mao Zedong announced China’s second five-year plan, the Great Leap Forward, in 1958, it promised a Communist utopia based on collectivisation of agricultural property and production, and industrialisation where everyday citizens produced steel. But, as this video reveals, it spawned a catastrophic, widespread famine. The Party had to change tack, and Mao’s influence waned, but for how long…? Show Less