Top billed cast

1. 

   Simon Schama

   self

2. 

   Liev Schreiber

   Narrator

3. 

   Jamal J. Elias

   self

4. 

   Mary Beard

   Presenter

5. 

   David Olusoga

   Presenter

6. View more

Current Season

Season 1

2018 | 9 Episodes

Survey the history of art, from antiquity to the present, on a global scale. Civilizations reveals the role art and creative imagination have played in forging humanity, and introduce viewers to works of beauty, ingenuity and illumination across cultures. Liev Schreiber narrates.

Reviews

A review by TriceratopsAU

Written by TriceratopsAU on 2026-01-14

My goodness, what an absurd attempt at a documentary. Tedious and full of factual errors. I can't believe I actually used to respect Simon Schama. Bizarre that he participated in this ridiculous nonsense for the BBC. Alas, yet another person who has bent the knee.

If anyone would like to watch a much superior documentary about art and it's effects on the Western world I recommend the original version of this series, Civilisation (1969). It's hosted by Kenneth Clark, a gentleman who would be aghast at seeing what the BBC has turned into.

Recommendations

1. American Masters70%
2. The Reluctant Traveller with Eugene Levy74%
3. Ancient Apocalypse67%
4. Biography67%
5. The Story of Film: An Odyssey77%
6. How Do They Do It?76%
7. Grand Designs71%
8. American Experience65%
9. MegaStructures75%
10. Quarterback79%
11. Antiques Roadshow74%
12. 30 for 3075%
13. Top Gear79%
14. Marvel Studios Legends73%
15. Baseball75%
16. Lost Treasures of Egypt72%
17. Natural World74%
18. Nature79%
19. Horizon73%
20. Modern Marvels81%

Status
Ended

Original Language
English

Original Name
Civilisations

Keywords

• art
• civilisation
• history