Historical Dramas - Ancient Times
A list of historical drama films and television series, from prehistorical times to the 1st century BC.
The list follows a chronological order based on the historical setting. For the most part, these are films and television series that I've seen and evaluated.
In those cases where the setting remains uncertain, I tried to approximate it as much as possible based on the clues provided by the plot and also on my personal historical knowledge.
Some of the dates provided may be subject to future corrections, especially for those films that I've yet to see or for those I haven't watched in a long time.
This list is also based on personal assessments. For this reason, I've not included those films and television series that do not reflect my valuation standards.
To experience this list as I do, you've to select the "Detailed view" option and sort it using "List order".
A full comparative list is available at the page "List of historical dramas in chronological order year by year" on the Fandom wiki of "A World of Straw Bales". Enjoy.
Andres Contos aka Siddo Vicio
The list follows a chronological order based on the historical setting. For the most part, these are films and television series that I've seen and evaluated.
In those cases where the setting remains uncertain, I tried to approximate it as much as possible based on the clues provided by the plot and also on my personal historical knowledge.
Some of the dates provided may be subject to future corrections, especially for those films that I've yet to see or for those I haven't watched in a long time.
This list is also based on personal assessments. For this reason, I've not included those films and television series that do not reflect my valuation standards.
To experience this list as I do, you've to select the "Detailed view" option and sort it using "List order".
A full comparative list is available at the page "List of historical dramas in chronological order year by year" on the Fandom wiki of "A World of Straw Bales". Enjoy.
Andres Contos aka Siddo Vicio
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- DirectorTerrence MalickStarsCate BlanchettJamal CavilMaisha DiattaAn exploration into our planetary past and a search for humanity's place in the future. With narration by Cate Blanchett.0000-9999
Setting: Planck Epoch, Recombination Era, Cosmic Dark Age, Galaxy Epoch (Cosmological Epochs); Precambrian, Phanerozoic (GTS); Far Future (Geological & Cosmological) - DirectorJean-Jacques AnnaudStarsEverett McGillRon PerlmanNicholas KadiThis story takes place in prehistoric time when three tribesmen search for a new fire source.80.000 BC (aka "Quest for Fire")
Setting: Middle Paleolithic Eurasia - DirectorMichael ChapmanStarsDaryl HannahPamela ReedJames RemarA young Cro-Magnon woman is raised by Neanderthals.26.000 BC
Setting: Upper Paleolithic Europe - DirectorAlbert HughesStarsKodi Smit-McPheeJóhannes Haukur JóhannessonMarcin KowalczykIn the prehistoric past, a young man struggles to return home after being separated from his tribe during a buffalo hunt. He finds a similarly lost wolf companion and starts a friendship that would change humanity.20.000 BC
Setting: Upper Paleolithic Eurasia - DirectorFelix RandauStarsJürgen VogelAndré HennickeSusanne WuestThe Ötztal Alps, more than 5300 years ago. A Neolithic clan has settled near a creek. It is their leader Kelab's responsibility to be the keeper of the group's holy shrine Tineka. While Kelab is hunting, the settlement is attacked.3300 BC (aka "Iceman")
Setting: Chalcolithic Europe - DirectorChuck RussellStarsDwayne JohnsonSteven BrandMichael Clarke DuncanA desert warrior rises up against the evil army that is destroying his homeland. He captures the enemy's key sorcerer, takes her deep into the desert and prepares for a final showdown.3000 BC
Setting: Protodynastic Period of Egypt - DirectorHoward HawksStarsJack HawkinsJoan CollinsDewey MartinA captured architect designs an ingenious plan to ensure the impregnability of the tomb of a self-absorbed Pharaoh, obsessed with the security of his next life.2570 BC
Setting: Old Kingdom of Egypt; Fourth Dynasty; reign of Pharaoh Khufu - StarsRichard HarrisBarbara HersheyMaximilian SchellAbram a tribal leader denies all the local deities and finds the true God. Through many trials and tribulations he strengthens his faith.2200 BC
Setting: Middle Bronze Age; Isin-Larsa period of Mesopotamia (possibly); Patriarchal Age (Bible mythology) - StarsBen KingsleyPaul MercurioMartin LandauThe Biblical story of Joseph, who was sold to slavery by his brothers who were jealous of his prophetic abilities to analyze dreams and of his being their father's favorite.2029-2002 BC
Setting: Middle Kingdom of Egypt; Eleventh Dynasty; Patriarchal Age (Bible mythology) - DirectorTony MitchellStarsStephanie LeonidasReece RitchieLangley KirkwoodTells the story of the greatest natural disaster of the ancient world, an event that experts believe inspired the legend of Atlantis.1628 BC
Setting: Aegean Bronze Age; Minoan civilization; Neopalatial Period; Thera Eruption Event - DirectorJonathan EnglishStarsTom HardyMichelle Van Der WaterTony ToddWhen the villagers offer their brethren as a sacrifice to the Minotaur, Theo (Tom Hardy) sets off on a harrowing quest to the labyrinth to kill the evil bull-god.1500 BC
Setting: Aegean Bronze Age; Minoan civilization; Postpalatial Period; Heroic Age (Greek mythology) - DirectorMichael CurtizStarsJean SimmonsVictor MatureGene TierneyIn ancient Egypt, a poor orphan becomes a genial physician and is eventually appointed at the Pharaoh's court where he witnesses palace intrigues and learns dangerous royal secrets.1353-1332 BC
Setting: New Kingdom of Egypt; Eighteeenth Dynasty; Amarna Period - StarsBen KingsleyAvan JogiaSibylla DeenA largely fictional mini-series based on a legendary teenage Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.1332-1322 BC
Setting: New Kingdom of Egypt; Eighteeenth Dynasty; Amarna Period - DirectorRidley ScottStarsChristian BaleJoel EdgertonBen KingsleyThe defiant leader Moses rises up against Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II, setting six hundred thousand slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.1279-1270 BC
Setting: New Kingdom of Egypt; Nineteenth Dynasty; Exodus, Israelites founding myth (Bible mythology) - DirectorWolfgang PetersenStarsBrad PittEric BanaOrlando BloomAn adaptation of Homer's great epic, the film follows the assault on Troy by the united Greek forces and chronicles the fates of the men involved.1184 BC
Setting: Late Bronze Age; Mycenaean Greece; Collapse of Bronze Age cultures; Trojan Epic Cycle (Greek mythology) - CreatorMatteo RovereStarsAndrea ArcangeliFrancesco Di NapoliMarianna FontanaThe story of Romulus and his twin brother Remus, in eighth century B.C. as seen through the eyes of three people marked by death, loneliness and violence.754-753 BC
Setting: Iron Age; Classical Era; Old Latium; Founding of Rome; Roman Kingdom; Kidnapping of the Sabine Women (Roman mythology)
Season 1
Episodes 1-10: 754 BC
Season 2
Episodes 1-8: 753 BC - DirectorMatteo RovereStarsAlessandro BorghiAlessio LapiceFabrizio RongioneRomulus and Remus, two shepherds and loyal brothers, end up taking part to a journey that will lead one of them to be the founder of the greatest nation ever seen. However, the fate of the chosen one will pass from killing his own brother.753 BC
Setting: Iron Age; Classical Era; Old Latium; Founding of Rome (Roman mythology) - DirectorAkan SatayevStarsGhassan MassoudAlmira TursynAizhan LighgThis is the story of the life of the great queen of of the steppe - legendary Tomiris. She is destined to become a skillful warrior, survive the loss of close people and unite the Scythian/Saka tribes under her authority.550-530 BC
Setting: Iron Age Scythia; Achaemenid Empire; Reign of Cyrus II of Persia - DirectorMei HuStarsChow Yun-FatXun ZhouJianbin ChenThe life story of the highly-influential Chinese philosopher, Confucius.500-479 BC (aka "Confucius")
Setting: Eastern Zhou Era; Spring and Autumn Period - DirectorRudolph MatéStarsRichard EganRalph RichardsonDiane BakerA small Army of Greeks spearheaded by three hundred Spartans do battle with the whole invading Persian Army.480 BC
Setting: Iron Age; Archaic Greece; Second Persian Invasion - DirectorNoam MurroStarsSullivan StapletonEva GreenLena HeadeyGreek general Themistocles of Athens leads the naval charge against invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.480 BC
Setting: Iron Age; Archaic Greece; Second Persian Invasion - DirectorZack SnyderStarsGerard ButlerLena HeadeyDavid WenhamIn the ancient battle of Thermopylae, King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fight against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. They face insurmountable odds when they are betrayed by a Spartan reject.480-479 BC
Setting: Iron Age; Archaic Greece; Second Persian Invasion - DirectorMarco FerreriStarsLucas BelvauxJean BenguiguiMarc BermanAt house of Agathon get together many intellectuals and philosophers, including Socrates, to discuss the theme of love and sex: each of them intervenes to support its argument dialogical rules, within the context symposial.404 BC
- DirectorRoberto RosselliniStarsJean SylvèreAnne CaprileGiuseppe MannajuoloA false accusation leads the philosopher Socrates to trial and condemnation in 4th century BC Athens.404-399 BC
Setting: Iron Age; Classical Greece; Peloponnesian War; Spartan Hegemony - DirectorChi Leung 'Jacob' CheungStarsAndy LauAhn Sung-kiZhiwen WangStory centers on a battle during China's Warring States Period, a series of civil wars, which spanned from the 5th to the 3rd century B.C. Based on a popular Japanese manga, which was in turn based a Japanese novel inspired by Warring States history in China.370 BC (aka "A Battle of Wits")
Setting: Warring States Period - DirectorOliver StoneStarsColin FarrellAnthony HopkinsRosario DawsonAlexander, the King of Macedonia and one of the greatest army leaders in the history of warfare, conquers much of the known world.351-285 BC
Setting: Iron Age; Classical Greece; Rise of Macedon; Hellenistic Period - DirectorYimou ZhangStarsJet LiTony Leung Chiu-waiMaggie CheungA defense officer, Nameless, was summoned by the King of Qin regarding his success of terminating three warriors.227 BC (aka "Hero")
Setting: Warring States Period - DirectorSheng DingStarsJackie ChanLeehom WangYoo Seung-junAn old soldier kidnaps a young General of an enemy state and takes him on a long journey to collect the reward.227 BC (aka "Little Big Soldier")
Setting: Warring States Period - DirectorEdward BazalgetteStarsAlexander SiddigEmilio DoorgasinghBashar RahalIt is 200 years before the birth of Christ and Rome is the new superpower of the ancient world. She believes she is invincible - but one man is destined to change that. He is a man bound by oath to avenge the wrongs inflicted on his home and, in pursuit of revenge, he will stop at nothing. Hannibal explores the man behind the myth, revealing what drove the 26-year-old to mastermind one of the most audacious military moves in history. With 40,000 soldiers and 37 elephants, he marched 1,500 miles to challenge his enemies on their own soil. It was an act so daring that few people believed it possible. Hannibal combines drama, the latest historical research and state-of-the-art CGI to bring this spectacular story to life.219-202 BC
Setting: Classical Era; Roman Republic; Rise of Rome; Second Punic War - DirectorDaniel LeeStarsShaofeng FengLeon LaiHanyu ZhangWhite Vengeance tells the story of two brothers contending for supremacy during the fall of the Qin Dynasty, which ruled Imperial China from 221 to 206 BC. As rebels rose, the nation fell into chaos. Liu Bang (Leon Lai) and Xiang Yu (Feng Shaofeng), became leaders of the rebellious army, and also became sworn brothers in battle. Xiang Yu and Liu Bang are close friends who both serve King Huai of Chu. King Huai uses a plot, saying that whoever can subvert the Qin kingdom in Guanzhong would be the Lord Qin, in order to benefit from the competition between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang. Xiang Yu is over-confident. He fights against the main force of Qin army, and entrusts Liu Bang with Yu Ji (Liu Yifei), the woman he loves. Liu Bang expresses his love to Yu Ji and takes the chance to invade Guanzhong first when most of Qin army is outside fighting against Xiang Yu's army. Xiang Yu is furious & betrayed when he found it. Xiang planned to kill Liu at a banquet held in Hong Men, during which Zhang Liang (Zhang Hanyu), the mastermind of Liu Bang, and Fan Zeng (Anthony Wong), the mastermind of Xiang Yu, have a direct confrontation. But who will emerge as the winner from this epic battle and survive to claim their path to the crown?210-183 BC (aka "White Vengeance")
Setting: Imperial China; Qin Dynasty; Chu-Han Contention; Han Dynasty - DirectorChuan LuStarsYe LiuDaniel WuChang ChenThe story of two warring generals (Liu Bang and Xiang Yu) fighting for control of China at the end of the Qin Dynasty.209-195 BC (aka "The Last Supper")
Setting: Imperial China; Qin Dynasty; Chu-Han Contention; Han Dynasty - DirectorChristopher SpencerStarsJames D'ArcyGreg HicksDavid Hinton132 BC tells the story of how a Roman politician nearly brought down the foundations of the Roman republic.154-133 BC
Setting: Classical Era; Roman Republic; Third Punic War; Gracchus Reforms - CreatorSteven S. DeKnightStarsJohn HannahManu BennettPeter MensahIn the time before the arrival of Spartacus, the House of Batiatus faces many challenges from competitors, and within its own household.79 BC
Setting: Classical Era; Roman Republic - CreatorSteven S. DeKnightStarsAndy WhitfieldLucy LawlessManu BennettThe life of Spartacus, the gladiator who lead a rebellion against the Romans. From his time as an ally of the Romans, to his betrayal and becoming a gladiator, to the rebellion he leads and its ultimate outcome.75-71 BC
Setting: Classical Era; Roman Republic; Crisis of the Roman Republic; Third Servile War; First Triumvirate
Season 1
Episode 1: 75-74 BC
Episodes 2-7: 74 B C
Episode 8: 74-73 BC
Episodes 9-13: 73 BC
Season 2
Episodes 1-10: 73 BC
Season 3
Episodes 1-7: 72 BC
Episode 8: 72-71 BC
Episodes 9-10: 71 BC - CreatorBruno HellerWilliam J. MacDonaldJohn MiliusStarsKevin McKiddRay StevensonPolly WalkerA down-to-earth account of the lives of both illustrious and ordinary Romans set in the last days of the Roman Republic.52-29 BC
Setting: Classical Era; Roman Republic; Gallic Wars; Crisis of the Roman Republic; Caesar's Civil War; Second Triumvirate; Final War of the Roman Republic
Season 1
Episode 1: 52 BC
Episode 2: 50-49 BC
Episodes 3-5: 49 BC
Episodes 6-7: 48 BC
Episode 8: 48-47 BC
Episode 9: 46 BC
Episode 10: 45 BC
Episode 11: 45-44 BC
Episode 12: 44 BC
Season 2
Episode 1: 44 BC
Episodes 2-5: 43 BC
Episode 6: 42 BC
Episode 7: 41 BC
Episode 8: 39 BC
Episode 9: 32 BC
Episode 10: 31-29 BC - CreatorSimon BurkeStarsAlex LanipekunEwan HorrocksMatthew McNultyThe life and rise of Livia Drusilla, the powerful wife of the Roman emperor Augustus Caesar.Setting: Classical Era; Roman Republic; Crisis of the Roman Republic; Second Triumvirate; Final War of the Roman Republic
Season 1
Episode 1: 43-40 BC
Episode 2: 39-38 BC
Episode 3: 28-27 BC
Episode 4: 26-25 BC
Episodes 5-6: 23 BC
Episodes 7-8: 22 BC - StarsDerek JacobiJohn HurtSiân PhillipsThe personal and governmental affairs of the Julio-Claudian dynasty at the beginning of the Roman Empire, as recalled by one of its rulers.24 BC-AD 54
Setting: Classical Era; Roman Empire; Principate; Pax Romana; Julio-Claudian Dynasty
Episode 1: 24-8 BC