Quote Originally Posted by NikosMaximilian View Post
I got the impression of Jones being a Romaioktonoi after watching not only the Parthian chapters, but also those referring to the Celts, the Germanic tribes and the Huns (you can watch them by searching "Jones Barbarians Huns" or "Jones Barbarians Celts" in YouTube)

Every time the Romans won a battle the reason was "because of good luck and treachery, combined with the fact that they were bloodthirsty animals who were technologically and culturally backwards compared to the rest of the inocent people living in the world". When the Romani were pagans, they sacrificed humans, hosted bloody gladiatorial games and enslaved everyone (and looks like they were the only ones doing it). When they were Christians, he implies that they are the ones to blame for the rise of the Roman Catholic Church and everything that happened later, including the Crusades, the Inquisition and priests abusing children.

Every time the Romans lost, well, not only he rejoices over it, he also makes it clear that it was "because they were bloodthirsty greedy animals who were technologically and culturally backwards". The Gothic, Vandal and Hunnic incursions are mentioned as someone renting a penthouse for a couple of years: "Oh, yeah, you don't mind, do you? I'll just enter here and take this place". Of course, when Roman citizens (even if they weren't Italians) were killed, that's not much of an issue.

It's bad revisionist history, because in order to talk about the engeneering, the technology, the culture and military achievements of the "Barbarians", he needs to paint Rome as Mordor and the "barbarians" as innocent wildmen. This is a weak form to create an argument, simple and fails to reach any good point. It's like supporting Al-Qaeda or the Taliban because you don't like US foreign policy. The World isn't black or white, Mr Jones (he should really go back to comedy).
I couldn't agree more.

Jones could and usually does better, but as far as Rome goes he really has nothing but hate for it. He gives it some recognition in his "Surprising History of Rome", which actually contradicts all of his other ancient world documentaries by depicting Roman Technology that his other documentaries claim they didn't have among other things, but overall I get the feeling that he would have a wonderful time giving Hannibal an interview or two.

Although he usually does better on non ancient history, he still does have some obvious bias. I.E. he does claim some universal aspects of the middle ages (Knighthoods granted to low born for example) are English unique, but his medieval things are still much better then his ancient, although that could just be my own bias in liking the way he depicts England.