The Mark of Empire, Season 1, Episode 2: Bagan Dominic Young ; Dominic Young

Format:

Video

Series:

The Mark of Empire

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Myanmar.

Local Subjects:

Myanmar.

Genre:

Documentary films

Nonfiction films

Physical Description:

1 online resource (1 video file) sound, color

Place of Publication:

2020

Language Note:

English

System Details:

video file

Biography/History:

British film producer/director Dominic Young is most known for the feature films “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (2025), “Midnight Asia: Eat Dance Dream” (2022), “Danse Macabre” (2021), “Crossroads – 2000 Years on the Silk Road” (2015), “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014) and “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” (1991).

Summary:

Host Peter Lee describes how the Bagan Empire united Myanmar more than 900 years ago to become a major Buddhist center. He charts the empire’s rise, examining how its legacy influences Myanmar today. The episode recounts ruler Anawrahta’s expansion from a small principality around AD 850, uniting the territory of modern-day Myanmar by the late 11th century. Bagan, “city of a thousand pagodas,” achieved political power, and also anchored Buddhism. The empire’s rulers and people built more than 10,000 Buddhist temples and monasteries, more than 2,000 of them surviving today. The episode recounts the conflict between Buddhism and Indigenous animists, also highlighting Anawrahta’s development of arid land via irrigation infrastructures, many still used today and vital to this empire’s ancient agricultural successes and population growth. Lee highlights striking visuals of the Bagan Archaeological Zone. Viewers will appreciate the virtuoso architectural and artistic achievements of the ancient craftspeople

Notes:

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