SECRETS OF THE DEAD: THE SILVER PHAROAH AND SLAVE SHIP MUTINY

The outstanding PBS series Secrets of the Dead continues with "Slave Ship Mutiny" and "The Silver Pharaoh", now available on DVD.  True to its title, "Slave Ship Mutiny" delves into mutiny on the Meermin, which was taken over by slaves being transported from Madagascar to Cape Town in 1766.  As the slaves and the crew battled for power in the days that followed, a militia formed onshore, sinking this ill-fated vessel before the slaves or the crew could reach their desired destination.  Narrated by Liev Schreiber and featuring interviews with South African civil rights activist Desmond Tutu, "Slave Ship Mutiny" is a compelling, in-depth reenactment of a small-scale uprising that's as dramatic as anything written in Hollywood.

Also narrated by Liev Schrieber, "The Silver Pharaoh" chronicles the 1939 discovery of the tomb of Pharaoh Psusennes I.  Though the find was nearly as monumental as Tutankhamun’s tomb, it was overshadowed by headlines of a world on the brink of war.  This thorough documentary finally gives the discovery the time and weight it deserves, and recognizes it as an important element of Egyptian history.

Both episodes are as easy to follow as they are complex, making them appealing to scholars and laymen alike.  For anyone interested in history, these Secrets of the Dead episodes are an engaging and informative window to the past.