HI, my name is Ben and I'm going to bash America because I know everything about anything and I'm going to make a history documentary political. This is PBS the very same channel that hounds its' viewers for donations. You get what you pay for. Consider the sources my know it all friend. I'm very well-versed in the classics especially Roman, Greek and Macedonian military history. I roll my eyes here and there on these documentaries, but I unlike you know the source, I mean that's what history is about, the sources. ; - )

Doh I am late to this argument... at any rate listen up you over zealous, politically correct thinking, history revisionists... just about all "modern" institutions derived from Western civilization. That is why is Rome should be emphasized. Did Chinese Junks sailed up
River Thames? No but British steam ships brought the entire
Chinese empire to it's knees. While study of non-western culture is interesting but what did Tokugawa contribute to modern world or Chosun Dynasty for that matter? Ancient Mayans? They went extinct. For better or for worst we owe our first world living standards to the West. By the way I am Asian. While I am proud of my heritage, I have no delusion of how we came to be.

You are right, Rome didn't do anything, except for provide some of the foundations that every super power today copies. From art, culture and even some military tactics Rome still influences. Obviously they did not conquer the "whole" world at that time, but I could argue that they reached that goal 2000 years later.

Harold, it's not Kevin, but you who's the misinformed one here. Kevin's point is very valid. Contrary to what western historians told you, Rome neither ruled the world (Roman Empire wasn't even the largest) nor Roman Empire was the only "civilized" part in the world.