One million viewers for ‘1821’
History drew a strong television audience on January 25. According to Skai TV figures, 1 million viewers tuned in to watch the premiere of ?1821,? a new docudrama series produced by the Greek channel which explores the Greek War of Independence.
While there are those who believe that the 400-year-old Turkish occupation had little effect on Greece?s history and subsequent development, ?1821? aims to put the period?s event into a broader European context and highlight key events that led to the establishment of the modern Greek state.
In the first episode of the eight-part series, ?1821? explored the lives of Greek-speaking Christians in the Ottoman Empire, which ranged from slavery and oppression to prosperity and relative autonomy, to a period of general decline leading up to the revolution.
In the second part of the series, which airs on Tuesday, February 1, at 11 p.m., military man Theodoros Kolokotronis learns the ideas of the French Revolution and the Enlightenment, while humanist scholar Adamantios Korais and revolutionary writer Rigas Feraios become key figures of the Greek Enlightenment.
The series is presented by author Petros Tatsopoulos with Thanos Veremis, professor of political history at the University of Athens, and Iakovos Michailidis, history professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, providing invaluable guidance.
Besides being visually attractive through the use of original costumes and 3D graphics, the docudrama covers good historical ground through the participation of international scholars, including that of Turkish history professors.
The first episode of ?1821? will be repeated on Skai on Saturday, January 29, at 10 p.m.
