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THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY – HONG KONG
presents
A Dinner Lecture with
Michael Wood
on
“In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great”
Friday, 13 March 2009
The Hong Kong Football Club, Causeway Bay
6.30pm Drinks Reception and Book Signing
7.30 pm - 10.30 pm Lecture and Banquet Dinner
This event is being held in conjunction with the Man International Literary Festival
The Royal Geographical Society is honoured to welcome to Hong Kong famous British historian and broadcaster Michael Wood. With more than 60 of his television documentaries showing worldwide, we are delighted that Mr. Wood is presenting a dinner lecture on perhaps his masterpiece, the celebrated book and television series “In the Footsteps of Alexander The Great: A Journey from Greece to Asia”.
In this lecture, Mr Wood absorbingly lectures on Alexander the Great's epic conquests through the harrowing tale of his own trek over the same ground as Alexander's journey, of over 22,000 miles through 17 nations. Mr. Wood also recounts how he found Alexander fiercely alive in poetry, songs and folk tales, from cities and villages in Greece, to desert camps in the Levant and Egypt, all the way across Asia to the mountains of the Hindu Kush. Mr. Wood's ability to present history in striking and memorable ways has drawn a worldwide audience in just about every media.
Alexander ascended to the Macedonian throne at the age of 20 and conquered much of the world known to the ancient world by 30. Born in 356 B.C., Alexander was shaped by barbarian and classical forces: his mother, Olympias, was intensely devoted to strange religious cults, but Alexander was tutored by one of the great philosophers of all time, Aristotle. Shortly after becoming king, he ruthlessly suppressed an uprising by the city of Thebes, and then invaded Persia, Greece's ancient enemy. Mr Wood retraces Alexander's astounding victories over Darius at Granicus and Issus and then his easy victories over Phoenicia and Egypt.
In Egypt, the oracle of Zeus declared him "son of God" and the God-King founded Alexandria, destined to become one of the great cities of the ancient world. He then invaded Babylonia and completed the destruction of Darius the Great’s empire at Arbela and Persepolis. Mr Wood then recounts Alexander’s subsequent lengthy journeys through, and ultimately conquests of, central Asia and India.
Mr Wood meditates on the transformed landscape of Alexander's world, which led to a European hegemony to last more than two millennia. He considers Alexander’s contradictory character, with frequent atrocities (like the sacking of Persepolis) but also his humanity and the extraordinary loyalty he inspired. To this day, in many countries Alexander touched, the name Iskander is a byword for ambition and greed. Nonetheless, Mr Wood points out, although Alexander's conquests were transient and his empire short-lived, his rule was a critical turning point for the ancient world, generating creative energies and contacts between East and West that would never have occurred otherwise. In this lecture, Mr. Wood thoughtfully recreates one of ancient history's most fascinating periods.
Michael Wood was educated at Manchester Grammar School and at Oriel College, Oxford. He is perhaps the world’s most popular history broadcaster, with some 60 published documentaries. In the 1970s, Mr Wood went to work for the BBC in Manchester first as a reporter, then as an assistant producer on current affairs programmes, before returning to his love of history with his 1981 series In Search of the Dark Ages. Mr Wood’s ability to present history in striking and memorable ways has drawn a diverse and worldwide audience, including In search of the Trojan War, which played worldwide, his recent documentary The Story of India and many others.
There is a charge for this event of HK$500 for Members and HK$550 for Guests, which includes a three-course banquet dinner with wine and soft drinks. Prior to dinner, there is a cocktail reception. There is pre-booked individual seating, or you may arrange a group at a table, or book a table of 10, 11 or 12 people. Tickets must be reserved by writing to events@rgshk.org.hk, followed by cheque or electronic transfer in advance on the attached form.
THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY – HONG KONG
presents
A Dinner Lecture with
Michael Wood
on
“In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great”
Friday, 13 March 2009
The Hong Kong Football Club, Causeway Bay
6.30pm Drinks Reception
7.30 pm - 10.30 pm Lecture and Banquet Dinner
I require ____ member ticket(s) at $500 each and ____ guest ticket(s) at $550 each and I enclose a cheque for $_______
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There is pre-booked individual seating at a table, or you may arrange a group at a table, or book a complete table of 10, 11 or 12 people.
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Tickets must be reserved by writing to events@rgshk.org.hk, followed by cheque or electronic transfer in advance on the attached form. No tickets are to be issued. You’ll receive confirmation of your booking by email. If you have any questions please phone 2583 9700 or write to events@rgshk.org.hk.
Please make your cheque payable to “Royal Geographical Society – HK” and send to RGS-HK, GPO Box 6681, Hong Kong. Thank you for attending this event.
GPO Box 6681, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2583 9700
Fax: (852) 2140 6000
Email: director@rgshk.org.hk
Website: www.rgshk.org.hk
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