Soob

I don't know how what or when Peter Weller became a Professor of fine arts and literature at Syracuse. The fact is he did (also attained an MA in Roman/Rennaisance art:headed for a Phd) and at some point both his interest and proficiency in Roman history led to first a History Channel series on Rome which then morphed into a series study of the rise and fall of empires in "Engineering an Empire."

In an age of useless glitterati (Paris Hilton,) contentious, self heroic narcissism (Sean Penn) and mouth breathing savants (take your pick) Weller is refreshing. Someone with an actual mindset beyond self importance who appears virtually taken by the historic subjects he presents.

Cheers, Peter.