Guilty Pleasures

The series takes a look at how in ancient Greece, public opinions of luxury items varied hugely. Attitudes towards opulence though ends up proving problematic in Sparta though where efforts to deny luxuries played a big part in the city's downfall.

Luxury isn't just a question of expensive and the beautiful objects for the rich and the powerful. It has always been much more - and much more important - than that, especially in the ancient and medieval worlds. This second episode follows the clash between luxury and Christianity which convulsed medieval Europe.