The Bronze Age lasted from about 3300 BCE to 1200 BCE, a relatively small time window in human history. Archeologists define this time as when humans knew how to smelt bronze and were using it extensively. Society had graduated from stone to copper and finally bronze, and the Bronze Age was followed by the much longer and better-documented Iron Age.
This was a time in history when humanity was moving from a time of myth and legend into recorded history and written language. There are a lot of movies set in this period, and although they aren't exactly documentaries, it's one way for modern people to experience ancient history.
7 Jason And The Argonauts (1963)
Audiences at the time lost their minds at the special effects of this movie and completely forgot it was the retelling of an ancient legend that pre-dated the Trojan War. Historians put the fall of Troy at about 1300 BCE, which puts it in the late Bronze Age.
Stop-animation and plasticene made up most of the more thrilling effects, and although simple and practical, this is the movie that made future movies in the fantasy and science fiction realms possible. Jason's quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece is as much myth as history, and the movie version takes a few liberties with the original story, although it always ends with the protagonist's successful return to Greece.
6 Iphigenia (1977)
The Trojan War left its mark on ancient societies in more ways than a sacked metropolis. Iphigenia was directed by Michael Cacoyannis and is intended as part of his Greek tragedy trilogy that also included a movie about Agamemnon's daughter Elektra and another about the fate of The Trojan Women.
Iphigenia was Agamemnon's oldest daughter, and Artemis demanded a heavy sacrifice for the passage of the Greek army across the sea to Troy. The blood of his firstborn daughter was the price he had to pay. Fans of Game of Thrones might find this story familiar because of a character named Shireen Baratheon, who dies under similar circumstances.
5 The Avenger (1962)
Maybe something visual, that's not too abysmal, like an old Steeve Reeves movie? There are a lot of jokes about these vintage Italian productions but nobody can say they aren't well-made, and this is where to find all the best movies about early Roman and Italian history.
The Avenger is based on an epic poem called The Aeneid, written by Virgil in 29 BCE about a Trojan prince named Aeneus who lands in the Italian peninsula after escaping from the ruins of his once mighty Bronze Age city. As far as the Troy mythology goes it's much later to the party than the works of Homer. The original Italian title is "La leggenda di Enea" which translates to "The Legend of Aeneus."
4 Mohenjo Daro (2016)
Today, it's possible to visit the archeological site of the ancient city where most of this story takes place. The historic Mohenjo Daro dates from about 2500 BCE, and it was one of the region's dominant political and economic forces during the Bronze Age.
It's emphasized in the movie that trade and travel are important to life in the city. One scene shows an expensive trade deal that includes a massive copper sword. Other than the period, however, this is still a Bollywood movie, so the focus is more on spectacle and song than historical accuracy.
3 The Eloquent Peasant (1970)
Set in the Middle Kingdom of ancient Egypt, this is a short film that had a limited release and was also featured at the Venice Film Festival. It's based on an ancient Egyptian story that dates from about 1850 BCE and follows the story as it was written during the Middle Kingdom era.
The movie was filmed where it takes place, near the ancient city of Het-Nesut, and follows the misadventures of the humble but well-spoken peasant Khun-Anup. It's obscure, but it's an excellent example of a Bronze Age movie that's historically accurate.
2 Troy (2004)
While Aeneus was escaping out the back with his son and a few family heirlooms, it was Achilles and the Greeks that were banging on the front door. Aeneus does appear briefly in this movie but it's more about the Greek side, focusing on Achilles and Agamemnon.
When it comes to historic accuracy, this movie makes some strides to make this more like a real historic event than an epic legend. Most of the criticism came from this fundamental change, with many viewers arguing it's not the same without the gods.
1 The Prince Of Egypt (1998)
There are lots of movies about the Book of Exodus, with The Ten Commandments being the most well-known of the lot. This animated feature included some of Hollywood's biggest names, including Michelle Pfieffer, Jeff Goldblum, Ralph Fiennes, and Val Kilmer in two roles, Moses and the Burning Bush.
The story takes place during the reign of Rameses II and shows Moses growing up in the comfort and ignorance of a life made possible by slavery. It follows the biblical story of his early life as a prince before being exiled to the desert and becoming a shepherd.