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TELEVISION

Mankind Decoded - Season 1

Series: Mankind Decoded

3.7

(9)

Episodes

Rating

TV14

Year

2013

Language

English

Publisher

History

About

Mankind Decoded is the intriguing story of how 12 timeless forces have shaped human history in extraordinary ways. Find out how the implacable forces of nature have compelled us to adapt or die; how new technologies have transformed our existence; how our need for food brought forth civilization; and the desire for luxuries changed our world.

Related Subjects

Episodes

1. Lust For Luxury

22m

When ordinary people desire the luxuries of the rich, ingenuity and innovation come together to take history in a new direction. From the obsession with silk to the fall of Constantinople, the discovery of the Americas.

2. Arms Race

22m

About 10,000 years ago, we discover farming. But when crops fail, early farming communities face a new threat. War. It's the birth of the arms race.

3. Connecting the World

22m

The world is linked like never before. Modern transport and communications have resulted in a world that is wealthier, healthier, more mobile and better informed than ever before.

4. Violent Planet

22m

Over millions of years, mankind has evolved from a puny, vulnerable creature to become a dominant force on the planet. Occasionally the planet bites back--with terrifying consequences that have shaped our evolution.

5. Eat It, Drink It, Smoke It

22m

Man uses plants to feed, heal and clothe himself, to build his world and even to alter how he feels. The use of plants like corn, tobacco and cotton become such an important part of our lives that they play a central role in our evolution.

6. Rise Of The Machines

22m

Tools and machines have allowed us to overcome our physical limitations, and become the most successful species on Earth. But tools are also transforming what it means to be human.

7. Man And Metals

22m

Five thousand years ago, man first throws a handful of rocks into a campfire and stumbles upon a discovery that changes the world: Metal. Copper, Tin and Bronze empower the ancient world and allow empires to expand, armed with sharp, hard-wearing weapons.

8. Fire, Coal, And Oil

22m

Early man rubbed two sticks together and created fire. We learn to cook our food, saving vital energy. As a result, our brains expand--making us the most intelligent species on the planet. Armed with fire, we experiment by heating minerals.

9. Man And Beast

22m

15,000 years ago man and the wolf form a partnership that shapes the future of Mankind. With the help of man's new best friend, we domesticate more animals, sowing the first seeds of farming and civilization.

10. Information Is Power

22m

Communication is the vital ingredient in the building of civilization. The ability to share complicated ideas allowed early man to hunt, farm and build communities. And the creation of things like a 22-letter alphabet and the printing press.

Extended Details

SeriesMankind Decoded

Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

Eric MeyersActor

James MeigsActor

George WunderlichActor