TELEVISION

Understanding the Inventions That Changed the World

Series: Great Courses
4.2
(44)
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Episodes
36
Rating
TVPG
Year
2013
Language
English
Publisher
The Great Courses

About

From prehistoric times to the 21st century, inventions have changed the world, enabling humans to produce more food and energy and to establish social order and cultural meaning. In fact, great inventions have marked a number of key turning points in human history, transforming society and our daily lives. Now you can learn the remarkable stories surrounding history's most monumental inventions.

Related Subjects

Episodes

1 to 3 of 36

1. Great Inventions in Everyday Life

30m

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We're surrounded by great inventions that have transformed our daily lives, from the steam engine to the Internet. Begin your exploration of great inventions by considering just how pervasive inventions truly are. Do we notice them in the world around us? Do we know how they work? Who invented them, and why?

2. The Potter's Wheel and Metallurgy

30m

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Step back to the Stone Age and look at the craft of pottery and the development of metals. Although we might think of ancient people as "primitive," early humans were remarkably observant about the world around them, which led to several complex inventions.

3. Beer, Wine, and Distilled Spirits

30m

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One of the recurring themes in the history of invention is the way technology leads to material abundance. See how the Agricultural Revolution changed life for early humans. Then trace the development of alcoholic beverages from the earliest days of civilization through the Middle Ages and consider the cultural insights alcohol can offer.

Extended Details

  • Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

W. Bernard Carlsonwriter
W. Bernard Carlsonactor