E12 • Need For Speed

E1 • Lust For Luxury

Discover the gripping story of how 12 surprising forces have shaped human civilisation into what we know today. First, the lust for luxury in our lives.

22m • 2013

Discover the gripping story of how 12 surprising forces have shaped human civilisation into what we know today. First, the lust for luxury in our lives.

E2 • Arms Race

Discover the gripping story of how 12 surprising forces have shaped human civilisation into what we know today. Here, the focus is on the desire to forge weapons.

21m • 2013

Discover the gripping story of how 12 surprising forces have shaped human civilisation into what we know today. Here, the focus is on the desire to forge weapons.

E3 • Connecting The World

The world today is linked like never before - but throughout history new trade routes and connectivity have opened the way to terrible dangers, too.

21m • 2013

The world today is linked like never before - but throughout history new trade routes and connectivity have opened the way to terrible dangers, too.

E4 • Violent Planet

Over millions of years mankind has evolved from a puny, vulnerable creature to become a dominant force on the planet. But occasionally the planet bites back.

22m • 2013

Over millions of years mankind has evolved from a puny, vulnerable creature to become a dominant force on the planet. But occasionally the planet bites back.

E5 • Eat It, Drink It, Smoke It

Plants are used for food, medicine and clothing, to build our world and change how we feel - and they have played a vital role in our evolution.

22m • 2013

Plants are used for food, medicine and clothing, to build our world and change how we feel - and they have played a vital role in our evolution.

E6 • Rise Of The Machines

Tools and machines have allowed us to overcome our physical limitations, but they are also transforming what it means to be human.

22m • 2013

Tools and machines have allowed us to overcome our physical limitations, but they are also transforming what it means to be human.

E7 • Man And Metals

Five thousand years ago man 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.

21m • 2013

Five thousand years ago man 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.

E8 • Fire, Coal And Oils

Early man rubbed two sticks together and created fire. We learn to cook our food, saving vital energy. As a result, our brains expand. Armed with fire, we experiment by heating minerals to make tools allowing us to fight wars and build civilizations.

22m • 2013

Early man rubbed two sticks together and created fire. We learn to cook our food, saving vital energy. As a result, our brains expand. Armed with fire, we experiment by heating minerals to make tools allowing us to fight wars and build civilizations.

E9 • Man And Beast

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 civilisation.

21m • 2013

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 civilisation.

E10 • Information Is Power

The ability to share complicated ideas allowed early man to hunt, farm and build communities. And the creation of things like an alphabet and the printing press allow Mankind to further expand, leading to the proliferation of ideas and revolution.

22m • 2013

The ability to share complicated ideas allowed early man to hunt, farm and build communities. And the creation of things like an alphabet and the printing press allow Mankind to further expand, leading to the proliferation of ideas and revolution.

E11 • Building Earth

Inspired by the divine, we create monuments to its power (Stonehenge, the Great Pyramid). New challenges create new sciences, and when the Romans mixed volcanic ash with water they created a new super-material: concrete.

21m • 2013

Inspired by the divine, we create monuments to its power (Stonehenge, the Great Pyramid). New challenges create new sciences, and when the Romans mixed volcanic ash with water they created a new super-material: concrete.

E12 • Need For Speed

No prizes for second place! In this episode we learn how being the fastest enabled empires to be born and capitalism to thrive.

22m • 2013

No prizes for second place! In this episode we learn how being the fastest enabled empires to be born and capitalism to thrive.