Mankind Decoded
Season 1
TV-PG
Through 12 surprising influences, H2 holds the key to unlock our secret history. As every tool, innovation and thought unfolds from the wheel to the Internet, the Vikings to Amelia Earhart and Stonehenge to soaring skyscrapers, Mankind Decoded deconstructs the Mankind series, exposing how each element unites us and affects our world.
12 Episodes
- Lust for Luxury
E2Lust for LuxuryWhen 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 to the launch of the Industrial Revolution, our desire for luxury has shaped our history and evolution. - Connecting the World
E4Connecting the WorldThe 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. But throughout history new trade routes have proved to be double-edged swords, opening the way to wealth as well as terrible dangers — among them revolutionary ideas and terrifying pandemics. - Eat It, Drink It, Smoke It
E6Eat It, Drink It, Smoke ItMan 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, and lead to everything from War to Prohibition. - Fire, Coal, and Oil
E7Fire, Coal, and OilEarly 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 to make stronger tools allowing us to fight wars and build civilizations. But burning wood destroys our landscape, so Mankind exploits a new energy — oil. - Information is Power
E9Information is PowerCommunication 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 allow Mankind to further expand, leading to the proliferation of new ideas and revolution. - Building Earth
E11Building EarthMankind is a building species. 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. Today, we shape the surface of the earth to facilitate our needs.
