The Birth of Civilisation

Season 1Episode 260 minDec 14, 2009
The Birth of Civilisation
Tony Robinson traces how global warming at the end of the last Ice Age was the catalyst for the dawn of civilisation, but also unleashed devastation. Twelve thousand years ago our planet emerged from the last great Ice Age, with temperatures rising by five degrees in just a few decades. After 190,000 years living as nomadic hunter-gatherers, our ancestors were forced to change with the world around them. In Europe the rise in temperature unleashed an agricultural revolution, while in North Africa around 7,000 years ago a savage drought led Saharan refugees to settle along the River Nile. In the limited space they had to learn new skills and form new social structures, going on to found the Kingdom of Egypt. Five hundred years later this same global warming triggered catastrophe as Canadian ice sheets containing 900,000 trillion tonnes of water melted into the Atlantic, causing massive flooding. In less than a year Britain was amputated from mainland Europe, and the Black Sea was formed, washing out the pioneer farmers from that region. What happened to the people that had cultivated this fertile land changed the future of the continent.
The Birth of Civilisation has aired on Dec 14, 2009 at 9:00 PM
Previous EpisodeNext Episode

Trailer

We do not have any trailers for this episode

Recently Updated Shows

Recently updated shows that might be of your interest.
The Righteous Gemstones
Running

The Righteous Gemstones

The Righteous Gemstones tells the story of a world-famous televangelist family with a long tradition of deviance, greed and charitable work, all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

GenreComedy
The Challenge: All Stars
Running

The Challenge: All Stars

The Challenge: All Stars features twenty-two of the most iconic, boldest, and fiercest Challenge All Stars from the original Real World and Road Rules, returning for a chance at the ultimate competition as they vie for their shot at the $500,000 grand prize.

Kitchen Nightmares
Running

Kitchen Nightmares

Chef Gordon Ramsay of Hell's Kitchen fame is back, and this time he's hitting the road, exposing restaurants that are barely staying afloat.

GenreFood
Harlem
Running

Harlem

New single-camera comedy following four stylish and ambitious best girlfriends in Harlem, New York City: a rising star professor struggling to make space for her love life; a savvy tech entrepreneur always dating someone new; a no-filter singer; and a hopeless romantic fashion designer. Together, they level up into the next phase of their careers, relationships, and big-city dreams.

GenreComedy
9-1-1: Lone Star
Running

9-1-1: Lone Star

9-1-1: Lone Star follows a sophisticated New York firefighter who, along with his son, relocates to Austin, and must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in his own life.

GenreDrama, Action, Crime