The Birth of Europe (1991)

This episode looks at the arrival of the first Europeans 35,000 years ago and how they acquired the skills necessary to control their environment.

A look into how the Alps were formed and how the discovery of bronze began the first arms race in northern Europe, while in Crete, European civilisation grew peacefully from wealth generated by agriculture and trade. Also investigated is the question if a volcano destroyed the Minoan civilisation

How the lack of fertile land in Greece led traders and settlers to colonise the Mediterranean shorew, how the silver mines of Athens saved western civilisation from the Persians, and how the Romans broke through the barrier of the Alps to conquer Gaul.

The transformation of northern Europe 1000-1300 AD, from a peasant society hounded by Vikings to a rich society with cities full of grand architecture. A single geological resource, Limestone, was responsible.

In the 18th century industrialisation swept from Britain across the coal fields of Europe, bringing prosperity along with social problems to the citiies. It also lay behind more and more destructive wars.

In the 19th century the discovery of oil broke the stalemate of World War 1, made possible Hitler's 'Blitzkrieg' and changed western civilisation.

The Gulf war showed how Europe's survival depends on imported oil. Europe's economic and political power now hangs on its energy supplies.