Mankind Decoded
Birth of Christianity (3:22)
Paul the Apostle defined Christianity as a new religion in the 1st century and helped spread its message throughout the Roman Empire.
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Mankind Decoded Sneak Peek
Mankind Decoded Sneak PeekVideo Clip (5:03)
Video Clip (5:03)
Check out a sneak peek of the upcoming series Mankind Decoded.
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Mankind in 2 Minutes
Mankind in 2 MinutesVideo Clip (2:12)
Video Clip (2:12)
Experience the story of Mankind in 2 Minutes.
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Penicillin
PenicillinVideo Clip (2:23)
Video Clip (2:23)
After decades of early attempts by scientists to develop antibiotics, bacteriologist Sir Alexander Fleming makes a world-changing breakthrough when he accidentally discovers penicillin.
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The Amazing ALCAN
The Amazing ALCANVideo Clip (2:57)
Video Clip (2:57)
During World War II, the United States Army was faced with a mammoth challenge: how to connect the contiguous United States to Alaska through rugged and inhospitable terrain.
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Vulcanized Rubber
Vulcanized RubberVideo Clip (2:47)
Video Clip (2:47)
The development of the vulcanization process by Charles Goodyear allowed natural rubber to be converted into a durable material that is widely used in modern products today.
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Titanic and Technology
Titanic and TechnologyVideo Clip (2:55)
Video Clip (2:55)
During the early 20th century boom in construction, communication and transportation, the tragedy of the Titanic shocks the world and leaves in its wake a shattered faith in technology.
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Atomic Warfare
Atomic WarfareVideo Clip (3:18)
Video Clip (3:18)
The use of the atomic bomb at the end of World War II irrevocably changed the course of history and put an unprecedented destructive force in the hands of man.
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Cholera Outbreak
Cholera OutbreakVideo Clip (2:41)
Video Clip (2:41)
An outbreak of cholera in 19th century London drove British doctor John Snow to investigate the source, giving rise to modern epidemiology.
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Salem Witch Trials
Salem Witch TrialsVideo Clip (2:55)
Video Clip (2:55)
Rampant fear among the Puritans in the New England village of Salem sparked attacks against anyone who was suspected of witchcraft.
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Fur Trade
Fur TradeVideo Clip (2:56)
Video Clip (2:56)
High demand for luxury animal pelts in Europe sent profit-seeking fur traders venturing into the wilderness in North America and Siberia.
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Scientific Revolution
Scientific RevolutionVideo Clip (2:54)
Video Clip (2:54)
The introduction of the scientific method transformed society by using science and reason rather than political or religious dogma to explain natural phenomena.
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Industrial Revolution
Industrial RevolutionVideo Clip (2:50)
Video Clip (2:50)
The development of the spinning machine by Sir Richard Arkwright in England led directly to the rise of the Industrial Revolution, and a new world of manufactured products.
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Opium in China
Opium in ChinaVideo Clip (3:08)
Video Clip (3:08)
The widespread use of opium in China yielded high profits for British exporters while crippling the Chinese economy, ultimately erupting into the Opium War.
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Corn
CornVideo Clip (2:31)
Video Clip (2:31)
Corn became a vital crop for the survival of early civilizations in the Americas thousands of years ago.
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Fall of Constantinople
Fall of ConstantinopleVideo Clip (3:11)
Video Clip (3:11)
The Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople and created a major obstacle for the spice trade between Asia and Europe.
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Columbus Sails West
Columbus Sails WestVideo Clip (2:57)
Video Clip (2:57)
Columbus unknowingly discovers the New World when he sails west to find a new spice route to Asia.
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African Slave Trade
African Slave TradeVideo Clip (3:10)
Video Clip (3:10)
Slavery became an industry for the first time in history when millions of African men and women were sold as slaves to Europeans.
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Taming the Horse
Taming the HorseVideo Clip (2:31)
Video Clip (2:31)
The Mongols discovered how to utilize horses on the battlefield, revolutionizing warfare.
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Genghis Khan
Genghis KhanVideo Clip (3:31)
Video Clip (3:31)
Genghis Khan founded the Mongol Empire and became one of the most feared conquerors of all time.
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The Plague
The PlagueVideo Clip (3:25)
Video Clip (3:25)
In the Middle Ages, the bubonic plague ravages Europe in one of the most deadly pandemics in human history.
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Rise of the Incas
Rise of the IncasVideo Clip (3:35)
Video Clip (3:35)
Inca Emperor Pachacuti rises to power and transforms his kingdom into the largest empire in South America.
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Salt
SaltVideo Clip (2:31)
Video Clip (2:31)
Salt--necessary for human life--was once a highly prized commodity that could not be easily accessed in many parts of the world.
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Gunpowder to Guns
Gunpowder to GunsVideo Clip (3:11)
Video Clip (3:11)
The invention of Chinese gunpowder spurred the development of firearms technology.
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Birth of Christianity
Birth of ChristianityVideo Clip (3:22)
Video Clip (3:22)
Paul the Apostle defined Christianity as a new religion in the 1st century and helped spread its message throughout the Roman Empire.
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Roman Road
Roman RoadVideo Clip (2:11)
Video Clip (2:11)
The Romans revolutionized land transport by paving a network of roads that spanned across the empire.
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The Silk Road
The Silk RoadVideo Clip (2:58)
Video Clip (2:58)
The Silk Road connected the Eastern and Western worlds in a vast trading network that lasted for centuries.
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Rome Falls
Rome FallsVideo Clip (2:48)
Video Clip (2:48)
The sack of Rome in 455 by the Vandals signaled the collapse of the Roman Empire.
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The Vikings
The VikingsVideo Clip (2:59)
Video Clip (2:59)
The Vikings sought adventure and trading opportunities by using their maritime skills to push beyond the boundaries of European exploration.
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Social Animals
Social AnimalsVideo Clip (2:39)
Video Clip (2:39)
Experts discuss how humans have thrived throughout time due to their social abilities.
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Mankind and Invention
Mankind and InventionVideo Clip (2:21)
Video Clip (2:21)
Experts discuss what they think is the most significant invention of all time.
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Future of Humanity
Future of HumanityVideo Clip (2:38)
Video Clip (2:38)
Experts discuss their optimism about the future of the human race.
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Mankind's Success Story
Mankind's Success StoryVideo Clip (1:56)
Video Clip (1:56)
Why have humans been such a successful species? Experts weigh in.
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Weapons
WeaponsVideo Clip (2:49)
Video Clip (2:49)
How did the development of weapons change mankind? Experts weigh in.
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Fire
FireVideo Clip (2:47)
Video Clip (2:47)
Harnessing the power of fire revolutionized human life.
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Man's Best Friend
Man's Best FriendVideo Clip (2:17)
Video Clip (2:17)
The modern dog descends from the domestication of wolves during the Ice Age.
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Building the Pyramids
Building the PyramidsVideo Clip (3:06)
Video Clip (3:06)
The ancient Egyptians built the pyramids using engineering techniques that are still a wonder of the world.
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Bronze
BronzeVideo Clip (2:16)
Video Clip (2:16)
Bronze, a durable new metal mixed from copper and tin, was highly sought after in the ancient world.
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Iron Age
Iron AgeVideo Clip (2:52)
Video Clip (2:52)
Breakthroughs in iron smelting technology launched the beginning of mass production and created major advancements in warfare.
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Birth of Democracy
Birth of DemocracyVideo Clip (3:04)
Video Clip (3:04)
The ancient Greeks held one of the earliest public votes in history when their democratic system was threatened by the Persians.
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Writing
WritingVideo Clip (2:22)
Video Clip (2:22)
The invention of written language replaced the oral tradition and allowed civilizations to store and share knowledge.
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The Earliest Humans
The Earliest HumansVideo Clip (2:46)
Video Clip (2:46)
Early humans migrated out of Africa and succeeded in the competition of other species on the planet.
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The Ice Age
The Ice AgeVideo Clip (2:47)
Video Clip (2:47)
Humans learned how to adapt unlike any other species during the last Ice Age.
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Defining Humans
Defining HumansVideo Clip (2:26)
Video Clip (2:26)
What is humanity's defining characteristic?
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Mankind and Engineering
Mankind and EngineeringVideo Clip (3:01)
Video Clip (3:01)
Experts weigh in mankind's most impressive engineering project.
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Exile of the Jews
Exile of the JewsVideo Clip (2:53)
Video Clip (2:53)
After the fall of Jerusalem, the Jewish exiles in ancient Babylon begin to write down the Hebrew scriptures.
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The First Crusade
The First CrusadeVideo Clip (2:57)
Video Clip (2:57)
Christian knights waged a religious war against the Muslims in Jerusalem in an attempt to reclaim the Holy Land.
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Most Influential Book
Most Influential BookVideo Clip (2:23)
Video Clip (2:23)
Historians and experts weigh in on what they think is the most influential book ever written.
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Farming
FarmingVideo Clip (3:07)
Video Clip (3:07)
The discovery of farming created the roots of modern civilization.
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Spanish Silver
Spanish SilverVideo Clip (2:50)
Video Clip (2:50)
The Spanish discovery of large amounts of silver in the Americas helped lead to the rise of global trade.
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Aqueducts
AqueductsVideo Clip (2:53)
Video Clip (2:53)
Rome delivered fresh water to its people by building massive aqueducts that are still an engineering marvel today.
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The Printing Press
The Printing PressVideo Clip (3:14)
Video Clip (3:14)
Johannes Gutenberg revolutionized printing with his invention of mechanical movable type.
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Pilgrims in America
Pilgrims in AmericaVideo Clip (2:37)
Video Clip (2:37)
The first Pilgrims in America were nearly defeated by the harsh conditions they faced when they arrived in New England.
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Bloody Sunday 1965
Bloody Sunday 1965Video Clip (2:45)
Video Clip (2:45)
At the height of the Civil Rights Movement, a peaceful march from Selma to Montgomery became a bloody demonstration as protestors were brutally attacked in front of the world.
