Connections
This series explores the various paths of how technological change happens and the social effects of these changes on Western society. To illustrate this, James Burke follows various timelines of how one innovation lead to something seemingly totally unrelated in the future such as how a 17th century Dutch cargo ship design lead to development of plastic in the 20th century.
- 1978-1978
- 1 season
- Documentary
This series explores the various paths of how technological change happens and the social effects of these changes on Western society. To illustrate this, James Burke follows various timelines of how one innovation lead to something seemingly totally unrelated in the future such as how a 17th century Dutch cargo ship design lead to development of plastic in the 20th century.
Season 1 Episode Guide
10 Episodes 1978
Episode 1
The Trigger Effect
One thing leads to another and our dependence on technology. A New York City Blackout serves as example.
Episode 2
Death in the Morning
Follow the connections from ancient Egyptian traders all the way up to modern radar and nuclear energy. You'll make stops along the way which include money, touch stones, sailing, vacuum pumps, weather charts, and hot air balloons.
Episode 3
Distant Voices
follow the connections from the battle of Hastings in 1066, through the use of gunpowder, the invention of cannon, water pumps, barometers, the telephone, and radio telescopes.
Episode 4
Faith in Numbers
60 mins
Examines the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance from the perspective of how commercialism, climate change and the Black Death influenced cultural development.
Episode 5
The Wheel of Fortune
The Wheel of Fortune, traces connections from astrological knowledge in ancient Greek manuscripts, to the modern production line.
Episode 6
Thunder in the Skies
A colder climate gripped Europe during the 13th century affecting the course of history for the next 7 centuries. The changes in energy usage affected architecture and forced the creation of new power sources.
Episode 7
The Long Chain
Episode 8
Eat, Drink and Be Merry...
Food preservation began with the storage of edibles in bottles and led to such 19th-century inventions as air conditioning, refrigeration and the thermos bottle. Also discusses the first hand-held guns and traces the development of rocketry in this century.
Episode 9
Countdown
Episode 10