An absorbing 10-part series on technological interdependence in which science editor James Burke--covering 12,000 years and visiting more than 30 countries--traces the development of 'things that surround [us] in the modern world.' He looks at such advances as the plow and electricity, and makes 'connections' between such disparate topics as ancient gold assayers and the A-bomb; and 5th-century shepherds and computers. There were a number of follow-up series on the Learning Channel in the '90s.