The destruction of Chinese culture under the impact of Western Civilization was considerably later than the similar destruction of Indian Culture by Europeans. ibid. ch4
The unification of Germany in the decade before 1871 ended a balance of power in Europe which had existed for 250 or even 300 years. During this long period, covering almost ten generations, Britain had been relatively secure and of growing power. She had found this power challenged only by the powers of Western Europe. ibid. ch5
The First World War was a catastrophe of such magnitude that even today the imagination has some difficulty grasping it. In the year 1916, in two battles (Verdun and the Somme) casualties of over 1,700,000 were suffered by both sides. ibid.
Restoration of the gold standard was not something which could be done by a mere act of government. It was admitted even by the most ardent advocates of the gold standard that certain financial relationships would require adjustment before the gold standard could be restored. There were three chief relationships involved. There were (I) the problem of inflation, or the relationship between money and goods; (II) the problem of public debts, or the relationship between governmental income and expenditure; and (III) the problem of price parities, or the relationship between price levels of different countries. ibid. ch7
The international Socialist movement was both a product of the nineteenth century and a revulsion against it. It was rooted in some of the characteristics of the century, such as industrialism, its optimism, its belief in progress, its humanitarianism, its scientific materialism, and its democracy, but it was a revolt against its laissez faire, its middle-class domination, its nationalism, its urban slums, and its emphasis on the price-profit system as the dominant factor in all human values. ibid. ch8
Summer 1939: a golden age of exploration and archaeology is coming to an end. It was an era that saw adventurers set out to explore the remotest corners of the globe in search of clues to unlock our ancient past. And it was during that last summer of peace as the world stood on the precipice of a war that threatened to end civilisation itself, that three extraordinary treasures were discovered, treasures that would radically change our understanding of the origins and diversity of human culture. And bring us closer to our distant past. Janina Ramirez, Raiders of the Lost Past I, BBC 2019
The discovery of an incredible Anglo-Saxon ship burial in Suffolk, dating from the early seventh century AD. The final resting place of a supremely wealthy warrior king. ibid.
The single greatest archaeological discovery ever made in England: the Sutton-Hoo hoard. ibid.
Ship burials are incredibly rare in Britain: there are only two others ever discovered at this time. ibid.
Oserberg ship, Norway, excavated 1904-1905. ibid.
Treasures of unimaginable quality emerged thick and fast. ibid.
These Saxons and Angles came together and gave us the basis of the English language. ibid.
A pair of spectacular shoulder clasps. ibid.
The miraculous story of the hoard’s survival. ibid.
This was Page One of England’s history. ibid.
I’ll be on the trail of a cast of remarkable archaeologists each a product of their era: from a self-taught amateur to a pair of charismatic adventurers. And an academic driven by a dark political agenda. They are fascinating tales of intuition, eccentricity and luck. Janina Ramirez, Raiders of the Lost Past II
I come to the caves of southern Germany where just a week before hostilities began, an ice-age treasure from our distant past emerged from the gloom … Carved from a single piece of mammoth ivory, this half-human half-animal is a modest work of art by modern standards, but it makes a revolution in the human story. ibid.
Numerous chance discoveries across eight decades, discoveries that at times seem to defy belief … The oldest known representational work of art in human history. ibid.
Volgelherd Cave 1931 excavation: It seems we were brilliant artists from the very beginning … There are exquisitely carved mammoths, and powerful muscular lions, an array of tiny masterpieces. ibid.
In the late 1950s as Germany rebuilt after the War, Robert Wetzel was back at the Stadal cave … He completely ignored the exciting find made by his team in the summer of 1939. ibid.
What would become known as the Lion-Man … It caused a sensation … It required a high degree of technical skill. ibid.
In the caves of the Swabian Jura archaeologists have uncovered not only the earliest examples of representational art but the first evidence we have of music. ibid.
I’ve come to Mexico where just before the outbreak of war stunning examples of Meso-American art began to emerge from the jungle … These remarkable colossal heads heralded the discovery of a lost world. It was a culture that turned out to be larger and more magnificent than anyone could have imagined. Nothing like this had ever been found in the Americas before. Janina Ramirez, Raiders of the Lost Past III
The state of Veracruz: I’m following in the footsteps of two of America’s greatest pre-war archaeologists: husband and wife team Matthew & Marion Stirling … The Olmec: they built the very first pyramids, palaces and planned cities. ibid.
At the same time as ancient Egypt the Olmecs flourished here. ibid.
Wonderful symbol of the jaguar … repeating throughout Olmec art. ibid.
We see the barbaric up against the civilised. ibid.
The oldest tomb ever found in Meso-America. ibid.
Masterpieces in jade … The complexity of Olmec society … sourced from elsewhere … Jade was the most precious commodity in the Olmec era. ibid.
[Olmec] Accomplished wood carvers. ibid.
When you examine the path of mankind across Time distinct pattern emerge. By recognising the forces that create these patterns you can decode the secrets of man. Secret History of Humans I: Lust for Luxury, History 2020
Our lust for luxury is a powerful force that has shaped the human story … This unquenchable desire for the exotic. ibid.
Pepper … Silk … Silver … Cotton … A Ford Model T costs just a few months wages … Exclusive luxuries can now be made available for millions. Yesterday’s luxuries become today’s necessities and changed the world in unexpected ways. ibid.
Throughout history the journey of mankind has been shaped by a race to develop the most effective weapon. To decode mankind, we need to understand how the arms race has helped us to survive and made us what we are today … Civilisation also has a dark side. Secret History of Humans II: Arms
Since the dawn of man our need to communicate and connect with one another has been the key to our success and survival. To decode mankind we need to understand how these connections and consequences make us what we are today. The first major connection that brings people together is trade. Secrets History of Humans III: Connecting the World
The awesome power of nature, of the Earth itself … Our destiny has been shaped by the planet we live on. Indonesia 70,000 years ago: Mount Toba, a volcano on the island of Sumatra, erupts. It’s the biggest eruption in 2,000,000 years. Trillions of tons of ash are blown into the stratosphere, blocking out sun, turning the world cold and barren. Secret History of Humans IV: Violent Planet
We share our world with another lifeform without which we couldn’t exist. The feed us, clothe us, house us, enrich us, and even alter our moods … ‘We can’t survive on this planet without plants’. Secret History of Humans V: Plants: Eat It, Drink It, Smoke It
Surprisingly, farming brings new problems: early farmers concentrate on growing too much of one crop: wheat. As a result, we shrink. These humans are five inches shorter than their nomadic predecessors. ibid.
Throughout history the story of mankind has been shaped by machines that have helped us to survive … Our first machine: the stone tool … A new innovation: the needle … The oldest known wheel is over 5,000 years old … Secret History of Humans VI: Rise of the Machines
Metal gives us tools, weapons, and engineering. But from the moment we first discovered it, we develop a need for metal … Metal production was first discovered over 7,000 years ago. Secret History of Humans VII: Man & Metals
Our need for food, water and shelter requires energy. Our quest to secure that energy has shaped the path we have taken. Secret History of Humans VIII: Fire, Coal & Oils
We weren’t always top of the food chain: we are only one of five thousand species of mammals. Secret History of Humans IX: Man & Beast
The power of information has secured our survival and created the modern world … Today there are 98 alphabets in use worldwide. Secret History of Humans X: Information is Power
Stonehenge: an incredible man-made monument: stones dragged 156 miles and placed upright using levers and counter-weights, all without the use of the wheel. Breathtaking now, almost unimaginable then. Secret History of Humans XI: Building Earth