Synopsis

From antiquity onward, humankind has sought to master nature’s dangerous gifts—the deadly substances woven throughout the natural world. Curiously, some of these lethal compounds are now recognized for their capacity to sustain life. In this program, we examine how ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans came to depend on the insidious power of poisons, and explore the physiological effects of these potent killers. The Renaissance, often called the Golden Age of Poison, witnessed a deadly practice