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The Ascent of Man — Season 1
- May 5, 1973First aired
- 13 episodesin this season
- 50mavg. runtime
#Episode nameAir dateRuntimeRating
01
50mLower Than the AngelsThe series traces humanity’s journey—a passage from Africa across deserts and through glacial epochs—culminating in the indelible mark of a human hand upon a shadowed cave wall in Spain.May 5, 1973May 5, 197350m0250mThe Harvest of the SeasonsWith the melting of the ice and the burgeoning of the earth, humankind shifts from hunter to farmer, taming both plant and beast, bending the wild wheat and the untamed horse to its purpose.May 12, 1973May 12, 197350m0350mThe Grain in the StoneThe nomadic people abandon their travels and establish themselves in towns, acquiring unfamiliar crafts.May 19, 1973May 19, 197350m0450mThe Hidden StructureThe series traces the nascent stages of chemistry, beginning with the methods of ancient metalworking practiced in China and Japan, and extending to the esoteric pursuits of the alchemists.May 26, 1973May 26, 197350m0550mMusic of the SpheresMathematics offers a framework for understanding the world around us—the sights we observe, the sounds we perceive, and the textures we experience.Jun 2, 1973Jun 2, 197350m0650mThe Starry MessengerFrom the dawn of time, humankind has gazed upward from the earth, captivated by the dance of sun, stars, and planets. This story centers on a pivotal moment of scientific reckoning—the astronomer Galileo—and unfolds within the vibrant cities of Venice and Rome, where he experienced both acclaim and censure.Jun 9, 1973Jun 9, 197350m0750mThe Majestic ClockworkNewton’s universe presented itself as orderly and precise, echoing the measured elegance of its age—the architecture, the music—a finely calibrated clockwork governed by immutable laws. Then came Einstein's inquisitive vision, a perspective so direct and probing that it threatened to overturn this established order in pursuit of deeper comprehension. We join Einstein on his beam of light, traveling onward to arrive at our own time.Jun 16, 1973Jun 16, 197350m0850mThe Drive for PowerWhile political upheaval convulsed France and America, a subtler, yet equally transformative shift unfolded in Britain: the Industrial Revolution.Jun 23, 1973Jun 23, 197350m0950mThe Ladder of CreationHow did life first emerge upon Earth? Join Dr. Jacob Bronowski as he tells the story of Alfred Russel Wallace, and explores how Wallace’s own experiences sparked the groundbreaking insights of Charles Darwin.Jun 30, 1973Jun 30, 197350m1050mWorld Within WorldJacob Bronowski recounts the lives and concepts of those who brought tangible form to the unseen, elusive framework underlying all material existence.Jul 7, 1973Jul 7, 197350m1150mKnowledge or CertaintyJacob Bronowski explores a profound realization arising from twentieth-century physics: that absolute certainty, whether within scientific inquiry or in life more broadly, remains forever unattainable.Jul 14, 1973Jul 14, 197350m1250mGeneration Upon GenerationJacob Bronowski traces the unfolding story of genetics, beginning with Gregor Mendel's solitary investigations and culminating in the revelation of DNA’s structure. A fundamental question arises: ought we to regard human sexuality as something bestowed upon us?Jul 21, 1973Jul 21, 197350m1350mThe Long ChildhoodFrom his study, Dr. Jacob Bronowski surveys humanity’s intricate and frequently fragile progress, informed by a lifetime of observation.Jul 28, 1973Jul 28, 197350m
