The traditional interpretation of history has focused largely on human factors. Yet the natural environment has also shaped history since the dawn of time - but how, and to what extent?

This series reveals for the first time on television how geology, geography and climate have had a far more powerful influence on mankind than has previously been acknowledged. With passionate storytelling and extraordinary HD camerawork, this engaging and visually stunning series combines bold ideas with a new science, geo-determinism, to form an original version of human history.

Discover why societies have succeeded or failed, and how the environment has influenced every aspect of our history from art to industry, religion to war, world domination or collapse. Visiting some of most iconic places on Earth, How the Earth Made Us overturns preconceptions about our nations and our cultures to offer a new perspective.

How Earth Made Us