BBC最新纪录片，讲述地球的力量如何改变了人类的历史。2010年1月19日首播，共播出了5集：'Water'，'DeepEarth','Wind','Fire'，'HumanPlanet'。节目中，IainStewart教授带领观众探究几个世纪以来，地质学、地理学和气候是如何影响人类生活的。
我们的星球拥有惊人的力量，但却很少在教科书中被提起。这个系列节目第一次通过电视展现地球的神奇力量对人类发展的影响。节目将历史故事的讲述和炫目的摄影镜头紧密结合，给我们呈现一幅原汁原味的人类历史图景。
IainStewarttellstheepicstoryofhowtheplanethasshapedourhistory.With
spectacularimages,surprisingstoriesandacompellingnarrative,theseriesdiscoversthecentralroleplayedinhumanhistorybyfourdifferentplanetaryforces.
Episode1:Water
ProfessorIainStewartcontinueshisepicexplorationofhowtheplanethasshapedhumanhistory.Thistimeheexploresourcomplexrelationshipwithwater.VisitingspectacularlocationsinIceland,theMiddleEastandIndia,Iainshowshowcontroloverwaterhasbeencentraltohumanexistence.Hetakesaprecariousflightinamotorisedparaglidertoexperiencethecycleoffreshwaterthatwedependon,discovershowvillagersinthefoothillsoftheHimalayashavebuiltalivingbridgetocopewiththemonsoon,andvisitsEgypttorevealthesecretofthepharaohs'success.Throughouthistory,successhasdependedonourabilitytoadapttoandcontrolconstantlyshiftingsourcesofwater.
Episode2:DeepEarth
IainStewarttellstheepicstoryofhowtheplanethasshapedourhistory.Withspectacularimages,surprisingstoriesandacompellingnarrative,theseriesdiscoversthecentralroleplayedinhumanhistorybyfourdifferentplanetaryforces.Inthisfirstepisode,IainexplorestherelationshipbetweenthedeepEarthandthedevelopmentofhumancivilisation.HevisitsanextraordinarycrystalcaveinMexico,dropsdownaholeintheIraniandesertandcrawlsthroughseven-thousand-year-oldtunnelsinIsrael.Hisexplorationrevealsthatthroughouthistory,ourancestorswerestrangelydrawntofaultlines,areaswhichconnectthesurfacewiththedeepinterioroftheplanet.Thesefaultlinesgaveaccesstoimportantresources,butalsobroughtwiththemgreatdanger.
Episode3:Wind
ProfessorIainStewartcontinueshisepicexplorationofhowtheplanethasshapedhumanhistory.Iainsetssailononeofthefastestracingboatseverbuilttoexplorethestoryofourturbulentrelationshipwiththewind.TravellingtoiconiclocationsincludingtheSaharadesert,thecoastofWestAfricaandtheSouthPacific,Iaindiscovershowpeoplehaveexploitedthepowerofthewindforthousandsofyears.Thewindisaforcewhichatfirstsightappearschaotic.Butthepatternsthatliewithintheatmospherehaveshapedthedestinyofcontinents,andlieattheheartofsomeofthegreatestturningpointsinhumanhistory.
Episode4:Fire
ProfessorIainStewartcontinueshisepicexplorationofhowtheplanethasshapedhumanhistory.Iainexploresman'srelationshipwithfire.Hebeginsbyembarkingonanextraordinaryencounterwiththisterrifyingforceofnature-awalkrightthroughtheheartofaragingfire.FirehaslongbeenourmainsourceofenergyandIainshowshowthismeantthattheplanetplayedacrucialroleinBritain'sindustrialrevolution,whilstholdingChina'sdevelopmentback.AlongthewayhedivesinamysteriouslakeinOregon,climbsaglacierofsalt,crawlsthroughanextraordinarycaveinIranandtakesatherapeuticbathincrudeoil.
Episode5:HumanPlanet
SeriesinwhichProfessorIainStewartlooksathowfourgeologicalforceshaveshapedhumanhistory.Heexploresthemostrecentlyestablishedforce,humans.It'seasytothinkofthehumanimpactontheplanetasanegativeone,butasIaindiscovers,thisisn'talwaysthecase.Itisclearthathumanshaveunprecedentedcontrolovermanyoftheplanet'sgeologicalcycles;thequestionis,howwillthehumanraceusethispower?
