The Shape of the World

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Filmed at locations around the globe, narrated by Patrick Stewart, this award winning series tells the epic story of how we have used imagination, religion, science, exploration, and technology to map our planet. Seen on PBS.

From ancient mystics who believed the Earth rode on the back of a tortoise, to present-day cartographers who trace diseases, pollutants, and storms to save lives, humans have made maps of the world. Filmed at locations around the globe, narrated by Patrick Stewart, this award winning series tells the epic story of how we have used imagination, religion, science, exploration, and technology to map our planet. Seen on PBS. SDH subtitles; 6 episodes; approx. 306 min. on 3 DVDs plus viewer’s guide.
 
"Explores the history of mapmaking with elegance and intelligence"—The New York Times
Winner of the gold medal in Education/Instruction Adult series category at the International Film and Television Festival of New York in 1992.

Award-winning actor Patrick Stewart narrates this acclaimed series, produced in consultation with the British Library and Royal Geographical Society—the world’s largest scholarly organization dedicated to the science of geography.

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Disc 1
Episode 1:Heaven and Earth
Ever since the ancient Babylonians began sketching maps on clay tablets, religion and myth have shaped humanity’s view of the world. The Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, and medieval Christians created their own pictures of this Earth—and what lies beyond.

Episode 2:Secrets of the Sea
When overseas trade for spices and other precious commodities sparked bitter rivalries, charts became instruments of wealth and power. At various times, the Dutch, Portuguese, Venetians, and Spanish used their superior knowledge of the oceans to gain the upper hand.

Disc 2
Episode 3:Staking a Claim
The New World held the promise of unimaginable riches—literally, rivers of gold—for European nations bold enough to explore it. Spain, France, and Britain occupied new territory, subjugated indigenous peoples, and marked their conquests with maps.

Episode 4:Empire!
In the 19th century, William Lambton began the Great Trigonometric Survey—an ambitious attempt to map every square foot of the Indian subcontinent. With George Everest succeeding Lambton, the project took more than 60 years and led British surveyors to measure the roof of the world.

Disc 3
Episode 5:Pictures of the Invisible
By the mid-1800s, aerial photography offered a new perspective on the Earth below. But modern airborne radar and satellite imaging have allowed mapmakers to chart unseen lands beneath the rain forest canopy in the Amazon and the ice sheets of Antarctica.

Episode 6:The Writing on the Screen
From magnetic resonance imaging to seismic tomography to infrared cameras, high-tech maps may provide the keys to unlock the mysteries of the brain, predict earthquakes, and understand the complex crises of global warming and climate change.
  • "The Chartbusters": pioneers in cartography
  • Text interview with Patrick Stewart
  • Biography of Patrick Stewart
  • Biography of series editor Simon Berthon
  • Exclusive web extras
  • Viewer’s guide
Packaging: Thinpak
Run Time: 306 minutes
Format: Full screen
Number of discs: 3
Language: English
Subtitles: N/A
Color or B&W: Color
CC: No
SDH: Yes
Region Code: 1
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Rating: N/A
"Explores the history of mapmaking with elegance and intelligence"—The New York Times
Winner of the gold medal in Education/Instruction Adult series category at the International Film and Television Festival of New York in 1992.

Award-winning actor Patrick Stewart narrates this acclaimed series, produced in consultation with the British Library and Royal Geographical Society—the world’s largest scholarly organization dedicated to the science of geography.