How the Earth Changed History

As one might expect, this five-part nature documentary coproduced by BBC and National Geographic delivers spectacular cinematography of awe-inspiring vistas from around the world, along with a healthy dose of edifying information. Host Iain Stewart, a Scottish geologist, reminds viewers that the four elements (earth, wind, fire, and water, each covered here in separate hour-long episodes) have had major impacts on human history. In “Water,” Stewart describes how access to this precious resource affected the social hierarchy in Egypt, while in colonial India the British engineered a canal system that was effective mainly in spreading malaria. In “Deep Earth,” we see how the earth gives us raw materials such as copper and tin but also catastrophic geological events (like earthquakes and volcanoes), both of which continue to mold the course of history. “Wind,” one of the least understood natural forces, has blown for ill and good: delivering soil ideal for farming in China, while in Australia it blew away fertile ground, creating enormous, destructive dust storms. And “Fire,” the most visually arresting chapter, traces the central role of that element in the creation of metals and coal, which led to the Industrial Revolution, and later dependence on oil (the most powerful geopolitical force in existence). The fifth episode addresses the changing relationship between humans and the planet. DVD extras include an interview with Stewart. Recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (S. Graham)