Instant Expert: A Quick Guide to the Story of Oil

Aimed at both high school students and lifelong learners, this entry from the History Channel's new Instant Expert series traces the history of oil back to the Jurassic era, when microscopic plankton died and settled on the ocean floor. Viewers learn that this oxygen-free environment was eventually transformed into a “muddy graveyard,” giving rise to the treasured natural resource, particularly in the deserts under Saudi Arabia, which was once a vast sea. A Quick Guide to the Story of Oil goes on to describe how Chinese, Greek, and other ancient civilizations used oil, and looks at the launching of the petroleum era critical to the Industrial Revolution, particularly after 1859, when the viscous “black gold” was discovered in Pennsylvania. Soon wildcatters were rampant, and new inventions such as the internal combustion engine paved the way for automobiles and airplanes. In modern times, discoveries in the Middle East set off a reckless rush to consumption; now demand is rising in developing countries just as supply is peaking. Other topics covered include the ubiquity of petroleum, whether as an ingredient in products we use or as the fuel for transporting goods; oil's role in creating worldwide economic shocks; the postwar American “model of sprawl”; and the ominous “hothouse” future we all face if we continue to guzzle. DVD extras include a study guide and interactive quiz. Despite sometimes excessive scientific terminology, this timely documentary is both informative and likely to be of wider general interest, especially given the concerns raised by the recent spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)