Season 1

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Episodes

Each episode has its own detail page.

Episode 145 min1985-09-09

Dangerous Gifts

John Roberts visits East Asia, exploring how and why western forces remain far stronger than anything left by the legacy of 19th and 20th century imperialism.

Episode 245 min1985-09-16

A New Direction

Roberts explores the origins of western civilisation and religion, through the Greeks, the Jews, the Romans, and the Byzantines - and how Christianity emerged across the centuries.

Episode 345 min1985-09-23

The Heart of the West

John Roberts explores the rise of philosophical and Christian thought in Europe of the Middle Ages, and how the shift took place from the era of the Roman Empire to a sense of 'Europe' as concept.

Episode 445 min1985-09-30

The World's Debate

The rise of Islam and the West's response to this great debate during the Middle Ages, including the Crusades and the conquest of Spain.

Episode 545 min1985-10-07

East of Europe

The rise and decline of the Byzantine Empire, and the rise of Russia from Kievan Rus until WWI, and an examination of how the East of Europe separated, culturally and spiritually, from the West.

Episode 645 min1985-10-14