How Art Made The World

Nigel Spivey reveals how the images which surround us today come from the ancient world. It's an epic journey spanning five continents and a hundred thousand years of history.

Overview Seasons Similar

Created By	Nigel Spivey
Status	Ended
Original Name	How Art Made The World
First Air Date	May 26, 2005
Last Air Date	June 24, 2005
Seasons	1
Episodes	6
Episode Runtime	1h 0min
Language	English
Original Language	English
Production Countries	United Kingdom
Production Companies
Networks	BBC Two

S01E05

To Death and Back

In our daily lives, we are bombarded constantly by images. But there is one image whose power over us is strangely mesmerizing. It terrifies and yet reassures us — it is the image of death. We build grave yards, and we even carry pictures of the dead. But why? What makes us surround ourselves with constant reminders of death? Experts think this preoccupation is rooted in the human mind; unlike animals, humans understand the inevitability of their own death and in fact can imagine a world in which we are no longer alive.

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