2: Water | How Earth Made Us

Duration: 58'58''

Synopsis

Professor Iain Stewart continues his epic exploration of how the planet has shaped human history. He investigates how water has influenced the rise and fall of civilizations.

Further Information

More clips from How Earth Made Us

Groundwater | How Earth Made Us

Groundwater | How Earth Made Us

BBC Two | 2010 | 4'37''

Iain Stewart explores the natural phenomenon of groundwater.

Ice | How Earth Made Us

Ice | How Earth Made Us

BBC Two | 2010 | 1'50''

12,000 years ago, much of the northern hemisphere was covered in ice.

Monsoon | How Earth Made Us

Monsoon | How Earth Made Us

BBC Two | 2010 | 1'15''

Iain Stewart investigates what causes monsoons.

The River Nile and early agriculture | How Earth Made Us

The River Nile and early agriculture | How Earth Made Us

BBC Two | 2010 | 5'15''

Iain Stewart explains the important role that the Nile played in early Egyptian agriculture.

The water cycle | How Earth Made Us

The water cycle | How Earth Made Us

BBC Two | 2010 | 3'10''

Dr Iain Stewart explains the different stages of the water cycle.

More resources about Cycles in nature

Volcanoes and the carbon cycle | Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

Volcanoes and the carbon cycle | Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

BBC Four | 2020 | 3'36''

Professor Chris Jackson explains the important role that volcanoes play in the carbon cycle.

Carbon in the ocean | Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

Carbon in the ocean | Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

BBC Four | 2020 | 5'24''

Dr Helen Czerski explains how carbon is incorporated into the ocean and how the increase in carbon intake is impac...

Nutrients from decay support new life | After Life: The Strange Science of Decay

Nutrients from decay support new life | After Life: The Strange Science of Decay

BBC Four | 2015 | 6'20''

Spec references J247: . Showing how plant is broken down by animals and microorganisms into ...

The Carbon Cycle | Bellamy Rides Again

The Carbon Cycle | Bellamy Rides Again

BBC One | 1991 | 29'20''

Naturalist David Bellamy examines the six elemental cycles vital to life. This episode covers carbon, on whose cycle the earth's futur...

1: Pulse | H2O: The Molecule That Made Us

1: Pulse | H2O: The Molecule That Made Us

BBC Four | 2021 | 52'15''

Documentary series that explores the importance of water to human civilisation. How H2O causes deserts to bloom, creates rivers in ...

2: Civilisations | H2O: The Molecule That Made Us

2: Civilisations | H2O: The Molecule That Made Us

BBC Four | 2021 | 52'13''

This episode travels to the Congo, Egypt, China and Mexico to reveal how water changed humanity's footprint on the planet.

After Life: The Strange Science of Decay

After Life: The Strange Science of Decay

BBC Four | 2015 | 1'29'07''

Dr George McGavin examines the fascinating science of decay when a unique experiment involving a rotting kitchen and garden is captu...

Carbonate silicate weathering cycle | Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

Carbonate silicate weathering cycle | Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

BBC Four | 2020 | 2'25''

Professor Chris Jackson examines how carbon dioxide is brought down from the atmosphere and ends u...

Decomposition by bacteria | After Life: The Strange Science of Decay

Decomposition by bacteria | After Life: The Strange Science of Decay

BBC Four | 2015 | 3'58''

Spec references J247: B4.1a, B4.1b. How bacteria decompose dead animals, including how bacteria communic...

The carbon cycle | GCSE Bitesize Revision

The carbon cycle | GCSE Bitesize Revision

BBC Two | 2010 | 2'44''

Spec references J247: B4.1a, B4.1b, B4.1c J250:B4.1a, B4.1b, B4.1c. Description of the carbon cycle.

The carbon cycle 2 | GCSE Bitesize Revision

The carbon cycle 2 | GCSE Bitesize Revision

BBC Two | 2010 | 1'17''

Spec references J247: B4.1c J250: B4.1c. Description of the carbon cycle.

What happens if fungi doesn't break down wood? | After Life: The Strange Science of Decay

What happens if fungi doesn't break down wood? | After Life: The Strange Science of Decay

BBC Four | 2015 | 5'02''

Spec references J247: B4.1b, B4.1c J250: B4.1b, B4.1c. Evolution of trees 300 milli...

More from Iain Stewart

1: Deep Earth | How Earth Made Us

1: Deep Earth | How Earth Made Us

BBC Two | 2010 | 59'24''

Series telling the story of how the development of civilisation was influenced by planetary forces. Professor Iain Stewart explores the rol...

5: Rare Earth | Earth: The Power of the Planet

5: Rare Earth | Earth: The Power of the Planet

BBC Two | 2007 | 58'54''

Life on Earth prospers because it enjoys the right amount of heat from the sun, and the atmosphere prevents meteorite bombardm...

Episode 1 | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered The World

Episode 1 | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered The World

BBC Four | 2017 | 59'16''

From the moment we first drilled for oil, we opened a Pandora's box that changed the world forever. It transfor...

Eurasia | Rise of the Continents

Eurasia | Rise of the Continents

BBC Two | 2013 | 59'04''

Professor Iain Stewart shows that where the south of Eurasia is today there was once an ocean and how, in 250 million years, all of the cont...

Iceland Erupts: A Volcano Live Special | Volcano Live

Iceland Erupts: A Volcano Live Special | Volcano Live

BBC Two | 2012 | 59'03''

Kate Humble heads to Iceland and meets the scientists monitoring the country's most dangerous volcanoes. She also inves...

1: Life From Light | How to Grow a Planet

1: Life From Light | How to Grow a Planet

BBC One | 2012 | 59'29''

How plants have driven the greatest changes to the Earth. Prof Iain Stewart shows how they first harnessed light from the sun and c...

1: Scotland's Trees | Making Scotland's Landscape

1: Scotland's Trees | Making Scotland's Landscape

BBC One | 2010 | 59'30''

Professor Iain Stewart reveals how Scotland's unique landscape was shaped. Here, he uncovers the devastating impact of mank...

3: The Big Freeze | Men of Rock

3: The Big Freeze | Men of Rock

BBC Two | 2010 | 58'52''

In the final episode of the series, Iain Stewart finds out about daredevil scientist Louis Agassiz, who first imagined the world had been gri...

1: Tsunamis | 10 Things You Didn't Know About...

1: Tsunamis | 10 Things You Didn't Know About...

BBC Four | 2008 | 58'56''

Iain Stewart journeys across the oceans to explore stories about the most powerful giant waves in history, including how one...

1: Indonesia | Journeys into the Ring of Fire

1: Indonesia | Journeys into the Ring of Fire

BBC One | 2006 | 59'16''

Iain Stewart tours the Pacific rim to discover how the rocks beneath our feet have shaped human history. He visits the world's ...