This spectacular five-part series,
presented by Tony Robinson, investigates the history of natural disasters, from
the planet's beginnings to the present, putting a new perspective on our
existence and suggesting that we are the product of catastrophe.
Ninety-nine percent of all the creatures
that have ever lived, no longer exist. They were wiped-out in a series of
global catastrophes. Each disaster changed the course of evolution on earth.
Without them mankind, nor any of the life we see around us, would be here
today. For out of catastrophe comes rebirth. Evolution is a savage, imperfect
and violent process. It's survive or perish. The earth's history of
catastrophes has both molded the planet and determined evolution. For each
disaster led to another leap forward on the evolutionary trail form single
celled bacteria to humankind itself.
