Inventions That Changed the World

Season

2004

8

A five part BBC 2 TV documentary series, presented by Jeremy Clarkson, that took a look at some of the inventions that have helped to shape the modern world. First broadcast on Thursday 15 January 2004, 8p.m., the series looked at 1) the gun; 2) the computer; 3) the jet plane; 4) the telephone; and in the final part, 5) television.

Episode List

S1 • E1

Gun

The development of the gun, from a simple tube to the rapid-firing weapons of today.

S1 • E2

Computer

Jeremy Clarkson tells the story of the computer's evolution from man with pencil to microchip.

S1 • E3

Jet

Jeremy Clarkson flies around the world in around 72 hours to demonstrate just how small the jet engine has made the world - or has it.

S1 • E4

Telephone

Jeremy Clarkson takes a look at our global telecommunications networks and shows us how much these networks have changed how we live and communicate.

S1 • E5

Television

From terrorist outrages to soaps, from obesity to politics, Jeremy discusses the impact of the television on our world, and learns about the lives of its inventors, neither of whom profited from their work.