A personal view by Kenneth Clark

'In the 19th century people used to think of the invention of printing as the linchpin in the history of civilisation. Well, fifth century Greece and 12th century Chartres and 15th century Florence got on very well without it-and who shall say that they were less civilised than we are. Still on balance, I suppose that printing has done more good than harm.'
The theme of protest and communication leads Kenneth Clark to the Reformation - the Germany of Albrecht Durer and Martin Luther - to Erasmus, to the France of Montaigne, and to Elizabethan England.
Extracts from Shakespeare performed by William Devlin, Ronald Lacey, Eric Porter, Ian Richardson and Patrick Stewart

Sir Kenneth described the time spent making 'Civilisation' as the happiest of his life and certainly this impression comes over strongly on the screen. (Warrington Guardian)
He says so many wise things about civilisation, its limitations and its strengths, its frailty and its durability that one longs to quote them all. (The Sun)