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Andrew Marr's History of the World

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Factual: History

Andrew Marr goes on an epic journey through 70,000 years of human history.

Andrew Marr goes on an epic journey through 70,000 years of human history, telling the story of how great forces of nature and individual genius shaped the world we live in today.

BBC Four

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

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Andrew Marr's History of the World: Original Series

Andrew Marr

Chris Granlund

Kathryn Taylor

Mark Radice

Andrew Marr's History of the World: Original Series: Episode 4: Into the Light

Into the Light

Episode 4

Episode 4: Into the Light

Original Series

BBC One - Andrew Marr's History of the World, Original Series, Into the Light

Andrew reaches the Middle Ages, when Vikings explored and pillaged.

Series charting the history of civilisation. Andrew reaches the Middle Ages, when Vikings explored and pillaged from Northern Europe to North America.

In the fourth episode of this landmark series charting the story of human civilisation, Andrew Marr reaches the Middle Ages. 

After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Europe was little more than a muddy backwater. Vikings explored and pillaged from Northern Europe to North America. But they also laid the foundations of powerful new trading states, including Russia. 

This was also the Golden Age of Islam, and the knowledge of ancient civilisations from India, Persia and Greece was built upon by Islamic scholars in Baghdad's House of Wisdom. 

By exploring the conquests of Genghis Khan, the adventures of Marco Polo and the extraordinary story of an African king - the wealthiest who ever lived - Marr finds out how Europe emerged from the so-called 'Dark Ages' and used influences from around the world to rise again with the Renaissance.

BBC One

An epic journey through of 70,000 years of human history.

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Episode 4: Into the Light

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