USB History of Ideas
Collection History of Ideas at Simón Bolívar University in Venezuela
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- StarsMichael MosleySimon ChaplinFloor LagerweyMichael Mosley takes an informative and ambitious journey exploring how the evolution of scientific understanding is intimately interwoven with society's historical path.
- DirectorGary JohnstoneStarsAidan McArdleShirley HendersonSteven RobertsonThis docudrama examines the history of scientific discovery that lead up to Albert Einstein's famous equation E=mc2 and its aftermath in the creation of nuclear energy. This includes Faraday's discovery of electromagnetic fields; Antoine Lavoisier's discovery that mass is never lost; and Emilie du Chatelet's demonstration that Newton's calculation of the velocity of a falling object was incorrect. By 1905, the miracle year where the publication Einstein's four physics papers changed over 200 years of scientific fundamentals, all of this came together with his now famous equation. Afterwards, Lise Meisner's work on uranium let to her conclusion that splitting an atom would release large amounts of energy.
- StarsMarcus du SautoyLeonhard EulerEleanor RobsonThe history of mathematics from ancient times to the present day. Narrated by Oxford mathematics professor Marcus du Sautoy, the series covers the seminal moments and people in the development of maths.
- DirectorNick MurphyStarsTerry JonesMarcus du SautoyLeo Jampinjinpa WayneTerry Jones hosts this documentary on the number one. It looks at early evidence of counting, the use of numbers for simple arithmetic in Sumeria, the development of large numbers and their use for engineering in Egypt, the worship of numbers by Pythagoras and the theoretical mathematics of the Archimedes. It also looks at the use of numbers by the Romans, the development of Arabic numerals in India, the discovery of the number zero, the development of algebra in the Islamic world, the decline of Roman numerals in the west, and the development of the binary system.
- DirectorDano JohnsonJeffrey TravisStarsMartin SheenKristen BellMichael YorkBased on Edwin Abott's book "Flatland", this is an animated film about geometric characters living in a two-dimensional world. When a young girl named "Hex" decides to "think outside the box" (in a world where such thought is forbidden), her life becomes in danger and it is up to her grandfather to save her life.
- DirectorLadd Ehlinger Jr.StarsAshley BlackwellChris CarterDenise CarterFlatland is a two-dimensional universe occupied by living geometric figures - squares, triangles, circles, etc. A Square, Attorney At Law, finds himself in the middle of two upheavals: the rise of martial law by the circular leadership of Flatland, and the arrival of A Sphere, CEO Of Messiah, Incorporated, a creature from a hitherto-unknown third dimensional world.
- StarsSteven JohnsonGene ChruszczKevin FitzpatrickExplores the power and the legacy of great ideas.
- DirectorChris OxleyStarsF. Murray AbrahamRoger BrabanJed BuchwaldThe auction of some of Newton's papers early in the 20th century uncovers the fact that he had a side other than the genius mathematician and visionary the world knew him as.
- DirectorPeter JonesStarsAndrew SachsF. Murray AbrahamJürgen RennA biographical study of Albert Einstein, with not only an analysis of his place in modern physics and in our understanding of the universe, but an analysis (through his and his wife's letters) of Einstein as a person. Never comfortable with human inter-relationships, he married first for love and the spoken intent to make his wife a part of his intellectual life. But responsibilites of family life and a child overcame him. Work in theoretical physics moved his wife and son to a secondary role, and a later love affair with his cousin completed the estrangement. Part of the film is taken from archival material, part is a recreation with Einstein's thoughts presented by an actor. Animations explain basics of his theory of relativity, mass-energy equivalence, and the nature of light.
- DirectorMartyn BurkeStarsAnthony Michael HallNoah WyleJoey SlotnickHistory of Apple and Microsoft.
- StarsRobert X. CringelySteve JobsDouglas AdamsThree part documentary series that tells the story of the birth of the personal computer, with the candid recollections of PC pioneers, like Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.
- StarsPeter GuinnessStephen BeckettBenjamin TillGripping recreation of historic events using firsthand accounts and forensic details, including moon landings, Romanov assassination, Hiroshima, Mandela's release, JFK assassination, and Chernobyl.
- StarsMichael WoodWhat can the past teach us about the present? Come along as charismatic historian Michael Wood (The Story of India) travels the globe to trace the origins of six great civilizations: Iraq, India, China, Egypt, Central America, and Western Europe. Each journey offers surprising perspectives on questions that matter today-about the environment, the individual, society, and spirituality.
- StarsBen KingsleyRina SircarLewis LancasterNarrated by Academy Award-winner Ben Kingsley, this series objectively documents religions worldwide with interviews from experts. Explore issues that probe the very core of our existence and offer a deeper understanding of global spiritual beliefs.
- StarsJoseph CampbellBill MoyersGeorge LucasMythologist Joseph Campbell presents his ideas about comparative mythology and the ongoing role of myth in human society.
- DirectorJon ElseStarsHans BetheHolm BursomHaakon ChevalierScientists and witnesses involved in the creation and testing of the first ever atomic bomb reflect on the Manhattan project and its fascinating leader, J. Robert Oppenheimer, who upon completion of his wonderful and horrible invention became a powerful spokesperson against the nuclear arms race.
- This series is full of footage and interviews covering every aspect of the game, but what it does do is focus quite strongly on the true history. What this means is that it looks at the origins of the game right through to how this popular sport has affected history in general. The impact the game has had on the world's history is quite astounding, from being responsible for starting a war to being used as a political tool for many of the world's most historical figures.
- StarsMichael WoodAndreas BirnbaumPeter BieringerThis documentary tells the story of the Spanish expeditions in the early sixteenth century that conquests America. This 4-part series Michael Wood (historian) travels in the footsteps of the Spanish expeditions of Hernán Cortés whose conquests was one of the most cataclysmic events in Modern American history.
- StarsJoseph BottomsTovah FeldshuhRosemary HarrisThe saga of a Jewish family's struggle to survive the horror of Nazi Germany's systematic marginalization and extermination of their community.
- DirectorChris GormlieStarsGraham McTavish
- DirectorPeter JonesStarsSimon CallowJohn FraserCornelius GarrettGalileo's struggle to convince Roman Catholic Church authorities that Earth revolves around the sun. Why the headstrong Galileo (1564-1642) didn't succeed is explored in interviews with scientists.
- DirectorGianluca Maria TavarelliStarsPaola CortellesiMassimo PoggioGianmarco TognazziThe story of Maria Montessori the most famous pedagogue of the world. She spent all her life to make her "metodo" (method) accepted in the archaic Italian school system, while the rest of the world immediately understand the importance of her theories. She was the first Italian Doctor, a famous feminist, a scientist. Her private life was hit by having an illegitimate son and by the Fascism that didn't want to accept completely her theories.
- StarsPeter CoyoteJared DiamondPBS documentary explores Jared Diamond's theory on technology disparity caused by guns, steel, and germs' impact.
- StarsDonald SutherlandDaniel YerginNorman CooleyThe globe-spanning story of the oil industry from the first strikes of the 19th century through the Gulf War. The industry's colorful characters and oil's key role in 20th century history are brought to life by participants and historians.