Historical connections
Description
Connections is a science education television series created, written, and presented by British science historian James Burke. The series was produced and directed by Mick Jackson of the BBC Science and Features Department and first aired in 1978 (UK) and 1979 (US). It took an interdisciplinary approach to the history of science and invention, and demonstrated how various discoveries, scientific achievements, and historical world events were built from one another successively in an interconnected way to bring about particular aspects of modern technology. The series was noted for Burke's crisp and enthusiastic presentation (and dry humour), historical re-enactments, and intricate working models. The popular success of the series led to the production of The Day the Universe Changed (1985), a similar programme, but showing a more linear history of several important scientific developments and their more philosophic impact on Western civilisation.
How the series evolves
Books in this Series
The rise of regional Europe
With the acceleration of European integration, the traditional defence-based nation-states are under threat. The steady transfer of power in mainland Europe to new, powerful regional authorities has started to build up new forms of intra-European integration. The author explores both the good and bad aspects of the present European situation, and shows how setting these in the context of cultural, economic and political history dramatically alters the way in which we have traditionally surveyed the European past. Christopher Harvie's challenging study argues that we are only beginning to realise the shift in consciousness, as well as in politics and administration, that an integrated Europe will involve