Plot β What is The Shape of the World about?
Reveals how maps shape not only our sense of geography, but also our social, political, and even religious thinking. In the past, mapmakers have provoked assassinations, won or lost wars, and opened the ways to wealth and power. Today, they help answer the crises of epidemics and climate change. Narrated by Patrick Stewart. Shown over six weeks on PBS, from April 1, 1991 to May 6, 1991, The Shape of the World uses the subject of mostly old maps to cover history, from Eratosthenes, the Egyptian Greek who figured out the circumference of the Earth over 2,200 years ago to modern (in 1990) satellite mapping using computers. The film crews go all over the world, from Portugal to Mexico to the Palio in Siena to the Far East. 3-disc set Released August 2009 The epic tale of mapping the globe, as seen on PBS. Produced in consultation with the British Library and Royal Geographical Society-the world's largest scholarly organization dedicated to the science of geography. "Explores the history of mapmaking with elegance and intelligence" - The New York Times. How do we see the world? Some ancients believed it rode on the back of a turtle. The Greeks viewed it as a sphere and measured it with astonishing accuracy. Today, scientists monitor it from space, detecting complex climate patterns that threaten our survival. Narrated by Patrick Stewart (X-Men, Star Trek: The Next Generation), this fascinating six-part series traces the history of mapmaking, from crude clay tablets to sophisticated electronic screens. Internationally respected historians, NASA scientists, and other experts explain how humans rely on imagination, observation, and mathematics to create pictures that make sense of our world. Throughout history, maps have served as symbols of wealth and power, tools of conquest and subjugation, and instruments for saving lives. They once held information worth killing for, and now they offer clues that might avert global destruction.
Top Cast & Creator
Quick Facts
| Type | Web Series |
| First Aired | 1991 |
| Genre | Documentary |
| Language | English |
| Seasons | 1 (6 episodes) |
| Audience Score | 90% (9.0/10, 1 votes) |
The Shape of the World β FAQ
Is The Shape of the World worth watching? The Shape of the World holds a 9.0/10 rating from 1 viewers. Reveals how maps shape not only our sense of geography, but also our social, political, and even religious thinking. In the past, mapmakers have provoked assassinations, won or lost wars, and opened the ways to wealth an
Who is in the cast of The Shape of the World? It stars Patrick Stewart.
Where can I stream The Shape of the World? Streaming availability for The Shape of the World is listed above when a platform is confirmed. MovieLink App is an info guide and hosts no files.
When did The Shape of the World release? It first aired in 1991.
