Ep 1. The Second Moment of Creation

Civilizations is a documentary series that examines the history and impact of human art and culture throughout time. In season 1 episode 1, titled "The Second Moment of Creation," the series takes us on a journey through the beginning of human civilization and explores how the world's first great civilizations emerged.

The episode starts in the heart of Africa, where ancient rock art in the cave of Blombos suggests that humans had the cognitive ability for abstract thought and creativity as early as 100,000 years ago. From there, the documentary takes us on a chronological journey through time, exploring early civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, and India.

The Second Moment of Creation explores the earliest signs of human art and creativity and what they reveal about the history of civilization. It shows how the beginning of civilization is marked by a period of rapid development in technology, art, and culture, all of which were critical to the rise of the world's first great civilizations.

The episode then takes us to the ruins of Uruk in Mesopotamia, where we learn about one of the world's earliest recorded civilizations. Through stunning footage of ancient artifacts and structures, the episode shows how the Sumerians used art and writing to establish a complex society with a rich culture and tradition.

From there, the documentary moves on to ancient Egypt, where incredible feats of engineering and art were used to build the pyramids and other monumental structures. The Second Moment of Creation explains how the ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphs and other forms of writing to create a complete and complex cultural system, from laws and religion to art and architecture.

The episode then takes us to the Indus Valley Civilization in India, where we learn about one of the world's most advanced ancient societies. With their impressive city planning and sanitation systems, the people of the Indus Valley Civilization created a society that was both complex and efficient.

Throughout the episode, we see amazing examples of human creativity and ingenuity that helped establish civilization as we know it today. Whether it's Mesopotamian cuneiform writing, Egyptian hieroglyphs, or the Indus Valley's sophisticated engineering and architecture, The Second Moment of Creation takes us on a journey through history to highlight the importance of human creativity in shaping our world.

Overall, Civilizations season 1 episode 1 is an incredibly informative and visually stunning exploration of the early moments of human civilization. Through a combination of amazing footage, expert interviews, and insightful narration, the episode brings to life the incredible achievements of our early ancestors and the impact that human creativity has had on the world.