Walking Through History Season 1 Episode 1 The Birth of Industry

Walking Through History season 1 episode 1, titled "The Birth of Industry," takes viewers on a fascinating journey through the industrial revolution and its impact on British society. Hosted by historian Tony Robinson, the episode explores how coal, iron, and steam transformed the economic landscape of England and drove unparalleled developments in science and technology.

The episode opens with Robinson standing in the sprawling landscape of the Forest of Dean, a region that was once home to some of the earliest coal mines in the country. As he explains, the rise of coal as a fuel source was a game-changer for Britain, bringing it to the forefront of global industry and sparking widespread innovation in everything from transportation to manufacturing.

From there, Robinson takes viewers on a trip through time, visiting some of the most significant industrial landmarks in the country, including the Ironbridge Gorge, the world's first cast-iron bridge, and the Darby family's blast furnace, which revolutionized the production of iron.

Along the way, Robinson pays homage to the many unsung heroes of the industrial revolution, such as the Welsh engineer Richard Trevithick, who built some of the very first steam engines, and the visionary industrialist Abraham Darby, who played a crucial role in the development of both cast iron and coke-fueled furnaces.

Of course, the industrial revolution was not without its dark side, and Robinson also takes time to explore some of the human cost of this explosion of progress. He pays a visit to New Lanark, a once-thriving mill town in Scotland that was founded by philanthropist Robert Owen and saw sweeping improvements in workers' rights and conditions, but ultimately fell victim to the very same factors that made it successful, like competition and profit motives.

Throughout it all, Robinson's passion for history and his evident delight in sharing these wonders with viewers is infectious. His storytelling is engaging, his insights are illuminating, and the production values are impeccable. Walking Through History is a true joy to behold, an enthralling exploration of one of the most transformative periods in human history, and this premiere episode is an excellent entry point for anyone even mildly interested in the topic.