The Incredible Human Journey [DVD] [2009]

I found this series very informative, and excellently presented by Alice Roberts. I learnt new things, and it gave me a sense of the wonder and diversity of our own vast human family. I think she makes the point well, that an understanding of human prehistory should cause people to come together for the vast journey they share, rather than kill each other for the small differences they notice. I also felt the current fate of some tribal cultures becomes all the more poignant when we learn more of their own remarkable histories of pioneering exploration and survival across tens of thousands of years. I think kids of any ethnic background can find true stories of their ancestors here to be proud of and share. I don't agree with comments that she made herself out to be a great expert - I am fine with her discussing her own hunches on the theories, as this personal side of the journey was the style of the series. It was clear that local experts have their own national and cultural biases - and the jury is still out on lots of issues. Yes, her night in the bush was a bit lame - but it seemed they pulled away from that reality format in time - and yes the "fun cartoon" graphics looked like the result of an overly persuasive graphics company. But apart from such small issues I found the program structure managed to keep you moving nicely through sites and scientists (for which the series clearly worked hard to get excellent access). Alice Roberts herself is charming with the people that she meets, and I think her warm character gave this series an unusual edge. I really enjoyed it.

Another thought provoking and excellent production on the beginning of mankind and the journey out of Africa and the problems they will have encountered including weather conditions and encounters of already established populations and how we survived.

In this excellent BBC TV series Alice Roberts follows in the footsteps of our ancestors, who left Africa and ended up populating the whole world. The TV series is very enjoyable, and there is also an accompanying book which goes into much more detail on the scientific debates. I recommend both the DVD and the book. I first wrote this review in relation to book, but it applies equally to the TV series. Roberts shows how the evidence from bones, artefacts and genes tells us that Homo sapiens (modern humans) evolved in Africa between 200,000 and 150,000 years ago and that all non-African humans throughout the world today are descended from one group of Homo sapiens who left Africa between 85,000 and 65,000 years ago. On her journey Roberts meets people who personify and bring to life many of the debates relating to human evolution. For example, at Pinnacle Point in South Africa she meets one of the archaeologists who have been excavating Blombos Cave. It was here that shell beads and pieces of ochre with carved geometric patterns were found dating back 75,000 years. At the same place other pieces of ochre were found dating back to 164,000 years ago, showing that modern humans were painting by that date. This evidence shot down the theory held by some scientists that art (and therefore modern brains and behaviour) did not appear until about 40,000 years ago in Europe. (For more on this, see my review here on Amazon of Stephen Oppenheimer's book, "Out of Eden".) Roberts meets some people who still refuse to accept the overwhelming evidence that all humans today are descended from African Homo sapiens. Some still cling to the untenable view that different so-called "races" of people evolved separately in different parts of the world from an earlier Homo species. For example, the Chinese government advocates the view that the people of China are special because they evolved separately from the rest of modern humanity, from Homo erectus in China. This has echoes of the time when Western racists claimed that white Europeans were superior and had come into existence separately from other "races". But Roberts also meets the Chinese geneticist Jin Li, who "started off wanting to prove the patriotic theory that the modern Chinese had a heritage that stretched back, unbroken, to Homo erectus, a million years ago." To his surprise, Li's research actually proved that this was NOT the case. It showed that the "recent Out of Africa hypothesis" was correct. To his great credit, Li accepts the evidence, and Roberts praises his "open-mindedness and objectivity". Roberts meets surviving hunter-gatherers and sees their egalitarian way of life. She then looks at the origins, only about 12,000 years ago, of settled societies and agriculture. She shows the contradictory nature of this change. The development of agriculture is usually seen as "progress", and it certainly created the conditions for a massive increase in population by producing a food surplus. This in turn provided the basis for the later growth of cities and "civilisation". But Roberts also shows that farming led to a worse quality and variety of diet and to a "general decline in health". (I would add that farming also paved the way for the development of class divisions, gender inequalities and war.) Roberts shows that some questions still have to be resolved. For example: - Were modern humans responsible for the extinction of the Neanderthals? - Did modern humans interbreed at all with Neanderthals? - Exactly when and by what route did our ancestors first move into the Americas? - Did hunting by humans cause the extinction of large animals in various parts of the world? - Was it natural selection in relation to climate or sexual selection which led to the physical and facial differences between humans from different parts of the world? - Was it farmERS or farmING which spread across Europe from the Middle East? Finally, Roberts shows throughout the book how the climate and climate change have had an effect on both the biology and culture of our ancestors. And she ends by warning that global solutions are needed now if we are to avert the dangers that climate change is facing us with today. Phil Webster.

This is another superb doco from the beeb. I was amazed at the history of homo sapiens and where we all originated from. The presenter was excellent in her way of describing how we all came to be. The fact that we all orginate from Africa makes one wonder about rascist conflicts....we were all black at one stage. Aand some people suggesting that the Asians come from another species or even anothe planet (really!). Well, its all explained in this must have set of DVDs. Itwas apleasure to watch and I shall enjoy watcihng it again!

Excellent Documentary! Bravo Dr. Alice Roberts! Everybody should buy this DVD. We are in the globalization time. We are all relatives from Africa

Describe la distribución del Homo sapiens por todo el mundo, incluidas América y Australia. Proporciona explicaciones para la diversidad de razas. Se trata de una serie muy cuidada. Muy contento con la compra.

「人類20万年 遙かなる旅路 」を読んで興味をもって注文しました。聞き取りやすい英語のナレーションで楽しめました。

I give it five stars and agree with the other comments. There are very many good points. Ihen I have some criticisms although my opinions are only just that. In a 5 hour program it seems to me that a better use of time could have been done. The subject of human evolution is a giant subject. Homo sapien existance is still a massive study. This program is ok if viewers are new to it but there is too much waste of time. Such as the section on comparing skin aging in China. What is that about? Then she moves on to the proper subject of facial features changing over time. Then to the contraversy about Chinese origins. What's the taxi driver near Istanbul doing that is important to the story? A simple sentence could make a point. No need to waste time with the fellow's comments. Why do viewers spend time watching her attempts to hit a vegetable with bow and arrow from a very close distance? It proves she is rubbish in archery. The man could have made the effort saving time and showing us something worth watching. In a preview at the start of of episode 5 "The Americas" we watch Alice throw an atl-atl spear which goes through a car window. But it is a 2 part scene so did she actually do that or did the man? Later in the episode we see Alice and Dr. Andy Hemmings discuss Clovis points and demonstrate an atl-atl spear for hunting. But without a repeat of window piercing. Why? A spear going through a window is convincing. Very. The most interesting demo has been edited into the preview without proof she did do it. We get to see more of her fumbling attempts and more of the boring "look-at-me" style. It's a small point for me to make but such poor editing isn't very professional in my opinion. Her program seems to lack info on the inventions of bows, arrows, spears, and atl-atl. Odd that, in my opinion. The needle is discussed and sinew. Barely. The cartoon graphics are tolerable but in my opinion cause laughter and look crude rather than informative. Sometimes the music seems all wrong. And about music, we are shown a flute made from carved mammoth ivory. Can we hear it even if it may be incomplete? She comments it is evidence of music yet doesn't mention percussion nor rattles. She finds the art piece of a carved phallis more interesting. Sometimes the dvd seems more than a little bit like an SI swimsuit display as Alice ponces, prances, and struts for our viewing every now and then. Camera angles compliment her figure especially that purple strap top. Not that I object. However that perfect model "look at me" attitude may be a modern style but after enough of it boredom sets in. She becomes too good to be true, too know-it-all, too pushy, too many airs and graces. Not a smart way to be a guide in a film. Michael Wood can do this friendly intimate style well. He doesn't put on airs and graces, in my opinion, nor pomp. I like the way viewers can take a peek at so many ancient sites. The Ice Ages need more coverage. Alice does make mention of rock and cave art but in a shallow way. Not a word of new theories of German researcher Dr Michael Rappenglueck, of the University of Munich, offering an explanation that star charts were painted on the walls. Such theories were published 11 years ago or so yet omitted in Alice's presentation. Also omitted were shafts of light during the setting sun of the winter solstice. These are just 2 examples of info left out. Shallow. So shallow for a presentation of ancient prehistory human life. She does mention the need for water but skims over it except for the ancient coast of Arabia. Drinking water is the key to survival. The control of predators is more detailed and hurrah for her on that. Sleeping on the wild land of Africa barely touches on how humans protected themselves from predators. This important aspect of human survival seems to be a display of Alice's screenplay style of "look at me because I'm so clever, so perfect" rather than an understanding of human defences or a list of the predatory animals ancient Homo sapiens had to face in different parts of world. The cave bear is mentioned in a sentence but in an accidental way. The animals hunted by European Neanderthals and Homo sapiens for food, hides, bones, sinew, and horn or antler, even hoof, are barely mentioned, if at all. The ancient horse, mammoth, mastodon, reindeer, aurach, wisent, giant elk, and so on are not in the program. Why? Strange omission. It gives the video a shallow feeling when such important hunting meant survival. Tanning hides for fur and leather isn't mentioned. A vital craft. Where is the wooly rhino? Where are birds and their nests of eggs? A few sentences over several minutes may have helped. Salmon runs in the streams were important as well and not a word in the video as well. Odd. But we do get to see her many finger rings, bracelet, cargo trousers, and her good looks with a heaping dose of her boring style. She looks at a reconstruction of a Neanderthal man and tells the viewer she has no want to breed with him. Could be a mutual opinion, eh? Why do viewers have to be lumbered with her opinion?

An amazing and thought provoking journey on the origins of mankind .Begins where we all started; exploring adventures of all our distant cousins as they make their way around the world and the hardships they encounter .A must see for all ages as we explore humankind and our resourcefulness throughout the ages .A deep philosophical question comes to mind that we are all brothers and sisters . If everyone viewed the book or dvd; all would develop a deeper and better understanding of each other which may teach us the value of living together in harmony .