Gold! History of Man's Greatest Obsession

Starring:Gold!-History of Man's Greates
Studio: A&E Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Forget the Maltese Falcon--as this epic documentary vividly illustrates, gold is the stuff that dreams are made of. Originally broadcast on the History Channel, Gold! spans 6,000 years and five continents as it charts the odyssey of "the mineral that has changed the course of history" and man's obsession with this most coveted of assets, which one poet called "a cursed thirst." "Gold Fever," the second of four volumes, is a more accessible introduction to this information-packed miniseries. Gold has played a vital role in civilization. It was first used for adornment and then became an object of worship. It was a crude (and is now a more refined) form of currency. Empires were created and entire cultures wiped out by gold. All of this plays out over a compelling four hours through dramatic reenactments and presentations of archival materials, artwork, contemporary footage, and insightful expert commentary. Volume 1 examines the tragic and bloody legacy of the lust for gold. Volume 3, "The Stuff of Dreams," surveys the stunning discoveries and never-ending search for golden treasure. Volume 4, "Cold Hard Cash," explores how gold has shaped the world's economies. This centuries-old drama, which still grips our imaginations, is not for history buffs only. --Donald Liebenson
Description
It has sparked wars and toppled empires, inspired legends and captivated our imagination. Throughout the course of human history, gold has been sought, mined, treasured and hoarded.

Gold! ventures across the world and through the ages to tell the story of mankind's oldest obsession. It examines every aspect of our complicated relationship with this most precious of metals, from the gilded dreams of conquistadors and 49ers to gold's role in shaping economies and societies. Visits to world-famous museums showcase the glittering treasures of ancient civilizations, while an extraordinary tour of a three-mile-deep mine in South Africa's Witwatersrand Basin offers a rare, up-close view of workers wresting the timeless treasure from the clutches of the earth.

Amazon.com

Forget the Maltese Falcon--as this epic documentary vividly illustrates, gold is the stuff that dreams are made of. Originally broadcast on the History Channel, Gold! spans 6,000 years and five continents as it charts the odyssey of "the mineral that has changed the course of history" and man's obsession with this most coveted of assets, which one poet called "a cursed thirst." "Gold Fever," the second of four volumes, is a more accessible introduction to this information-packed miniseries. Gold has played a vital role in civilization. It was first used for adornment and then became an object of worship. It was a crude (and is now a more refined) form of currency. Empires were created and entire cultures wiped out by gold. All of this plays out over a compelling four hours through dramatic reenactments and presentations of archival materials, artwork, contemporary footage, and insightful expert commentary. Volume 1 examines the tragic and bloody legacy of the lust for gold. Volume 3, "The Stuff of Dreams," surveys the stunning discoveries and never-ending search for golden treasure. Volume 4, "Cold Hard Cash," explores how gold has shaped the world's economies. This centuries-old drama, which still grips our imaginations, is not for history buffs only. --Donald Liebenson

Description

It has sparked wars and toppled empires, inspired legends and captivated our imagination. Throughout the course of human history, gold has been sought, mined, treasured and hoarded.

Gold! ventures across the world and through the ages to tell the story of mankind's oldest obsession. It examines every aspect of our complicated relationship with this most precious of metals, from the gilded dreams of conquistadors and 49ers to gold's role in shaping economies and societies. Visits to world-famous museums showcase the glittering treasures of ancient civilizations, while an extraordinary tour of a three-mile-deep mine in South Africa's Witwatersrand Basin offers a rare, up-close view of workers wresting the timeless treasure from the clutches of the earth.

From El Dorado to Fort Knox, Gold! mines the millennia to forge a comprehensive and compelling look at the "king of metals."

Customer Reviews:

Great history on gold and man's passion for it........2006-12-07

I love gold and this was a delightful video for anyone fascinated or even just curious about it. Shows world history as well as gold rush history. Would have been nice to see it cover some of the advanced applications for gold in high tech industries, but this DVD is pretty thorough, features several professionals and historians to give it a pleasing depth and perspective. I rented it and plan on buying it.

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