How Art Made the World

One image dominates our contemporary world above all others: the human body. Classicist Nigel Spivey travels from the modern world of art and advertising to the temples of classical Greek history and the tombs of ancient Egypt. He investigates these marvels of architecture to solve a compelling mystery. Why do humans surround themselves with images of the body that are so unrealistic?

The discovery of prehistoric cave paintings in the last century led to a shocking realization. Humans have been creating art for over 30,000 years. This changed many established views on art, culture and civilization. Classicist Nigel Spivey reveals how the very first pictures ever made were made, and how images may have triggered the greatest ever change in human history.

The visual devices used by modern politicians to get themselves elected and maintain power didn’t originate in modern times, but come from a world that is thousands of years old. Classicist Nigel Spivey ventures back into history to the creation of Stonehenge and the reign of Alexander the Great to reveal how art and imagery became an indispensable weapon in every leader's political armory.

Each year over seven billion people across the world are drawn to see the latest feature films in the cinema. Movies excite, entertain and delight us. But this very modern cultural phenomenon has its roots deep in history. Classicist Nigel Spivey reveals how the most powerful storytelling medium ever created exploits visual techniques invented by artists in the ancient world.

Today in the 21st Century people see fewer real dead bodies than at any time in history. Yet in the modern world we seem almost obsessed with images of death. In an investigation encompassing ancient Jericho, Aztec America and classical Italy, historian Nigel Spivey discovers what it is that has compelled human beings to surround themselves with images of death for thousands of years.