Recent genetic evidence suggests all humans originated in Africa around 60,000 years ago from one single man, based on analysis of the Y chromosome. Ice cores and tree rings have helped reconstruct past volcanic eruptions like one around 535AD that may have contributed to political and climate changes, including a potential role in the rise of Islam. Deciphering Mayan hieroglyphics has given insights into their civilization, but the language remains difficult to fully decode due to destroyed texts and lack of materials to compare it to.

1. Written by: Kyle Bauman Film Summaries

2. Journey of Man Recent single origin hypothesis states that human ancestors originated in Africa Analysis of the Y chromosome methods used in tracing the history of early humans Thirteen genetic markers on the Y-chromosome differentiate populations of human beings.

3. Journey of Man The earliest groups of humans are believed to find their present-day descendants among the San people a group that is now found in western southern Africa. It is believed, based on genetic evidence, all human beings in existence now descend from one single man who lived in Africa about 60,000 years ago

4. Catastrophe! Ice cores in Antarctica and pine rings from Sierra National forest help tell the story of early volcanic history Our century is one of the most quiet with respect to volcanoes Massive volcanic eruption around 535AD Krakatoa was possibly the cause of the climatic catastrophe Could have possibly lead to bubonic plague in Rome Avars extracted massive amount of gold from weak roman empire

5. Catastrophe! Could have possibly lead to the fall of Teotihuacan empire Huge political consequences stemmed from catastrophe All of the problems that surround the eruption of 535 fed into early evolution of Islam Yellowstone caldera might be the next eruption that could trigger another climatic catastrophe

6. Little Ice Age: Big Chill Just a few degrees drop in overall global temperature created huge impact. 1300-1850 was a period of cataclysmic cold that caused a global mayhem. Froze Viking colonists in Greenland Aided to black death in Europe Destroyed Spanish Armada Possibly trigger for French revolution

7. Little Ice Age: Big Chill The global cooling caused the New York Harbor to freeze over Two feet of snow fell on New England in the summer months of June and July. Climatologists think it could possibly happen again. Global warming could possibly trigger an ice age.

8. Terry Jones : Barbarians ( The Primative Celts) Julius Caesar invaded Celtic Gaul in 58 BC to protect northern boarder According to Rome Celts were warring and illiterate people Jones finds that Celts knowledge far surpassed that of Rome Especially in mathematics Society that protected the young and weak Built on sophisticated trading network that spread beyond Celtic boarders

9. Terry Jones : Barbarians ( The Primitive Celts) Caesar wanted to destroy the Celts Reasons: built on vast deposits of gold Caesar was broke and needed the Celtic gold in order to start minting gold coins This conquest for gold was responsible for over a million Celt deaths

10. Genghis Khan Genghis Khan was one of the greatest conquerors of all time Captured territory extends from Asian steppes to central Europe His main objective: Capture territory Enslavement of the people

11. Genghis Khan Interested in war for the sake of war Came to power by uniting many nomadic tribes of northeast Asia His most potent threat was China. Wanted nothing but good things for his people Learned Chinese weaponry, created a medical core, created a record of all his rules, each tribe giving its own graving grounds

12. The Mughals:Warrior Empire 1526-1858 Dynasty of nomadic warriors that drove for territorial expansion, spreading there rules throughout India Brilliant technological innovators as well as masters of art and architecture TajMahal Fought with amazing artillery War dressed elephants fully armored in chain mail

13. The Mughals: Warrior Empire Great understanding of metallurgy and composites Composite bows with incredible flexibility and strength hand woven chain mail Great understanding of rocketry Swards smith techniques passed down for generations that are still present today

14. Cracking the Maya Code Archeologists and other scientists decode ancient carving of Mayan civilization Leads to a greater understanding of what day to day life was like during time of the Mayan civilization Problem with deciding Mayan language Nothing to compare it to Most Mayan text were destroyed

15. Cracking the Maya Code Used symbols to represent signs and concepts “summary” of Mayan hieroglyphics was left behind, but not very useful Only the phonetic representation of some symbols were documented Many scientists have tried to crack the code ,but majority having conflicting hypotheses