The history of mathematics from ancient times to the present day. Narrated by Oxford mathematics professor Marcus du Sautoy, the series covers the seminal moments and people in the development of maths.
Well-made series about an incredibly interesting subject (well, to me at least). Shows the major leaps forward in great detail, and with explanations that you don't need a Ph.D to understand (though a decent degree of mathematical knowledge is required). Enthusiastically and intelligently narrated by Marcus du Sautoy, with backdrops that include the streets and rooms that the great mathematicians once walked down and inhabited.
Not perfect though. It started very well, with the small steps in Ancient Egypt, Babylon, India and the like that established our basic number system. Showed just the low base we were starting from in our knowledge of numbers and maths.
However, as it progressed, the jumps between events and people became less obvious and continuous. A more comprehensive history was required, covering the steps in between the events shown, plus wider mathematical theories and applications. It would have been good if some of the offshoots of maths - physics, astronomy, statistics, engineering, say, were covered. I would not have minded double or even triple the number of episodes.
