Season 1
5 episodes · 1995
1Forests
Historian Simon Schama begins by looking at forests - places of myth and memory, fear and worship.
2Rivers
Simon Schama examines how rivers were a source of inspiration to 19th century poets, painters and composers.
3Mountains
Mountains have traditionally been regarded as sacred places. Simon Schama looks at the different ways in which they have been conquered.
4Seas
Historian Simon Schama takes a look at the way in which the sea has fired the imagination of writers, painters and explorers.
5Arcadia
Last in the series examining the relationship between culture and the natural environment. Historian Simon Schama looks at paintings by Poussin and the writings of Horace, Virgil, Rousseau and Thoreau as he investigates different interpretations of the theme of Arcadia.