History of Love

screenable online: 5 episodes

New

As long as humans have lived on Earth, they have been having sex. But what about love ? When did love become part of our world ? And how has it changed since we stopped living in trees ? This five- part documentary series explains how love and sex have developed throughout human history.

The programme explores how love and sex have shaped humanity, and how society has shaped love and sex. The series points out that societal narratives and ideas have always influenced human sexuality, and that culture forbids what biology allows.

Each episode observes how this tension has developed in a different era of human history – from the Stone Age via Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Early Modern Age up to the present. Combining evocative reconstructions, innovative CGI, and the expertise of world-leading scientists, this captivating series provides a nuanced under - standing of the ever- evolving history of love.

Even our Old Stone Age ancestors preferred stable pair bonds. Most women chose men willing to help with child-rearing as partners. During the Neolithic Revolution, nomadic hunters and gatherers…

In antiquity, patriarchy spreads relentlessly. Almost exclusively men sit on thrones. Women give birth and raise children. Whether in ancient Egypt, Greece, or Rome, men use their power to set the…

Christianity declares human lust a sin. Those who indulge in physical desires are said to burn in hell. Only marital sex for procreation is acceptable. However, the church's body negativity ignores…

The rise of the bourgeoisie paves the way for the triumph of romantic love. Feelings rather than money now determine the choice of partner, marking the end of the arranged marriage. Personal…

The 20th century is a revolutionary era in which many moral taboos are broken and rights for sexual minorities are fought for. Pioneers like doctors Sigmund Freud and Magnus Hirschfeld shock with…