Watch Taming the Beasts – The History of Animal Domestication for free

The history of human civilization is the history of the animals that made it possible. This two-part series shows the rise of humankind through the lens of the animals that have accompanied us on this journey for millennia. We use their strength and superior senses, their flesh and instincts. And we enjoy their loyalty and friendship. It’s probably one of the greatest strokes of luck in human history: competitors and opponents in the struggle for survival became our companions. The films take an in-depth look at this evolved symbiosis with all facets between exploitation and adoration. From the Beginnings to the Middle Ages spans the period from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages and poses questions about the ethical, ecological and social consequences of this, not always voluntary, symbiosis. By following the long journey of this ever-growing relationship, it documents the changes these animals went through at the hand of people: tamed, optimized, trivialized and humanized. From the Industrial Revolution to the Present Day takes an in-depth look at the long-standing value of this symbiosis, even in these modern times. But the truth is: on the one hand, pets today often live in a state of prosperity that is unattainable for many people. On the other hand, the current existence of most farm animals is comprised of little more than waiting for the slaughter knife in a windowless, mass-produced stable. And with robotics, genetics research and the promise of A.I., this era could soon come to an end. Does digital revolution mean the end of this millennia-long relationship with the animals that enabled us to become rulers of the world? Or is this time a renaissance of this relationship, the value of which we are only now able to recognize, as the climate crisis and species extinction threaten our own survival?