The 1969 groundbreaking Civilisation series took viewers on an extraordinary cultural tour through the centuries. Lisa Kerrigan examines its origins and later influence on television documentary.

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Adelaide University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU. This piece is republished with permission from GriffithReview 63: Writing the Country (Text), ed Ashley Hay. At the same time ...

First broadcast in 1969 across 13 episodes, Civilisation took viewers on a tour through 13 countries and back through many centuries, all guided by Lord Kenneth Clark as he expounded, with ...