Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9012 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-08-27
• Rating: Exempt
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2

Amazon.co.uk Review
Here Attenborough focuses on the cradle of Western civilization, tracing the life of the Mediterranean from salt bed to lush paradise and its ultimate exploitation. History, natural history and archeology come together in a narrative that portrays the changing attitudes of mankind toward the environment. He surveys early plant and animal life, discussing discusses climatic and seasonal changes. The domestication of the horse opened the doors to wars and migration. Attenborough chronicles the movements in both directions from the Huns to the Crusaders and, finally, looks at more recent despoliation and areas of preservation. –Publishers Weekly

DVD Description
The First Eden is a glorious portrait of the landscape, wildlife and plants of the Mediterranean, presented by Sir David Attenborough. From the earliest human settlements to the cities of today, across the deserts of North Africa to the forests of southern Europe, this series tells the dramatic story of man and nature at work. It was one of the shorter series that followed the phenomenal success of The Living Planet.

Synopsis
Sir David Attenborough presents this fascinating look at the landscape, wildlife and plants of the Mediterranean region, charting the area from its first settlers right through to the cityscapes of today.

Customer Reviews

Inspirational series
I remember watching this series back in 1987 in my gap year between school and university. It proved inspirational. Within a few weeks I decided to retrace Attenborough's steps by going to Egypt, marvelling at a fair number of the sites he visited. There is much beautiful film from many interesting locations around the Mediterranean. The series is much more anthropological than most of his others which could put some off but for me was one of the principal points of interest. The final episode about the despoilation of the Med is predictably dispiriting.

Overall a truly inspirational series which encouraged my fascination with the Mediterranean. The book of the series is also worth having and contains a great bibliography of related subject matter. Also worth reading is Eric Newby's brilliant 'On the shores of the Mediterranean'. The Mediteranean - truly the First Eden.

At last - an old gem
I have been waiting for this series to be released for years, having the original hardback & paperback books. As well as an interesting biogeographical history of the Mediterranean, this series is a foray for Attenborough into anthropology, examining cave art and the changing role of animals in human society, from gods and spirits to objects of domestication.

The Mediterranean - a little known fact
The Med, has always been a seductive mystery to me. This series has been very insightful and has gave me a deeper understanding of the Med. It is now rather dated, though some facts still remain current. A remake of this series, 20 years on would be a great jewel - Call it The First Eden Revisited. With today, stunning High-Def photography, David would be able to give a great new life to this series.

For example the Bald Northern Ibis, were actually thought be extinct right up to 2002-3, but has been recently found in 2006 and radio tagged. And to describe what the ravages of was in MidEast in 1990-91 and current wars are effecting the Med.