connections 7 the long chain reel 1-1936

Documentary, connections 7 the long chain reel 1-1936

Connections 7: The Long Chain" is the seventh episode of the original BBC television series Connections with James Burke. The episode, which aired in 1978, explores how the need for shipworm protection in the 16th century led to the production of pitch and tar from pine trees. This, in turn, created a market in the American colonies, which influenced the development of slavery and other industries in England, showing how disparate events can create a "long chain" of cause and effect.
Episode Title: The Long Chain
Series: Connections with James Burke
Original Air Date: November 28, 1978
Key Topic: The episode traces the history of international trade and its unintended consequences, beginning with the need for wooden ship hulls to be protected from shipworms.
Connecting Events:
Shipworms damaged wooden hulls, and pitch and tar were used as a protective coating.
The Thirty Years' War disrupted the supply of pitch and tar from the Baltic.
England sought alternative sources in its American colonies.
This led to the development of a new industry in the colonies to produce tar and turpentine, which is a process that involved roasting pine trees.
This created a demand for manpower, which in turn fueled the growth of the slave trade.