Butterfly Effect
Season 2
Overview
Turning points in history often hinge on one decision. We look at moments in history where one decision changes everything.
Episodes
1. Dunkirk, resist at all costs
The dramatic story of the defense of France against Hitler's invading army in order to enable the desperate evacuation of over 300K men of the British Expeditionary Force and Allied troops across the English Channel to safety in 1940.
2. Aral, a sea for cotton
The former Soviet Union collectivized many aspects of agricultural and industrial development in the 1950's. While some efforts were successful others like the cotton-growing around the Aral Sea have proven to be an ecological nightmare.
3. Cuba, nuclear standoff
The Cuban Missile Crisis was one of the defining moments of the mid-twentieth century and of the presidency of John Kennedy. How did the two Cold War powers of the USSR and the USA come to the point of threatening nuclear war?
4. Constantinople, from an empire to another
Constantinople was a part of the Roman Empire then became the seat of the Byzantine Empire and then was the imperial city of the Ottoman Empire. Here is the story of the fabled city and its history of power and conflict through the ages.
5. Cortés, in the heart of Aztec empire
The encounter between the conquistador and opportunist Hernan Cortés and the indigenous peoples of Central America is one of history's tragic tales of greed conflict imperial weakness and superior weaponry.
6. The Gold Rush, for a fistful of nuggets
Timing is everything just look at what happened in 1848. How did the finding of gold in Sutter's Mill make an impact on the development of California and the history of the United States?
7. Black Death, the invisible enemy
A disease that developed and killed within a few days decimates Europe and changes the course of history.
8. The Fronde
In the 17th century a long period of civil war in France and war across Europe rebellious members of the French Parliament dubbed The Fronde defy the monarchy and this defiance does not end well for them...and changes the history of France.
9. Al Capone, child of prohibition
Unable to bring mob boss Al Capone to justice for many of the crimes ascribed to him the US Federal government took a new tack to end the rule of gangsters in the Depression.
10. The Olympic Games, a mirror to society
How did one man succeed in relaunching the Olympic spirit and turn the Games into a global event?
11. Gutenberg, visionary inventor
In the 15th century an inventor in a workshop in Strasburg came up with a machine that would eventually change the history of the entire world and shake a religion to its core. The choice of the first work to be printed is an astute one: Saint Jerome’s Latin version of the Bible.
12. The Suffragettes, battle for the ballot box
In late Victorian England women began to organize to gain the right to vote. The fight for women's suffrage lasted well into the early 20th Century.
13. The fall of Quebec, France loses America
The battle between the French and English for the French territory of New France hinges on the presence of the British navy. And the Battle on the Plains of Abraham is tipped to Great Britain by the solidly trained soldiers of the British army. This changed the landscape of North America.
