The Machines That Built The World The Machines That Built The World

Documentary · 2021 · 1 hr HISTORY Vault
Available on HISTORY, Philo, Prime Video, Hulu, Sling TV

The stories behind innovations such as TV, radio, phones, airplanes, motorcycles and power tools as well as the inventors including Nikola Tesla, William Harley, Alexander Graham Bell, Duncan Black and Alonzo Decker.

Documentary · 2021 · 1 hr
Starring Campbell Scott

Season 1

  • EPISODE 3

    Titans of Television

    In the 1920s, the idea of beaming moving images through the air is pure science fiction. Most people find entertainment in books, magazines, or theater. But two daring pioneering see a different future, where people sit in front of screens, dazzled and engaged by what they see. To dominate the burgeoning market, a ruthless mogul takes on a little-known inventor in a high stakes battle that will change the world forever. Can a rugged farm-boy topple a big-city titan with endless resources? With millions at stake, it's a bitter feud, as both men jockey to claim the title: "The Father of Television."

    39 min · Jul 25, 2021
  • EPISODE 4

    Motorcycle Kings

    At the end of the 19th century, private travel means taking a walk or riding a horse. But scrappy upstarts William Harley and Arthur Davidson have a bold vision for a new form of transportation--connecting a motor to a bicycle.

    40 min · Aug 1, 2021
  • EPISODE 5

    Telephone Wars

    In the 1870s, when Western Union offers a colossal cash prize to anyone who can improve its network, two daring inventors go head-to-head in a fight that will forever change the way humans connect.

    40 min · Aug 8, 2021
  • EPISODE 6

    Power Tool Showdown

    At the dawn of the 20th century, America is transforming from a primitive agrarian society to a modern Mecca of technology, mass production and automation. A few visionary companies create the power tools that revolutionize how America is built.

    40 min · Aug 15, 2021

Related

Cast & Crew

  • Campbell Scott

    Narrator
  • Steve Ascher

    Producer
  • K‌S

    Kristine Sabat

    Producer
  • M‌P

    Matt Pearl

    Producer
  • Z‌B

    Zachary Behr

    Producer
  • Mary Donahue

    Producer

About

The Machines That Built The World

Documentary

The stories behind innovations such as TV, radio, phones, airplanes, motorcycles and power tools as well as the inventors including Nikola Tesla, William Harley, Alexander Graham Bell, Duncan Black and Alonzo Decker.

Information

Studio
HISTORY
Released
2021
Rated
TV-PG
Region of Origin
United States
© 2021 A+E Networks. All Rights Reserved.

Languages

Original Audio
English
Audio and Subtitles
English (United States) (AAC, CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Benin
  • Botswana
  • Cameroun
  • Cape Verde
  • Chad
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Iraq
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Mauritius
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Nigeria
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Congo, Republic of
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania, United Republic Of
  • Tunisia
  • Turkmenistan
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Uganda
  • Yemen
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Bhutan
  • Cambodia
  • 中国大陆
  • Fiji
  • 香港
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Kazakhstan
  • 대한민국
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Maldives
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • New Zealand
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Tonga
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vanuatu
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Georgia
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Kosovo
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Montenegro
  • Nederland
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Romania
  • Россия
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Guyana
  • Honduras (Español)
  • Jamaica
  • México
  • Montserrat
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • St. Vincent and The Grenadines
  • Suriname
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos
  • Uruguay (English)
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)
  • الولايات المتحدة
  • США
  • 美国 (简体中文)
  • États-Unis (Français France)
  • 미국
  • Estados Unidos (Português Brasil)
  • Hoa Kỳ
  • 美國 (繁體中文台灣)