Saga of Western Man
Each episode focused on a particular year, person, or incident that producer John H. Secondari felt significantly influenced the progress of Western civilization.[2] Highlights include the relegation of Native American Indians to reservations; European immigration; the industrialization of America; "The Gilded Age" and J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and William Vanderbilt; the Spanish-American War; Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders; and the U.S. as a world power.Our focus is America, our accomplishments, but most importantly, our challenges … for we too are part of the Saga of Western Man.”[4][5] The life of Leonardo da Vinci, the 15th Century Italian whose all-around brilliance epitomized the Renaissance-Man.[6] The episode contains the first documented usage of a quote misattributed to da Vinci, "And once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you would return.Program highlights include a look at the lack of religious freedom under England's King James I, and the Pilgrims' flight to Holland, trans-Atlantic voyage, and interaction with the Indians.