Skip to main content
Donate

Up Next

Americas

Americas

Season 1 Episode 1
54:40
Africa

Africa

Season 1 Episode 2
54:40
Asia

Asia

Season 1 Episode 3
54:40
Australia

Australia

Season 1 Episode 4
54:40
Europe

Europe

Season 1 Episode 5
54:40
The First Modern European

The First Modern European

Video
2:14
A Human Hybrid?

A Human Hybrid?

Video
1:28
An Impossible Task

An Impossible Task

Video
2:34
My Ancestors

My Ancestors

Video
2:04
The Curious Species

The Curious Species

Video
1:22
The Denisovans – A New Type of Human Discovered by Genetics

The Denisovans – A New Type of Human Discovered by Genetics

Video
1:25
The Dangers of Genetic Isolation

The Dangers of Genetic Isolation

Video
2:05
Back to Show
First Peoples

Official Trailer

See how the mixing of prehistoric human genes led the way for our species to survive and thrive around the globe. Archaeology, genetics and anthropology cast new light on 200,000 years of history, detailing how early humans became dominant.
Support Provided By
Europe
Unlock with PBS Passport
54:40
Season 1 Episode 5
Europe
Find out why Neanderthals, with whom early humans in Europe interbred, went extinct.
Australia
Unlock with PBS Passport
54:40
Season 1 Episode 4
Australia
Learn how Homo sapiens, new in Australia and truly alone, managed to survive and flourish.
Asia
Unlock with PBS Passport
54:40
Season 1 Episode 3
Asia
Discover a type of ancient human whose genes helped us face down extinction.
Africa
Unlock with PBS Passport
54:40
Season 1 Episode 2
Africa
Examine research that suggests we humans are patchwork species of hybrids.
Americas
Unlock with PBS Passport
54:40
Season 1 Episode 1
Americas
Learn why a discovery in Mexico may rewrite the story of early migration to the Americas.
Active loading indicator