The Decade That Invented The Future - The 1970s

show more detail show less detail

Duration

60 minutes

15 minutes

Genre

Factual
History

Station

Radio 4

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Comments
1970: Modern British Feminism	20190401	Feminist theorist and writer Sheila Rowbotham explores the legacy of Britain's first national Women's Liberation Movement conference, held in Oxford in 1970. 'Most important of all,' she recalls, 'was the collective confidence, energy and strength that came from discovering there were several hundred of us...I floated through the weekend in a state of buoyant happiness. Producer: Neil Koenig Sheila Rowbotham on Britain's first national Women's Liberation Movement conference Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1970-1974	20190405	How crucial developments from this remarkable decade shaped the world we live in now. Five essayists each tackle a single story from each year of the first half of the 1970s. Sheila Rowbotham describes Britain's first Women's Liberation Conference in 1970: Henry Marsh explains how in 1971 the CT Scanner was invented: Jeffery Weeks recalls taking part in Britain's first Gay Pride march in 1972: John Browne remembers how the oil crisis of 1973 affected his own life: while Elizabeth Drew outlines the dramatic events that led to President Nixon's resignation. Producer: Neil Koenig Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1971: The Ct Scan	20190402	Neurosurgeon and writer Henry Marsh tells the story of the revolution in medical diagnosis brought on by the advent of the CT scan. It was developed at Atkinson Morley Hospital in London, where Marsh was later to work. 'CT scanning was a revolutionary breakthrough,' he says. 'For the first time the living brain could be made visible. Neurology and neurosurgery changed profoundly to the immeasurable benefit of patients. Producer: Neil Koenig Henry Marsh on a revolution in medical diagnosis brought on by the advent of the CT scan. Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1972: Pride	20190403	The sociologist and writer Jeffrey Weeks explores the legacy of the first British Gay Pride Rally, held in 1972. 'Popping balloons, handing out leaflets, holding hands and blowing kisses, it was a joyous and unforgettable celebration of our sexualities and our new sense of identity and belonging,' he remembers. Producer: Neil Koenig Sociologist Jeffrey Weeks on the legacy of the first British Gay Pride Rally, held in 1972 Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1973: Oil Shock	20190404	John Browne, former CEO of BP, explores the impact of the 1973 oil shock on 20th century global politics and economics. Production restrictions by OPEC had a dramatic effect in the US where he was then working.. 'OPEC's announcement threw New York into a state of turmoil. Queues for gasoline stations ran for blocks down the street, and people would drive from station to station searching for fuel,' Lord Browne recalls. 'Even with their tank nearly full, they would wait for hours for a top-up. I can remember people's frustration, which often turned to violence. Producer: Neil Koenig The story of the 1973 oil shock, a turning point in 20th-century economics and geopolitics Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1974: Nixon Resigns	20190405	Washington journalist Elizabeth Drew reflects on the impact of the Watergate affair and Richard Nixon's resignation on American society and politics. 'It needs be understood that this was a scary period: we knew that people in the White House would take extra-legal steps to achieve their ends,' she says. 'We joked with dark humour about whether we were being wiretapped. We actually wondered whether our democratic system would survive. Producer: Neil Koenig Elizabeth Drew on the impact of Watergate and Richard Nixon's resignation on America. Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1975: Europe Referendum	20190408	Stephen Wall, former British Permanent Representative to the European Union, and author of an official history of Britain and the European Community, recalls Britain's 1975 referendum on membership of the EEC. 'Like most of my generation, I felt idealistic about this European project,' Sir Stephen says. 'But as a country, we never quite felt European'. We went to' Europe rather than feeling in' Europe. Producer: Neil Koenig Stephen Wall on Britain's referendum on membership of the European Economic Community. Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1975-1979	20190412	How crucial developments from this remarkable decade shaped the world we live in now. Five essayists each tackle a single story from each year of the second half of the 1970s. Stephen Wall looks back at the referendum on Britain's membership of the EEC, held in 1975. Peter Jay recalls the financial crisis that prompted the British government to borrow billions from the IMF in 1976. Michael S. Malone remembers the 1977 launch of the Apple II personal computer. Ruth Deech reflects on the impact of the birth of the first test tube baby in 1978. And Narguess Farzad assesses the legacy of the revolution in Iran in 1979. Producer: Neil Koenig. Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1976: Borrowing Into The Future	20190409	Peter Jay on the financial crisis that led Britain to borrow billions from the IMF. Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1977: Apple	20190410	Author and broadcaster Michael S. Malone tells the story of the Apple II personal computer, an invention which helped to revolutionise the way we work and play. 'The stunning Apple II, with its new rainbow logo, put the scores of other, cruder personal computers in the shade, ' he says. 'They looked like the past. The Apple II looked like the future, the only future, for personal computing. Producer: Neil Koenig The story of the Apple II personal computer, launched in 1977, and its legacy. Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1978: Ivf	20190411	The first 'test-tube baby' was born in 1978. Ruth Deech, former chair of the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority, examines the impact of the introduction of IVF, the developments it made possible, and what the future may hold. 'We were and remain the most advanced country in the world for research in cloned embryos and stem cell research,' Baroness Deech says. Producer: Neil Koenig Ruth Deech on IVF, the developments it made possible and what the future may hold. Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1979: Iran	20190412	Narguess Farzad, Senior Fellow in Persian at SOAS, explores the impact of the 1979 revolution in Iran. 'The demise of the Peacock Throne and the success of the Islamic revolution in Iran was one of the most staggering events of the second half of the twentieth century ,' she says. Producer: Neil Koenig Writer Narguess Farzad explores the impact of the 1979 revolution in Iran. Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Comments
1970: Modern British Feminism	20190401	Feminist theorist and writer Sheila Rowbotham explores the legacy of Britain's first national Women's Liberation Movement conference, held in Oxford in 1970. 'Most important of all,' she recalls, 'was the collective confidence, energy and strength that came from discovering there were several hundred of us...I floated through the weekend in a state of buoyant happiness. Producer: Neil Koenig Sheila Rowbotham on Britain's first national Women's Liberation Movement conference Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1970-1974	20190405	How crucial developments from this remarkable decade shaped the world we live in now. Five essayists each tackle a single story from each year of the first half of the 1970s. Sheila Rowbotham describes Britain's first Women's Liberation Conference in 1970: Henry Marsh explains how in 1971 the CT Scanner was invented: Jeffery Weeks recalls taking part in Britain's first Gay Pride march in 1972: John Browne remembers how the oil crisis of 1973 affected his own life: while Elizabeth Drew outlines the dramatic events that led to President Nixon's resignation. Producer: Neil Koenig Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1971: The Ct Scan	20190402	Neurosurgeon and writer Henry Marsh tells the story of the revolution in medical diagnosis brought on by the advent of the CT scan. It was developed at Atkinson Morley Hospital in London, where Marsh was later to work. 'CT scanning was a revolutionary breakthrough,' he says. 'For the first time the living brain could be made visible. Neurology and neurosurgery changed profoundly to the immeasurable benefit of patients. Producer: Neil Koenig Henry Marsh on a revolution in medical diagnosis brought on by the advent of the CT scan. Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1972: Pride	20190403	The sociologist and writer Jeffrey Weeks explores the legacy of the first British Gay Pride Rally, held in 1972. 'Popping balloons, handing out leaflets, holding hands and blowing kisses, it was a joyous and unforgettable celebration of our sexualities and our new sense of identity and belonging,' he remembers. Producer: Neil Koenig Sociologist Jeffrey Weeks on the legacy of the first British Gay Pride Rally, held in 1972 Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1973: Oil Shock	20190404	John Browne, former CEO of BP, explores the impact of the 1973 oil shock on 20th century global politics and economics. Production restrictions by OPEC had a dramatic effect in the US where he was then working.. 'OPEC's announcement threw New York into a state of turmoil. Queues for gasoline stations ran for blocks down the street, and people would drive from station to station searching for fuel,' Lord Browne recalls. 'Even with their tank nearly full, they would wait for hours for a top-up. I can remember people's frustration, which often turned to violence. Producer: Neil Koenig The story of the 1973 oil shock, a turning point in 20th-century economics and geopolitics Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1974: Nixon Resigns	20190405	Washington journalist Elizabeth Drew reflects on the impact of the Watergate affair and Richard Nixon's resignation on American society and politics. 'It needs be understood that this was a scary period: we knew that people in the White House would take extra-legal steps to achieve their ends,' she says. 'We joked with dark humour about whether we were being wiretapped. We actually wondered whether our democratic system would survive. Producer: Neil Koenig Elizabeth Drew on the impact of Watergate and Richard Nixon's resignation on America. Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1975: Europe Referendum	20190408	Stephen Wall, former British Permanent Representative to the European Union, and author of an official history of Britain and the European Community, recalls Britain's 1975 referendum on membership of the EEC. 'Like most of my generation, I felt idealistic about this European project,' Sir Stephen says. 'But as a country, we never quite felt European'. We went to' Europe rather than feeling in' Europe. Producer: Neil Koenig Stephen Wall on Britain's referendum on membership of the European Economic Community. Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1975-1979	20190412	How crucial developments from this remarkable decade shaped the world we live in now. Five essayists each tackle a single story from each year of the second half of the 1970s. Stephen Wall looks back at the referendum on Britain's membership of the EEC, held in 1975. Peter Jay recalls the financial crisis that prompted the British government to borrow billions from the IMF in 1976. Michael S. Malone remembers the 1977 launch of the Apple II personal computer. Ruth Deech reflects on the impact of the birth of the first test tube baby in 1978. And Narguess Farzad assesses the legacy of the revolution in Iran in 1979. Producer: Neil Koenig. Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1976: Borrowing Into The Future	20190409	Peter Jay on the financial crisis that led Britain to borrow billions from the IMF. Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1977: Apple	20190410	Author and broadcaster Michael S. Malone tells the story of the Apple II personal computer, an invention which helped to revolutionise the way we work and play. 'The stunning Apple II, with its new rainbow logo, put the scores of other, cruder personal computers in the shade, ' he says. 'They looked like the past. The Apple II looked like the future, the only future, for personal computing. Producer: Neil Koenig The story of the Apple II personal computer, launched in 1977, and its legacy. Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1978: Ivf	20190411	The first 'test-tube baby' was born in 1978. Ruth Deech, former chair of the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority, examines the impact of the introduction of IVF, the developments it made possible, and what the future may hold. 'We were and remain the most advanced country in the world for research in cloned embryos and stem cell research,' Baroness Deech says. Producer: Neil Koenig Ruth Deech on IVF, the developments it made possible and what the future may hold. Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.
1979: Iran	20190412	Narguess Farzad, Senior Fellow in Persian at SOAS, explores the impact of the 1979 revolution in Iran. 'The demise of the Peacock Throne and the success of the Islamic revolution in Iran was one of the most staggering events of the second half of the twentieth century ,' she says. Producer: Neil Koenig Writer Narguess Farzad explores the impact of the 1979 revolution in Iran. Ten essays on how this remarkable decade shaped the world in which we now live.