David Attenborough travels from France to Syria to explore the Mediterranean. The opener charts the creation of the sea's basin and surveys the area's wildlife, including chameleons, porcupines, flamingos, spoonbills, storks and monkeys.

David Attenborough visits Jordan, Spain, Italy and Malta. Included: the Arabs' passion for horses, which were the key to the spread of Islam in Spain; the devastation of forests in Spain for sheep pastures and in Italy for shipbuilding.