The Empires of Industry: Black Gold - The Story of Oil  (2005)

Theatrical Release Information:
The Empires of Industry: Black Gold - The Story of Oil

This program traces the history of oil from its beginnings in ancient China to the present day. Using archival film footage, personal accounts, art work, and expert commentary, the documentary follows oil explorers and workers from Appalachia to Arabia in the quest for the black gold. With industrial society's current dependence on the product, oil has such value that it has made fortunes for men such as Rockefeller, and caused wars such as in the Persian Gulf. In the early 2000s, the fate of nations can be said to turn on the availability of oil. With oil men in the White House, and trouble in the Middle East, where is the story of oil leading the global village? This question is discussed by the program's scholarly panel. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide