Atlantic (S)

Using diagrams, 'Atlantic' explores the history of the empires surrounding the Atlantic Ocean over the last 600 years. 'The course of history unfolds across the screen. Five hundred years ago the only known part of the Atlantic seaboard was the coast of Europe. Columbus sailed across the Atlantic in 1492, and John Cabot discovered Newfoundland in 1497. The task of opening up lands around the Atlantic has been shared by many nations. British, French, Dutch, Spaniards and Portuguese built empires and created free nations in the New World, contributing to the vast traffic passing backwards and forwards across the ocean.’ (Films of Britain - British Council Film Department Catalogue - 1941)