AllMovie

Europe suffered an unusually cold period in the 13th century, and as icebergs formed in the North Atlantic, a search for a new form of energy began. Connections: Thunder in the Skies looks at how the cold affected historical developments for seven centuries, as host and author James Burke continues his award-winning series. Architecture had to adapt to the changes in climate, and the invention of steam led to the Industrial Revolution. This, in turn, pointed the way to the gasoline engine, which powers jet planes and other modern transportation.