AllMovie

The 11-part series Man on the Rim chronicles the history of the Pacific Rim countries and addresses the contemporary significance of these nations as major players in world affairs. Pacific Rim countries include Australia, China, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Japan, Laos, and New Zealand. Part nine, Man on the Rim: Roads Without Wheels, looks at the impressive skill and imagination displayed by ancient South American Indians. Isolated from other cultures, the people of this region successfully developed their own agriculture, which was later adopted abroad. Other significant inventions highlighted in the program include the wheel. While these people invented it, it was applied only to playthings and not used for transportation purposes. This program also showcases the enviable metal-working skills of South American Indians. Other programs in the series include Man on the Rim: The Powerhouse, Man on the Rim: Into the Deep Freeze, and Man on the Rim: The New Cutting Edge.