Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered the WorldOctober 14, 2015

By the early 1950s, a holy trinity of oil, plastics and fertilisers had transformed the planet. But as Professor Iain Stewart reveals, when the oil producing countries demanded a greater share in profits from the Western energy companies, the oil and gas fields of the Middle East became a focus for coup d'états and military conflict.

Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered the World was broadcast on BBC4 at Wednesday 14 October 2015, 21:00.