People's Century (1995)

The twentieth century told from below. Across 26 one-hour episodes, the BBC and WGBH Boston interviewed mostly ordinary men and women who had witnessed events up close, and let them carry each story of social, political and cultural change. You can dip into the hours that interest you rather than committing to a strict chronology, which makes it the friendliest way into the century. It won an International Emmy, and its witnesses make it a precious record as well as a superb introduction.