How Art Made The World 人、艺术、世界 -17

They began by analyzing¹ the strain of farmed wheat that goes into our food and extracting its DNA².

They did the same to several varieties of wild wheat. Then they compared their genetic³ makeup⁴.

And what they discovered is that the closest wild relative to our cultivated wheat grows in those mountains over there--the Karacadag about 20 miles from Gobekli Tepe. The theory is that wild wheat was brought from the mountains and farmed here to feed the thousands of people frequenting the site.

So there's the momentous⁵ conclusion that imagery have become so powerful in the minds of human beings that it brought about the greatest transformation⁶ in human history.

Today our modern world is dominated by pictures in ways our ancient ancestors could never have begun to imagine, what would they have made of images that move, that have beamed across the globe and that are seen by millions?

Yet, none of these could have happened without people thousands of years ago having had a revelation, that with lines, shapes and colors, they could capture the world.

Next on How Art Made The World, we'll reveal how today's politicians are exploiting visual techniques invented thousands of years ago. We'll uncover the first leader in Britain to exploit the power of art. And we'll discover how two mighty⁷ kings fought over an empire using imagery as a weapon.

Where can you find out more about the stories featured in this series? Well, visit the website: bbc.co.uk/science for details of museums with How Art Made the World events.

word to remember:
makeup: The way in which something is composed or arranged; composition or construction.组成

1 analyzing   

v.分析；分析( analyze的现在分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析n.分析

参考例句：

• Analyzing the date of some socialist countries presents even greater problem s. 分析某些社会主义国家的统计数据，暴露出的问题甚至更大。 来自辞典例句
• He undoubtedly was not far off the mark in analyzing its predictions. 当然，他对其预测所作的分析倒也八九不离十。 来自辞典例句

2 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

3 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

4 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

5 momentous   

adj.重要的，重大的

参考例句：

• I am deeply honoured to be invited to this momentous occasion.能应邀出席如此重要的场合，我深感荣幸。
• The momentous news was that war had begun.重大的新闻是战争已经开始。

6 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

7 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。