History - Modern Marvels: Leather

Sometime at the dawn of civilization, animal hides were rubbed down with animal fat, making them more flexible, durable, and malleable. By the 5th Century BC, this tanning process expanded to include vegetable and tree oil washes, creating what's now known as leather-one of man's most reliable and versatile products. Without advances in leather shoes, the Romans could never have marched to the Tigris; nor could the Pilgrims have survived winters in Plymouth. Today, leather is a staple of our daily lives. Modern tanners have devised techniques to make leather more versatile, colorful, and luxurious than ever. We visit modern tanneries of conventional cowhide leather, and explore the more exotic leathers made from alligator, snakes, and even sting-ray. And we'll examine the race of modern science to create synthetic leathers that are supposedly more convenient in today's fast-paced life. We'll see how leather binds us to the past in an unparalleled way.