Original subtitles

Thousands of years ago, ancient powers ruled our world.

Egypt.

China.

India.

Greece.

And Rome.

Players in a high -stakes game of strategy and luck.

Success will bring them wealth and immortality.

failure, oblivion, and death.

In their battle for survival, each civilization will face the same

challenges.

How they respond will shape their destiny.

In this episode, Kill or be killed.

In a world where enemies watch for weakness, our ancient powers must use

their strength and cunning to defend their people and conquer new lands.

Who will rise to the challenge of the battlefield?

Our ancient powers have settled, built their cities, exploited their natural

resources, and are getting rich through trade.

Now, each must protect their lands from aggressive neighbors.

Greece is home to hundreds of independent city -states.

They exist as competing alliances.

But collectively, they are becoming a distinctive culture.

It's a flourishing ancient power on the verge of a golden age.

But it's facing a crisis.

To the east is Persia.

the region's dominant force.

It has already conquered nearly 5 million square kilometers of land across

Mediterranean and Asia.

Now it is turning its attention to Greece.

The Persian army is a quarter of a million men strong.

And in the summer of 480 BCE, they invade mainland Greece.

to confront the Greek forces here.

Back then, the landscape was entirely different.

The coastline was up to the road as we see it today.

The small Greek army is vastly outnumbered, and no, they don't stand a

They must retreat and regroup.

But how can they do this against such a formidable aggressor?

To buy them time, one unit must stay and fight.

These need to be the Greeks' fiercest warriors.

The obvious choice is the Spartans.

led by their king, Leonidas.

Sparta is one of the few Greek states with a standing army, and for good

They were in constant fear of slave revolt, and their army was effectively a

militarized police force whose main objective was to control that slave

population.

Every Spartan male is a highly skilled warrior.

They train constantly and start young.

Spartan children start their training when they were about seven years of age

and they had to forage for their own food.

That's why they had to sharpen their skills in stealth, camouflage and

objects.

They were punished because they were caught, not because they stole.

And their training could be compared to the modern special forces courses.

The Spartans' courage and skills are famous throughout the ancient world.

Although one aspect of their modern reputation isn't entirely true.

Legend had it that Spartans fought naked.

And this is reinforced by modern people seeing the statue of Leonidas that has

the artistic concept of heroic nudity.

But that's false.

Fighting naked in ancient close combat is not a smart thing to do.

Spartans were the most heavily armed infantry of Greece at that time.

With their fearsome reputation,

The Spartans are Greece's best hope of holding the Persians at bay.

But they aren't alone at Thermopylae.

Everyone thinks, because of how history is presented, that there were only 300

Spartans here.

Actually, there was a group between 7 ,000 to 8 ,000 men from various city

-states. They all were under the command of the Spartans who were... the best

warriors of Greece.

King Leonidas positions his men between the cliffs and the sea.

This is a good place to attend because it was a very narrow spot where a

army could contain a larger army and the larger army could not count on its

numerical advantage.

The Persians advance from the north.

The bloody battle begin.

In the ancient world, hand -to -hand combat was extremely horrific and very

brutal. The men were tightly packed and they were shoving the enemy and

puncturing with their spears.

So a number of these men would be losing their balance, go down.

And the rear ranks would use their spikes to cure the fallen enemies.

Despite overwhelming odds, the Spartans hold off the Persian advance for three

days, buying the main Greek army enough time to retreat.

But it can't last.

And eventually, the last of them falls.

The Spartan suicide mission allows their Greek allies to fight another day and

creates a fearsome military legend.

The Spartans are remembered in history as the epitome of the disciplined

warrior.

The warrior who stands his ground on the battlefield no matter what, even if it

costs him his life.

The Greeks defend their homeland with the ultimate warriors.

In China, a new dynasty is turning to technology in its fight for supremacy.

The Shang Dynasty have ruled China for 500 years.

Their territory extends over 1 .2 million square kilometers.

But to the west, rebellion is brewing.

The Zhou people, greedy for power, are mobilizing.

But their army is outnumbered ten to one.

What can they do to even the odds?

The Joe put their faith in new battlefield technology.

Revealed in the giant tomb of a warrior king.

The Marquis Cyan is buried surrounded by all the things that made him great.

Weapons, armor, and dozens of horses.

But pride of play is reserved for his fleet of war chariots.

War chariots like these are a revolutionary addition to the Zhou's

There are usually three people in the car. The one in the middle is called

Yuzhong. He drives the car.

On the right side of Yuzhong, this person is called Rongyou.

Rongyou is the one who carries long weapons.

For example, the one who carries this kind of grid or fur.

What is the person on the left side of Yuzhong doing?

He is carrying short weapons and bows.

He will shoot enemies from a distance.

The Zhou's bid for glory comes to a head on the banks of the Yellow River.

Led by just 300 chariots, they face down the vast Shang army.

The Zhou chariots lead the charge and smash into the mass ranks of Shang

infantry.

In the chaos, the Shang are easy pickings for the advancing Zhou, who

entire Shang army in a single day.

Victorious, the Zhou are now China's new leaders, building a dynasty that will

rule for almost eight centuries, the longest ever in China's history.

for the Chinese new weapons technology is key in the battle for control

in India they turn to a very different weapon to save

themselves from destruction

India is under threat.

The most aggressive fighters on Earth are gathering on its northern borders.

The Macedonians.

They want India for their growing empire.

Few have withstood their attacks.

But one Indian kingdom has a secret weapon.

You cannot understand the history of the Indian subcontinent unless you

understand the history of the elephant.

Indian societies, cultures, states, civilization would not exist if not for

elephant.

Sacred and revered, elephants are worshipped as gods.

But can the Indians unleash this animal's dark side to protect their

These enormous creatures are capable of such gentleness.

But they're also, when provoked, capable of absolutely terrifying acts of

destruction.

Elephants seem perfectly designed for war, capable of charging the enemy.

breaking their ranks and instilling terror.

They are put to the test in a battle on the banks of the Hydaspis River in

modern -day Punjab.

200 elephants lead the charge, petrifying the battle -hardened

But the advantage doesn't last long.

Poor training and inadequate armor mean many of the elephants suffer crippling

injuries.

Frightened and in pain, they go berserk, trampling their own soldiers.

Defeat swiftly follows.

This leaves the Indians with a challenge.

They need a new way to unlock the elephant's destructive potential.

These are highly intelligent, highly sensitive, very social animals.

You can't treat them like a chariot.

You need to treat them like elite warriors, like nobles, like kings even.

All of them need to be trained in unique ways. All of them have different

preferences in terms of the kind of food that they might want to eat.

And these animals consume hundreds of kilograms of food a day.

The key is training.

Both elephants and riders must learn the art of war.

They were taught how to attack dummies. They were taught to charge on command,

move on the battlefield, attack in particular ways.

And they invested in this in an absolutely massive way.

The elephants were possibly the single biggest item of expenditure for the

But there was a clear sense that even though an elephant takes a lot of money

upkeep, they more than make up for it with their enormous capabilities on the

battle.

But training alone isn't enough.

To become effective weapons, the elephants also need protection.

As time goes on, we begin to see depictions of elephants wearing armor of

overlapping plates. That would have allowed them a great deal of flexibility

maneuverability in combat, as well as providing protection from projectiles,

flashing weapons, as well as piercing weapons like spears.

We also begin to see that they're provided with infantry escorts and

guards to ensure that their advance to and retreat from the battlefield is

better covered.

The last piece in the jigsaw is a turret on the elephant's back.

From these, archers can safely rain down arrows on the enemy.

India's superweapon is complete.

And about to prove its worth.

In 322 BCE,

A new Indian power, the Mauryan Empire, is on the rise.

The Mauryans assembled a force of elephants that numbered at least a

if not more. Perhaps the single largest elephant army the world had ever seen.

And it becomes fundamental to their success as an ancient power.

The vast Mauryan elephant army makes them almost invincible.

Over the next 90 years, they conquer an empire which stretches from modern -day

Bangladesh in the east to Pakistan in the west.

And news of its terrifying new weapon spreads quickly.

There's a clear recognition from the ancient powers that the elephants are

tanks of the battlefield, and they invest extraordinary amounts in getting

hands on these priceless animals.

There's one particular Greek general who trades his daughter's hand in marriage

for 500 war elephants.

The war elephant helps keep the Mauryans in power for almost 140 years.

And while India thrives, its superweapon is adopted across the Middle East,

They spread from the borders of Mauryan Par in Afghanistan all the way through

Iran into the battlefields of Iraq and Syria and into North Africa.

Eventually, during the might of Imperial Rome, they even reached the shores of

Britain and fight in battles near the Thames River.

And that is the ultimate resounding sign of the elephant's success.

Indians' control of their living weapon helps them conquer an empire.

In Egypt, they will use battlefield technology to defend their borders and

propaganda to create a legend.

Egypt is in its 19th dynasty.

Wealthy and prosperous, it's blessed with an abundance of natural resources.

Gold.

And stone.

Thanks to trade, it's getting richer.

But as a new young pharaoh, Ramesses II, takes the throne, Egyptian territory

and trade routes fall into enemy hands, threatening his kingdom's wealth and

security.

What can he do to win them back?

Ramesses II is perhaps Egypt's most celebrated pharaoh after Tutankhamen.

He was an extraordinary person.

taller than the average Egyptian by a lot, and also a fantastic warrior.

But he had an ego, so he really wanted to make his mark.

And the easiest way for a hothead would be to go to battle.

Ramesses' enemy is the new superpower, the Hittites.

They control the land on Egypt's northern border.

The Hittites lived in Anatolia, which is modern -day Turkey, and they were quite

warlike. They were known for being brutal and also power -hungry.

Equipped with a huge army, they are Egypt's greatest threat.

If Ramethes can beat them, he'll kill two birds with one stone.

Making his name as a warrior pharaoh... and taking back his valuable trade

territories.

The two forces come face to face at the city of Kadesh on the Egyptian -Hittite

border.

There would have been about 20 ,000 people on each side, which would have

phenomenally huge.

And this is the first military engagement ever described properly in

history.

Ramathes records details of the conflict here at his own temple, the Ramaseum.

He shows both armies are well equipped with infantry, horses,

and chariots.

Chariots are amazing war machines because they give you speed, dexterity,

can maneuver much more, and you're also higher up when you're raining down

arrows.

Ramesses Egyptian chariots carry a charioteer and an archer and are his

strike weapon in any battle.

While the Hittite chariots are bigger and heavier.

and carry up to three men.

They were much more cumbersome, and you can see it in the images here.

So with that added weight, you couldn't maneuver them as well. They weren't as

fast, and they had a tendency to get bogged down.

Kadesh will be the biggest chariot battle in history, with

over 6 ,000 of them facing each other.

But will the lighter Egyptian chariots give them the edge over their enemy?

As the Egyptian forces approach Kadesh, Ramesses is impatient to fight.

Young and headstrong, he races ahead of his army.

But the Hittites lie in wait.

Ramses winds up in the thick of battle, almost single -handedly. He's left and

right. He could easily have lost Kaddish and indeed his life.

If he hadn't been so stupid as to go ahead of all of his troops, he might not

have put himself in such vital danger.

And the battle rages on.

The heavier Hittite chariots crash into each other.

The Egyptian military seems to have been far better trained, and their chariots

could maneuver better over this terrain.

We can see the Egyptian chariots coming in, cutting off Hittite chariots.

Hittite chariots attacking the Egyptians.

Amethyst gains the upper hand, slaughtering thousands.

People are under his wield.

They're crying out for mercy.

The noise, the blood, the flies, the screams as animals and men went down and

were trampled must have been horrific.

Ramesses seizes his chance and drives the Hittite army into a nearby river.

But while Ramesses wins this battle, he doesn't win the war, failing to take

back the city of Kadesh.

Although this confident pharaoh doesn't let detail get in the way of a good

story.

When he comes back, all of these temples that he builds and decorates are all

engraved with these extraordinary themes showing the Battle of Kaddish and his

absolute victory over the Hittites.

For him, this was a great thing early on in his reign as propaganda.

This is to say, I am a great pharaoh.

Everyone before me, look at me and tremble.

Throughout Egypt, Ramesses celebrates his victory and massages his ego.

At Abu Simbel, on Egypt's southern border, he erects giant statues of

A warning to any potential invaders of who they are dealing with.

He reigns successfully for another 60 years.

His legend secured by the Battle of Kadesh.

Ramses would have been absolutely delighted with his legacy because it

out as he had wanted.

He is well known. His monuments stand.

People think of him as this extraordinary, brave warrior.

Clearly, Kadesh was a major turning point.

epitomizes who he was and it just set the tone and formula for his reign

egypt's

chariots bring fame for its pharaoh warning off foreign invaders

but the ancient chinese must defend themselves

against the enemy

Within.

Nearly 600 years after the Joes' victory at the Battle of Meubier, their power

has dwindled and fragmented.

With rival warring states locked in perpetual civil war, each one is

aggressively vying to take control.

Armies are now made up of thousands of peasants, but in their untrained hands,

The traditional weapon of choice is no longer fit for purpose.

If one state is to win out, they need a new simpler weapon.

And this is it.

The simple trigger mechanism is the key.

Now, even in untrained hands, the crossbow is deadly.

The crossbow is a major battlefield innovation, one that won't be seen

China for a thousand years.

Capable of shooting arrows almost 200 meters, its big test comes at one of the

bloodiest confrontations in history.

The Battle of Changping rages on for over two years.

Over a million men from two of China's strongest military powers, the Qin and

the Zhao, fight to the death.

450 ,000 are killed.

And it's the Qin who have the technological edge.

After 250 years of civil war, the Qin are victorious.

They grant greater rights to their peasant population who won them their

ushering in a new age of prosperity.

Thanks to new military technology, China is now ruled by a single dynasty.

Far to the west, the Greeks will use their army to punch far above their

Spartans held the Persians at bay at Thermopylae, but since that heroic act,

many Greek city -states have fallen to their Persian foes.

In the far north, one man is plotting revenge.

He is Philip II,

desperate to take the fight to the Persians.

He creates an army like no other.

Implementing stricter discipline, improved training, swifter promotion,

bonuses for exceptional service.

It's a fearsome fighting force.

And Philip leads from the front.

This formidable warrior is protected by his helmet of iron.

His golden ivory shield.

And a leather and gold breastplate.

In his hand, he wields a leaf -shaped sword called Cephos.

Perfect for slashing and thrusting.

And Philip isn't just protected by his armor.

He also believes the gods are on his side.

Golden gorgons adorn his tunic.

These mythical beasts possess the power to turn people to stone and are a

powerful symbol of protection.

The oak leaves and acorns on his crown go one better, connecting him to Zeus,

father of all gods and humans.

Philip goes on the march.

With his new model army and God -given charisma, he unifies almost all the

city -states in just 15 years.

But he wants more.

And he's ready to go head -to -head with his archenemy to get it.

But in a twist of faith...

Philip never gets the chance.

On the eve of the invasion, he's assassinated.

Brutally stabbed by his own bodyguard.

It's now down to his 20 -year -old son to take the fight to the Persians.

Alexander is a brilliant young general, famed for his courage and intelligence.

Equipped with his father's formidable army, he rampages

through Persian territories, liberating occupied cities,

overcoming violent counterattacks.

and stealing Egypt from their grasp.

With the Persians defeated, Alexander, aged just 32, completes

his father's work.

Charismatic leaders and well -trained troops bring Greece victory.

the Romans will take this to another level.

To deliver total military domination.

Rome's Republic has existed for 400 years.

It dominates the Italian mainland, much of southern Europe and parts of North

Africa.

But holding all this land is a struggle.

Invasions and uprisings along its frontiers stretch their army to its

risking loss of territory.

The main problem is the army itself.

A small, part -time force, it disbands after each campaign.

At that time, they had a militia army.

There was a requirement, you had to be a landowner, you had to provide your own

equipment. So to be in the army really was a wealthy man's game.

What Rome needs is a larger, stronger and more permanent military force.

So it begins to recruit from the poorest in Roman society.

People like absolutely nothing suddenly have an opportunity at a profession,

which means regular pay, regular meals, shelter.

From an army that once disbanded at the end of the campaign and lost all the

experience, now you have guys who are signed up for 16 years of service.

And that is really one of the key things that makes Rome the military powerhouse

of antiquity.

Equipment is changing too.

In the past, soldiers had bought their own armor and weapons.

Now, it's state -funded.

Helmets, chain mail, swords, and spears are all standard issue.

They also make game -changing improvements to the iron -plated armor.

gives you a fantastic amount of flexibility, covers the shoulders,

heart, covers all the organs.

But the most significant change is to the shields.

Out goes the old round design, which offered little protection, and in comes

long rectangular shield called a scutum.

It's a revolutionary piece of kit.

It's a fantastic piece of defence. It's covering the entire body. You can hide

behind it. It gives you a little bit of visibility over the edge.

And when used with the might of the sword, it's a deadly combination.

People forget that this is in itself a weapon. If I'm facing my enemy such as

this, I can shoulder barge into one, strike the other.

Fully equipped and full time, Rome's first professional standing army is

But its real strength comes from improved battlefield organization.

Troops are divided into identical fighting units of 80 men, called

Six of these make up a cohort, and multiple cohorts combine to create the

Legion. Working together, it's an almost unbeatable force.

What they created was this impenetrable wall of tanks, essentially.

And because they're all dressed in the uniform, this itself, the image of the

Roman soldier, of the legionary, struck fear into anybody who crossed them.

Locking shields, the centurions create a unique defense known as the testudo, or

tortoise. What you see here is like building a fortress.

They've got good vision, but any arrows that are raining down, slingshots,

they're well protected.

While the testudo is perfect for defense, for attack, something else is

This technique is where the Romans really show how their discipline, their

mentality, their approach to being a soldier and to war comes into perfect

This is the mutatio. So what you have is, remember, you've got your line of

soldiers. Right behind you, he's holding my sword belt, which means that if I go

too far forward, he brings me back.

At a certain point, the whistle is blown.

I'm thrown to the side. He comes forward and protects me. I go to the back of

the line.

If I have any injuries, if I'm able to fight, I get a little bit of food, a

little bit of water. I start back at the end of the line.

Rome's new professional army makes it almost invincible.

It secures and expands its territory.

By 107 CE, it's no longer a republic, but an empire.

And its new emperor, Trajan, has total European domination in his sights.

Only the Dacians in modern Romania stand in his way.

Crossing the Danube ahead of a mighty army, Trajan spends years laying siege

the Dacian capital.

Finally, his forces prevail when the king takes his own life and the city

To celebrate this military victory, Trajan erects an intricately carved

in the heart of Rome.

I think what you're looking at is nothing less than the first example of

cinema.

If you look at it, physically it looks like a reel of film wrapped around a

pole, and cinema is a great tool, because at the end of the day, most

illiterate.

This is a chance for them to experience what's happening on the frontier.

But it's also Trajan saying to people, I did this.

Trajan's conquest extends Rome's borders to its greatest extent.

A mighty empire of over five million square kilometers with tens of millions

people under its yoke.

Rome is at its zenith, thanks to its powerful new army.

disciplined, regimented, and tactically perfect, the most brutally efficient

killing machine in the ancient world.

For all the ancient powers, if killed, will be killed.

But there are different routes to victory.

The Greeks use unrivaled bravery and charisma to inspire their people to

Egypt's sparrows consolidate their great triumphs with propaganda.

China pushes the boundaries of technology to achieve total domination.

India embraces the value of training to turn its elephants into living

superweapons.

And Rome employs its legions to build an empire almost unopposed.

But with their enemies subdued, the next challenge is to ensure the obedience

of their own people.