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These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:23,500 --> 00:00:28,560 Thousands of years ago, ancient powers ruled our world. 2 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:33,040 Egypt. 3 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:35,120 China. 4 00:00:36,220 --> 00:00:37,220 India. 5 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:38,880 Greece. 6 00:00:39,660 --> 00:00:40,960 And Rome. 7 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:47,020 Players in a high -stakes game of strategy and luck. 8 00:00:49,060 --> 00:00:52,380 Success will bring them wealth and immortality. 9 00:00:54,830 --> 00:00:58,070 failure, oblivion, and death. 10 00:01:00,290 --> 00:01:06,970 In their battle for survival, each civilization will face the same 11 00:01:06,970 --> 00:01:07,970 challenges. 12 00:01:09,190 --> 00:01:12,890 How they respond will shape their destiny. 13 00:01:20,830 --> 00:01:25,020 In this episode, Kill or be killed. 14 00:01:29,620 --> 00:01:35,920 In a world where enemies watch for weakness, our ancient powers must use 15 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:41,260 their strength and cunning to defend their people and conquer new lands. 16 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:46,480 Who will rise to the challenge of the battlefield? 17 00:02:06,510 --> 00:02:13,370 Our ancient powers have settled, built their cities, exploited their natural 18 00:02:13,370 --> 00:02:19,490 resources, and are getting rich through trade. 19 00:02:22,250 --> 00:02:26,090 Now, each must protect their lands from aggressive neighbors. 20 00:02:51,530 --> 00:02:55,370 Greece is home to hundreds of independent city -states. 21 00:02:56,170 --> 00:02:58,670 They exist as competing alliances. 22 00:03:01,770 --> 00:03:05,510 But collectively, they are becoming a distinctive culture. 23 00:03:06,850 --> 00:03:10,930 It's a flourishing ancient power on the verge of a golden age. 24 00:03:13,750 --> 00:03:15,710 But it's facing a crisis. 25 00:03:17,230 --> 00:03:19,170 To the east is Persia. 26 00:03:19,500 --> 00:03:21,020 the region's dominant force. 27 00:03:22,620 --> 00:03:27,680 It has already conquered nearly 5 million square kilometers of land across 28 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:29,300 Mediterranean and Asia. 29 00:03:31,060 --> 00:03:34,200 Now it is turning its attention to Greece. 30 00:03:36,700 --> 00:03:40,140 The Persian army is a quarter of a million men strong. 31 00:03:42,540 --> 00:03:47,980 And in the summer of 480 BCE, they invade mainland Greece. 32 00:03:48,750 --> 00:03:51,850 to confront the Greek forces here. 33 00:04:05,270 --> 00:04:08,730 Back then, the landscape was entirely different. 34 00:04:09,070 --> 00:04:13,110 The coastline was up to the road as we see it today. 35 00:04:25,130 --> 00:04:29,770 The small Greek army is vastly outnumbered, and no, they don't stand a 36 00:04:31,330 --> 00:04:33,650 They must retreat and regroup. 37 00:04:34,370 --> 00:04:38,570 But how can they do this against such a formidable aggressor? 38 00:04:41,930 --> 00:04:45,350 To buy them time, one unit must stay and fight. 39 00:04:46,510 --> 00:04:49,290 These need to be the Greeks' fiercest warriors. 40 00:04:50,970 --> 00:04:53,930 The obvious choice is the Spartans. 41 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:56,680 led by their king, Leonidas. 42 00:05:01,220 --> 00:05:06,680 Sparta is one of the few Greek states with a standing army, and for good 43 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:13,480 They were in constant fear of slave revolt, and their army was effectively a 44 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:18,000 militarized police force whose main objective was to control that slave 45 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:19,000 population. 46 00:05:21,420 --> 00:05:24,320 Every Spartan male is a highly skilled warrior. 47 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:28,660 They train constantly and start young. 48 00:05:29,500 --> 00:05:33,940 Spartan children start their training when they were about seven years of age 49 00:05:33,940 --> 00:05:37,660 and they had to forage for their own food. 50 00:05:38,220 --> 00:05:44,600 That's why they had to sharpen their skills in stealth, camouflage and 51 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:45,600 objects. 52 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:50,500 They were punished because they were caught, not because they stole. 53 00:05:51,180 --> 00:05:57,220 And their training could be compared to the modern special forces courses. 54 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:04,380 The Spartans' courage and skills are famous throughout the ancient world. 55 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:11,060 Although one aspect of their modern reputation isn't entirely true. 56 00:06:11,900 --> 00:06:14,980 Legend had it that Spartans fought naked. 57 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:20,500 And this is reinforced by modern people seeing the statue of Leonidas that has 58 00:06:20,500 --> 00:06:23,160 the artistic concept of heroic nudity. 59 00:06:24,280 --> 00:06:25,580 But that's false. 60 00:06:26,780 --> 00:06:31,220 Fighting naked in ancient close combat is not a smart thing to do. 61 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:36,420 Spartans were the most heavily armed infantry of Greece at that time. 62 00:06:39,220 --> 00:06:41,160 With their fearsome reputation, 63 00:06:42,030 --> 00:06:45,630 The Spartans are Greece's best hope of holding the Persians at bay. 64 00:06:47,810 --> 00:06:50,110 But they aren't alone at Thermopylae. 65 00:06:55,070 --> 00:06:59,590 Everyone thinks, because of how history is presented, that there were only 300 66 00:06:59,590 --> 00:07:00,590 Spartans here. 67 00:07:00,930 --> 00:07:06,750 Actually, there was a group between 7 ,000 to 8 ,000 men from various city 68 00:07:06,750 --> 00:07:11,920 -states. They all were under the command of the Spartans who were... the best 69 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:12,980 warriors of Greece. 70 00:07:14,620 --> 00:07:19,460 King Leonidas positions his men between the cliffs and the sea. 71 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:26,840 This is a good place to attend because it was a very narrow spot where a 72 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:33,120 army could contain a larger army and the larger army could not count on its 73 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:34,120 numerical advantage. 74 00:07:35,340 --> 00:07:38,020 The Persians advance from the north. 75 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:40,720 The bloody battle begin. 76 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:51,660 In the ancient world, hand -to -hand combat was extremely horrific and very 77 00:07:51,660 --> 00:07:57,620 brutal. The men were tightly packed and they were shoving the enemy and 78 00:07:57,620 --> 00:07:59,560 puncturing with their spears. 79 00:08:00,220 --> 00:08:05,520 So a number of these men would be losing their balance, go down. 80 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:11,260 And the rear ranks would use their spikes to cure the fallen enemies. 81 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:21,460 Despite overwhelming odds, the Spartans hold off the Persian advance for three 82 00:08:21,460 --> 00:08:25,860 days, buying the main Greek army enough time to retreat. 83 00:08:26,900 --> 00:08:28,360 But it can't last. 84 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,780 And eventually, the last of them falls. 85 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:43,559 The Spartan suicide mission allows their Greek allies to fight another day and 86 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:46,520 creates a fearsome military legend. 87 00:08:49,940 --> 00:08:56,120 The Spartans are remembered in history as the epitome of the disciplined 88 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:57,120 warrior. 89 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:03,500 The warrior who stands his ground on the battlefield no matter what, even if it 90 00:09:03,500 --> 00:09:04,500 costs him his life. 91 00:09:12,810 --> 00:09:16,190 The Greeks defend their homeland with the ultimate warriors. 92 00:09:21,610 --> 00:09:27,950 In China, a new dynasty is turning to technology in its fight for supremacy. 93 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:55,540 The Shang Dynasty have ruled China for 500 years. 94 00:09:56,100 --> 00:10:01,180 Their territory extends over 1 .2 million square kilometers. 95 00:10:02,180 --> 00:10:05,420 But to the west, rebellion is brewing. 96 00:10:07,620 --> 00:10:11,680 The Zhou people, greedy for power, are mobilizing. 97 00:10:12,900 --> 00:10:15,980 But their army is outnumbered ten to one. 98 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,380 What can they do to even the odds? 99 00:10:24,680 --> 00:10:28,120 The Joe put their faith in new battlefield technology. 100 00:10:29,740 --> 00:10:32,980 Revealed in the giant tomb of a warrior king. 101 00:10:48,180 --> 00:10:53,100 The Marquis Cyan is buried surrounded by all the things that made him great. 102 00:10:54,430 --> 00:10:57,710 Weapons, armor, and dozens of horses. 103 00:10:59,530 --> 00:11:03,630 But pride of play is reserved for his fleet of war chariots. 104 00:11:45,990 --> 00:11:50,530 War chariots like these are a revolutionary addition to the Zhou's 105 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:58,260 There are usually three people in the car. The one in the middle is called 106 00:11:58,260 --> 00:11:59,640 Yuzhong. He drives the car. 107 00:12:00,060 --> 00:12:03,800 On the right side of Yuzhong, this person is called Rongyou. 108 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:05,960 Rongyou is the one who carries long weapons. 109 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:09,200 For example, the one who carries this kind of grid or fur. 110 00:12:09,780 --> 00:12:11,700 What is the person on the left side of Yuzhong doing? 111 00:12:12,140 --> 00:12:14,240 He is carrying short weapons and bows. 112 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:16,940 He will shoot enemies from a distance. 113 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:26,060 The Zhou's bid for glory comes to a head on the banks of the Yellow River. 114 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:35,120 Led by just 300 chariots, they face down the vast Shang army. 115 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:50,300 The Zhou chariots lead the charge and smash into the mass ranks of Shang 116 00:12:50,300 --> 00:12:51,300 infantry. 117 00:12:55,920 --> 00:13:01,980 In the chaos, the Shang are easy pickings for the advancing Zhou, who 118 00:13:01,980 --> 00:13:04,940 entire Shang army in a single day. 119 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:20,440 Victorious, the Zhou are now China's new leaders, building a dynasty that will 120 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:25,640 rule for almost eight centuries, the longest ever in China's history. 121 00:13:34,380 --> 00:13:40,900 for the Chinese new weapons technology is key in the battle for control 122 00:13:40,900 --> 00:13:47,800 in India they turn to a very different weapon to save 123 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:49,180 themselves from destruction 124 00:14:07,370 --> 00:14:09,030 India is under threat. 125 00:14:10,210 --> 00:14:14,530 The most aggressive fighters on Earth are gathering on its northern borders. 126 00:14:16,750 --> 00:14:18,490 The Macedonians. 127 00:14:20,610 --> 00:14:23,470 They want India for their growing empire. 128 00:14:24,450 --> 00:14:26,910 Few have withstood their attacks. 129 00:14:27,710 --> 00:14:31,310 But one Indian kingdom has a secret weapon. 130 00:14:50,510 --> 00:14:53,610 You cannot understand the history of the Indian subcontinent unless you 131 00:14:53,610 --> 00:14:55,550 understand the history of the elephant. 132 00:14:58,390 --> 00:15:05,070 Indian societies, cultures, states, civilization would not exist if not for 133 00:15:05,070 --> 00:15:06,070 elephant. 134 00:15:12,070 --> 00:15:16,490 Sacred and revered, elephants are worshipped as gods. 135 00:15:18,730 --> 00:15:23,030 But can the Indians unleash this animal's dark side to protect their 136 00:15:28,390 --> 00:15:32,690 These enormous creatures are capable of such gentleness. 137 00:15:34,750 --> 00:15:39,110 But they're also, when provoked, capable of absolutely terrifying acts of 138 00:15:39,110 --> 00:15:40,110 destruction. 139 00:15:40,850 --> 00:15:45,650 Elephants seem perfectly designed for war, capable of charging the enemy. 140 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:48,800 breaking their ranks and instilling terror. 141 00:15:52,020 --> 00:15:56,700 They are put to the test in a battle on the banks of the Hydaspis River in 142 00:15:56,700 --> 00:15:57,860 modern -day Punjab. 143 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:09,500 200 elephants lead the charge, petrifying the battle -hardened 144 00:16:10,380 --> 00:16:12,820 But the advantage doesn't last long. 145 00:16:14,030 --> 00:16:18,810 Poor training and inadequate armor mean many of the elephants suffer crippling 146 00:16:18,810 --> 00:16:19,810 injuries. 147 00:16:21,510 --> 00:16:26,950 Frightened and in pain, they go berserk, trampling their own soldiers. 148 00:16:28,550 --> 00:16:30,190 Defeat swiftly follows. 149 00:16:34,330 --> 00:16:38,290 This leaves the Indians with a challenge. 150 00:16:40,349 --> 00:16:43,930 They need a new way to unlock the elephant's destructive potential. 151 00:16:47,110 --> 00:16:51,950 These are highly intelligent, highly sensitive, very social animals. 152 00:16:53,510 --> 00:16:55,730 You can't treat them like a chariot. 153 00:16:56,690 --> 00:17:01,190 You need to treat them like elite warriors, like nobles, like kings even. 154 00:17:01,910 --> 00:17:04,910 All of them need to be trained in unique ways. All of them have different 155 00:17:04,910 --> 00:17:07,670 preferences in terms of the kind of food that they might want to eat. 156 00:17:08,140 --> 00:17:11,180 And these animals consume hundreds of kilograms of food a day. 157 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:14,660 The key is training. 158 00:17:15,599 --> 00:17:18,740 Both elephants and riders must learn the art of war. 159 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:26,119 They were taught how to attack dummies. They were taught to charge on command, 160 00:17:26,260 --> 00:17:28,860 move on the battlefield, attack in particular ways. 161 00:17:29,700 --> 00:17:33,120 And they invested in this in an absolutely massive way. 162 00:17:33,660 --> 00:17:38,340 The elephants were possibly the single biggest item of expenditure for the 163 00:17:39,100 --> 00:17:43,300 But there was a clear sense that even though an elephant takes a lot of money 164 00:17:43,300 --> 00:17:47,960 upkeep, they more than make up for it with their enormous capabilities on the 165 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:48,960 battle. 166 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:52,720 But training alone isn't enough. 167 00:17:53,120 --> 00:17:57,780 To become effective weapons, the elephants also need protection. 168 00:18:01,550 --> 00:18:04,810 As time goes on, we begin to see depictions of elephants wearing armor of 169 00:18:04,810 --> 00:18:08,330 overlapping plates. That would have allowed them a great deal of flexibility 170 00:18:08,330 --> 00:18:12,490 maneuverability in combat, as well as providing protection from projectiles, 171 00:18:12,530 --> 00:18:16,310 flashing weapons, as well as piercing weapons like spears. 172 00:18:19,770 --> 00:18:24,630 We also begin to see that they're provided with infantry escorts and 173 00:18:24,630 --> 00:18:28,610 guards to ensure that their advance to and retreat from the battlefield is 174 00:18:28,610 --> 00:18:29,610 better covered. 175 00:18:31,340 --> 00:18:35,400 The last piece in the jigsaw is a turret on the elephant's back. 176 00:18:36,140 --> 00:18:40,720 From these, archers can safely rain down arrows on the enemy. 177 00:18:41,820 --> 00:18:44,200 India's superweapon is complete. 178 00:18:46,380 --> 00:18:48,640 And about to prove its worth. 179 00:18:52,060 --> 00:18:54,640 In 322 BCE, 180 00:18:57,100 --> 00:19:01,560 A new Indian power, the Mauryan Empire, is on the rise. 181 00:19:11,420 --> 00:19:16,700 The Mauryans assembled a force of elephants that numbered at least a 182 00:19:16,740 --> 00:19:21,260 if not more. Perhaps the single largest elephant army the world had ever seen. 183 00:19:21,900 --> 00:19:25,760 And it becomes fundamental to their success as an ancient power. 184 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:33,380 The vast Mauryan elephant army makes them almost invincible. 185 00:19:34,820 --> 00:19:39,540 Over the next 90 years, they conquer an empire which stretches from modern -day 186 00:19:39,540 --> 00:19:42,920 Bangladesh in the east to Pakistan in the west. 187 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:49,960 And news of its terrifying new weapon spreads quickly. 188 00:19:52,590 --> 00:19:56,870 There's a clear recognition from the ancient powers that the elephants are 189 00:19:56,870 --> 00:20:01,130 tanks of the battlefield, and they invest extraordinary amounts in getting 190 00:20:01,130 --> 00:20:02,390 hands on these priceless animals. 191 00:20:03,050 --> 00:20:07,110 There's one particular Greek general who trades his daughter's hand in marriage 192 00:20:07,110 --> 00:20:08,410 for 500 war elephants. 193 00:20:09,770 --> 00:20:14,910 The war elephant helps keep the Mauryans in power for almost 140 years. 194 00:20:15,770 --> 00:20:21,490 And while India thrives, its superweapon is adopted across the Middle East, 195 00:20:22,750 --> 00:20:28,110 They spread from the borders of Mauryan Par in Afghanistan all the way through 196 00:20:28,110 --> 00:20:31,710 Iran into the battlefields of Iraq and Syria and into North Africa. 197 00:20:32,550 --> 00:20:36,950 Eventually, during the might of Imperial Rome, they even reached the shores of 198 00:20:36,950 --> 00:20:38,990 Britain and fight in battles near the Thames River. 199 00:20:39,730 --> 00:20:44,670 And that is the ultimate resounding sign of the elephant's success. 200 00:20:58,670 --> 00:21:02,870 Indians' control of their living weapon helps them conquer an empire. 201 00:21:05,770 --> 00:21:11,270 In Egypt, they will use battlefield technology to defend their borders and 202 00:21:11,270 --> 00:21:13,610 propaganda to create a legend. 203 00:21:32,780 --> 00:21:34,900 Egypt is in its 19th dynasty. 204 00:21:36,300 --> 00:21:41,220 Wealthy and prosperous, it's blessed with an abundance of natural resources. 205 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:43,920 Gold. 206 00:21:51,780 --> 00:21:53,040 And stone. 207 00:21:54,580 --> 00:21:57,500 Thanks to trade, it's getting richer. 208 00:21:58,830 --> 00:22:04,370 But as a new young pharaoh, Ramesses II, takes the throne, Egyptian territory 209 00:22:04,370 --> 00:22:09,430 and trade routes fall into enemy hands, threatening his kingdom's wealth and 210 00:22:09,430 --> 00:22:10,430 security. 211 00:22:11,570 --> 00:22:14,250 What can he do to win them back? 212 00:22:19,970 --> 00:22:24,710 Ramesses II is perhaps Egypt's most celebrated pharaoh after Tutankhamen. 213 00:22:24,990 --> 00:22:27,190 He was an extraordinary person. 214 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:32,020 taller than the average Egyptian by a lot, and also a fantastic warrior. 215 00:22:33,060 --> 00:22:37,620 But he had an ego, so he really wanted to make his mark. 216 00:22:38,580 --> 00:22:42,500 And the easiest way for a hothead would be to go to battle. 217 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:47,460 Ramesses' enemy is the new superpower, the Hittites. 218 00:22:48,460 --> 00:22:51,360 They control the land on Egypt's northern border. 219 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:56,760 The Hittites lived in Anatolia, which is modern -day Turkey, and they were quite 220 00:22:56,760 --> 00:23:02,420 warlike. They were known for being brutal and also power -hungry. 221 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:09,520 Equipped with a huge army, they are Egypt's greatest threat. 222 00:23:10,220 --> 00:23:15,060 If Ramethes can beat them, he'll kill two birds with one stone. 223 00:23:16,100 --> 00:23:21,250 Making his name as a warrior pharaoh... and taking back his valuable trade 224 00:23:21,250 --> 00:23:22,250 territories. 225 00:23:24,250 --> 00:23:29,570 The two forces come face to face at the city of Kadesh on the Egyptian -Hittite 226 00:23:29,570 --> 00:23:30,570 border. 227 00:23:31,330 --> 00:23:35,570 There would have been about 20 ,000 people on each side, which would have 228 00:23:35,570 --> 00:23:37,070 phenomenally huge. 229 00:23:37,470 --> 00:23:43,330 And this is the first military engagement ever described properly in 230 00:23:43,330 --> 00:23:44,330 history. 231 00:23:47,890 --> 00:23:53,730 Ramathes records details of the conflict here at his own temple, the Ramaseum. 232 00:23:54,550 --> 00:24:00,190 He shows both armies are well equipped with infantry, horses, 233 00:24:00,570 --> 00:24:02,350 and chariots. 234 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:14,660 Chariots are amazing war machines because they give you speed, dexterity, 235 00:24:14,660 --> 00:24:18,440 can maneuver much more, and you're also higher up when you're raining down 236 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:19,440 arrows. 237 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:29,260 Ramesses Egyptian chariots carry a charioteer and an archer and are his 238 00:24:29,260 --> 00:24:30,940 strike weapon in any battle. 239 00:24:33,860 --> 00:24:36,920 While the Hittite chariots are bigger and heavier. 240 00:24:37,360 --> 00:24:38,940 and carry up to three men. 241 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:45,780 They were much more cumbersome, and you can see it in the images here. 242 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:51,340 So with that added weight, you couldn't maneuver them as well. They weren't as 243 00:24:51,340 --> 00:24:54,020 fast, and they had a tendency to get bogged down. 244 00:24:56,840 --> 00:25:03,660 Kadesh will be the biggest chariot battle in history, with 245 00:25:03,660 --> 00:25:06,340 over 6 ,000 of them facing each other. 246 00:25:07,470 --> 00:25:11,990 But will the lighter Egyptian chariots give them the edge over their enemy? 247 00:25:17,590 --> 00:25:23,090 As the Egyptian forces approach Kadesh, Ramesses is impatient to fight. 248 00:25:24,490 --> 00:25:28,010 Young and headstrong, he races ahead of his army. 249 00:25:28,870 --> 00:25:31,010 But the Hittites lie in wait. 250 00:25:32,980 --> 00:25:38,420 Ramses winds up in the thick of battle, almost single -handedly. He's left and 251 00:25:38,420 --> 00:25:42,060 right. He could easily have lost Kaddish and indeed his life. 252 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:46,600 If he hadn't been so stupid as to go ahead of all of his troops, he might not 253 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:48,480 have put himself in such vital danger. 254 00:25:49,740 --> 00:25:51,740 And the battle rages on. 255 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:55,440 The heavier Hittite chariots crash into each other. 256 00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:01,860 The Egyptian military seems to have been far better trained, and their chariots 257 00:26:01,860 --> 00:26:03,940 could maneuver better over this terrain. 258 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:09,960 We can see the Egyptian chariots coming in, cutting off Hittite chariots. 259 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:13,000 Hittite chariots attacking the Egyptians. 260 00:26:19,300 --> 00:26:23,240 Amethyst gains the upper hand, slaughtering thousands. 261 00:26:27,710 --> 00:26:29,690 People are under his wield. 262 00:26:30,030 --> 00:26:31,810 They're crying out for mercy. 263 00:26:33,310 --> 00:26:39,650 The noise, the blood, the flies, the screams as animals and men went down and 264 00:26:39,650 --> 00:26:41,370 were trampled must have been horrific. 265 00:26:46,490 --> 00:26:52,550 Ramesses seizes his chance and drives the Hittite army into a nearby river. 266 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:09,220 But while Ramesses wins this battle, he doesn't win the war, failing to take 267 00:27:09,220 --> 00:27:10,620 back the city of Kadesh. 268 00:27:12,860 --> 00:27:17,940 Although this confident pharaoh doesn't let detail get in the way of a good 269 00:27:17,940 --> 00:27:18,940 story. 270 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:26,000 When he comes back, all of these temples that he builds and decorates are all 271 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:31,360 engraved with these extraordinary themes showing the Battle of Kaddish and his 272 00:27:31,360 --> 00:27:33,700 absolute victory over the Hittites. 273 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:38,680 For him, this was a great thing early on in his reign as propaganda. 274 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:43,520 This is to say, I am a great pharaoh. 275 00:27:45,380 --> 00:27:48,360 Everyone before me, look at me and tremble. 276 00:27:52,620 --> 00:27:58,400 Throughout Egypt, Ramesses celebrates his victory and massages his ego. 277 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:05,580 At Abu Simbel, on Egypt's southern border, he erects giant statues of 278 00:28:06,360 --> 00:28:11,560 A warning to any potential invaders of who they are dealing with. 279 00:28:15,980 --> 00:28:19,680 He reigns successfully for another 60 years. 280 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:23,500 His legend secured by the Battle of Kadesh. 281 00:28:24,860 --> 00:28:29,680 Ramses would have been absolutely delighted with his legacy because it 282 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:31,060 out as he had wanted. 283 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:34,340 He is well known. His monuments stand. 284 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:39,260 People think of him as this extraordinary, brave warrior. 285 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:46,140 Clearly, Kadesh was a major turning point. 286 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:56,220 epitomizes who he was and it just set the tone and formula for his reign 287 00:28:56,220 --> 00:29:05,900 egypt's 288 00:29:05,900 --> 00:29:10,680 chariots bring fame for its pharaoh warning off foreign invaders 289 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:17,520 but the ancient chinese must defend themselves 290 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:18,700 against the enemy 291 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:20,480 Within. 292 00:29:45,580 --> 00:29:51,080 Nearly 600 years after the Joes' victory at the Battle of Meubier, their power 293 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:52,540 has dwindled and fragmented. 294 00:29:55,800 --> 00:30:01,340 With rival warring states locked in perpetual civil war, each one is 295 00:30:01,340 --> 00:30:03,400 aggressively vying to take control. 296 00:30:06,860 --> 00:30:13,600 Armies are now made up of thousands of peasants, but in their untrained hands, 297 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:20,420 The traditional weapon of choice is no longer fit for purpose. 298 00:31:01,860 --> 00:31:07,100 If one state is to win out, they need a new simpler weapon. 299 00:31:13,320 --> 00:31:14,320 And this is it. 300 00:31:54,199 --> 00:31:57,600 The simple trigger mechanism is the key. 301 00:31:58,540 --> 00:32:04,020 Now, even in untrained hands, the crossbow is deadly. 302 00:32:28,580 --> 00:32:34,180 The crossbow is a major battlefield innovation, one that won't be seen 303 00:32:34,180 --> 00:32:36,440 China for a thousand years. 304 00:32:37,189 --> 00:32:42,670 Capable of shooting arrows almost 200 meters, its big test comes at one of the 305 00:32:42,670 --> 00:32:45,110 bloodiest confrontations in history. 306 00:32:48,230 --> 00:32:52,170 The Battle of Changping rages on for over two years. 307 00:32:53,010 --> 00:32:58,530 Over a million men from two of China's strongest military powers, the Qin and 308 00:32:58,530 --> 00:33:00,730 the Zhao, fight to the death. 309 00:33:02,230 --> 00:33:04,370 450 ,000 are killed. 310 00:33:05,480 --> 00:33:08,680 And it's the Qin who have the technological edge. 311 00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:40,520 After 250 years of civil war, the Qin are victorious. 312 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:47,340 They grant greater rights to their peasant population who won them their 313 00:33:47,780 --> 00:33:52,040 ushering in a new age of prosperity. 314 00:33:57,100 --> 00:34:03,080 Thanks to new military technology, China is now ruled by a single dynasty. 315 00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:11,380 Far to the west, the Greeks will use their army to punch far above their 316 00:34:36,620 --> 00:34:41,860 Spartans held the Persians at bay at Thermopylae, but since that heroic act, 317 00:34:42,060 --> 00:34:45,860 many Greek city -states have fallen to their Persian foes. 318 00:34:47,860 --> 00:34:51,699 In the far north, one man is plotting revenge. 319 00:34:56,760 --> 00:34:58,740 He is Philip II, 320 00:34:59,020 --> 00:35:05,580 desperate to take the fight to the Persians. 321 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:08,700 He creates an army like no other. 322 00:35:10,920 --> 00:35:16,920 Implementing stricter discipline, improved training, swifter promotion, 323 00:35:16,920 --> 00:35:18,780 bonuses for exceptional service. 324 00:35:20,260 --> 00:35:22,740 It's a fearsome fighting force. 325 00:35:25,060 --> 00:35:27,580 And Philip leads from the front. 326 00:35:31,420 --> 00:35:36,040 This formidable warrior is protected by his helmet of iron. 327 00:35:37,190 --> 00:35:39,290 His golden ivory shield. 328 00:35:42,130 --> 00:35:44,690 And a leather and gold breastplate. 329 00:35:47,510 --> 00:35:52,370 In his hand, he wields a leaf -shaped sword called Cephos. 330 00:35:53,230 --> 00:35:55,530 Perfect for slashing and thrusting. 331 00:35:57,710 --> 00:36:00,470 And Philip isn't just protected by his armor. 332 00:36:00,930 --> 00:36:03,790 He also believes the gods are on his side. 333 00:36:04,880 --> 00:36:07,580 Golden gorgons adorn his tunic. 334 00:36:08,180 --> 00:36:13,320 These mythical beasts possess the power to turn people to stone and are a 335 00:36:13,320 --> 00:36:14,980 powerful symbol of protection. 336 00:36:17,080 --> 00:36:22,520 The oak leaves and acorns on his crown go one better, connecting him to Zeus, 337 00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:25,340 father of all gods and humans. 338 00:36:31,660 --> 00:36:33,280 Philip goes on the march. 339 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:39,640 With his new model army and God -given charisma, he unifies almost all the 340 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:42,260 city -states in just 15 years. 341 00:36:47,740 --> 00:36:49,080 But he wants more. 342 00:36:50,140 --> 00:36:54,200 And he's ready to go head -to -head with his archenemy to get it. 343 00:36:59,800 --> 00:37:01,900 But in a twist of faith... 344 00:37:02,380 --> 00:37:03,960 Philip never gets the chance. 345 00:37:06,340 --> 00:37:12,220 On the eve of the invasion, he's assassinated. 346 00:37:15,460 --> 00:37:18,020 Brutally stabbed by his own bodyguard. 347 00:37:24,740 --> 00:37:29,360 It's now down to his 20 -year -old son to take the fight to the Persians. 348 00:37:32,140 --> 00:37:38,280 Alexander is a brilliant young general, famed for his courage and intelligence. 349 00:37:39,840 --> 00:37:46,620 Equipped with his father's formidable army, he rampages 350 00:37:46,620 --> 00:37:52,260 through Persian territories, liberating occupied cities, 351 00:37:52,580 --> 00:37:56,880 overcoming violent counterattacks. 352 00:38:00,520 --> 00:38:03,040 and stealing Egypt from their grasp. 353 00:38:05,160 --> 00:38:12,040 With the Persians defeated, Alexander, aged just 32, completes 354 00:38:12,040 --> 00:38:13,160 his father's work. 355 00:38:24,380 --> 00:38:28,920 Charismatic leaders and well -trained troops bring Greece victory. 356 00:38:35,630 --> 00:38:38,210 the Romans will take this to another level. 357 00:38:38,830 --> 00:38:41,790 To deliver total military domination. 358 00:39:02,190 --> 00:39:05,450 Rome's Republic has existed for 400 years. 359 00:39:06,770 --> 00:39:12,690 It dominates the Italian mainland, much of southern Europe and parts of North 360 00:39:12,690 --> 00:39:13,690 Africa. 361 00:39:14,810 --> 00:39:17,710 But holding all this land is a struggle. 362 00:39:21,670 --> 00:39:26,330 Invasions and uprisings along its frontiers stretch their army to its 363 00:39:26,610 --> 00:39:28,970 risking loss of territory. 364 00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:32,920 The main problem is the army itself. 365 00:39:34,340 --> 00:39:39,320 A small, part -time force, it disbands after each campaign. 366 00:39:41,540 --> 00:39:43,560 At that time, they had a militia army. 367 00:39:43,900 --> 00:39:48,300 There was a requirement, you had to be a landowner, you had to provide your own 368 00:39:48,300 --> 00:39:52,340 equipment. So to be in the army really was a wealthy man's game. 369 00:39:53,900 --> 00:39:58,800 What Rome needs is a larger, stronger and more permanent military force. 370 00:40:00,620 --> 00:40:03,920 So it begins to recruit from the poorest in Roman society. 371 00:40:06,520 --> 00:40:10,900 People like absolutely nothing suddenly have an opportunity at a profession, 372 00:40:11,080 --> 00:40:15,880 which means regular pay, regular meals, shelter. 373 00:40:16,520 --> 00:40:21,060 From an army that once disbanded at the end of the campaign and lost all the 374 00:40:21,060 --> 00:40:25,320 experience, now you have guys who are signed up for 16 years of service. 375 00:40:25,690 --> 00:40:29,550 And that is really one of the key things that makes Rome the military powerhouse 376 00:40:29,550 --> 00:40:30,550 of antiquity. 377 00:40:34,250 --> 00:40:35,790 Equipment is changing too. 378 00:40:36,250 --> 00:40:40,290 In the past, soldiers had bought their own armor and weapons. 379 00:40:41,490 --> 00:40:43,290 Now, it's state -funded. 380 00:40:44,350 --> 00:40:48,250 Helmets, chain mail, swords, and spears are all standard issue. 381 00:40:49,070 --> 00:40:53,310 They also make game -changing improvements to the iron -plated armor. 382 00:40:54,320 --> 00:40:58,320 gives you a fantastic amount of flexibility, covers the shoulders, 383 00:40:58,320 --> 00:40:59,460 heart, covers all the organs. 384 00:40:59,960 --> 00:41:03,720 But the most significant change is to the shields. 385 00:41:04,900 --> 00:41:10,200 Out goes the old round design, which offered little protection, and in comes 386 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:12,840 long rectangular shield called a scutum. 387 00:41:13,580 --> 00:41:15,960 It's a revolutionary piece of kit. 388 00:41:17,440 --> 00:41:21,340 It's a fantastic piece of defence. It's covering the entire body. You can hide 389 00:41:21,340 --> 00:41:23,720 behind it. It gives you a little bit of visibility over the edge. 390 00:41:24,200 --> 00:41:28,620 And when used with the might of the sword, it's a deadly combination. 391 00:41:29,240 --> 00:41:33,740 People forget that this is in itself a weapon. If I'm facing my enemy such as 392 00:41:33,740 --> 00:41:37,800 this, I can shoulder barge into one, strike the other. 393 00:41:47,100 --> 00:41:52,760 Fully equipped and full time, Rome's first professional standing army is 394 00:42:07,150 --> 00:42:10,890 But its real strength comes from improved battlefield organization. 395 00:42:12,150 --> 00:42:18,130 Troops are divided into identical fighting units of 80 men, called 396 00:42:19,010 --> 00:42:25,290 Six of these make up a cohort, and multiple cohorts combine to create the 397 00:42:25,290 --> 00:42:30,910 Legion. Working together, it's an almost unbeatable force. 398 00:42:32,750 --> 00:42:36,850 What they created was this impenetrable wall of tanks, essentially. 399 00:42:37,070 --> 00:42:42,310 And because they're all dressed in the uniform, this itself, the image of the 400 00:42:42,310 --> 00:42:45,650 Roman soldier, of the legionary, struck fear into anybody who crossed them. 401 00:42:54,790 --> 00:43:00,190 Locking shields, the centurions create a unique defense known as the testudo, or 402 00:43:00,190 --> 00:43:03,940 tortoise. What you see here is like building a fortress. 403 00:43:04,300 --> 00:43:09,260 They've got good vision, but any arrows that are raining down, slingshots, 404 00:43:09,440 --> 00:43:10,440 they're well protected. 405 00:43:11,420 --> 00:43:17,060 While the testudo is perfect for defense, for attack, something else is 406 00:43:17,580 --> 00:43:21,600 This technique is where the Romans really show how their discipline, their 407 00:43:21,600 --> 00:43:26,180 mentality, their approach to being a soldier and to war comes into perfect 408 00:43:26,380 --> 00:43:29,220 This is the mutatio. So what you have is, remember, you've got your line of 409 00:43:29,220 --> 00:43:32,850 soldiers. Right behind you, he's holding my sword belt, which means that if I go 410 00:43:32,850 --> 00:43:34,630 too far forward, he brings me back. 411 00:43:35,230 --> 00:43:37,550 At a certain point, the whistle is blown. 412 00:43:38,390 --> 00:43:45,010 I'm thrown to the side. He comes forward and protects me. I go to the back of 413 00:43:45,010 --> 00:43:45,828 the line. 414 00:43:45,830 --> 00:43:49,510 If I have any injuries, if I'm able to fight, I get a little bit of food, a 415 00:43:49,510 --> 00:43:52,310 little bit of water. I start back at the end of the line. 416 00:43:57,399 --> 00:44:01,040 Rome's new professional army makes it almost invincible. 417 00:44:01,820 --> 00:44:04,600 It secures and expands its territory. 418 00:44:06,080 --> 00:44:12,600 By 107 CE, it's no longer a republic, but an empire. 419 00:44:13,780 --> 00:44:19,860 And its new emperor, Trajan, has total European domination in his sights. 420 00:44:20,560 --> 00:44:24,580 Only the Dacians in modern Romania stand in his way. 421 00:44:28,400 --> 00:44:34,500 Crossing the Danube ahead of a mighty army, Trajan spends years laying siege 422 00:44:34,500 --> 00:44:35,500 the Dacian capital. 423 00:44:36,640 --> 00:44:42,260 Finally, his forces prevail when the king takes his own life and the city 424 00:44:47,640 --> 00:44:54,580 To celebrate this military victory, Trajan erects an intricately carved 425 00:44:54,580 --> 00:44:56,120 in the heart of Rome. 426 00:45:00,040 --> 00:45:04,060 I think what you're looking at is nothing less than the first example of 427 00:45:04,060 --> 00:45:05,060 cinema. 428 00:45:10,600 --> 00:45:15,320 If you look at it, physically it looks like a reel of film wrapped around a 429 00:45:15,320 --> 00:45:20,240 pole, and cinema is a great tool, because at the end of the day, most 430 00:45:20,240 --> 00:45:21,240 illiterate. 431 00:45:23,920 --> 00:45:27,360 This is a chance for them to experience what's happening on the frontier. 432 00:45:31,310 --> 00:45:34,090 But it's also Trajan saying to people, I did this. 433 00:45:39,690 --> 00:45:44,110 Trajan's conquest extends Rome's borders to its greatest extent. 434 00:45:45,350 --> 00:45:51,550 A mighty empire of over five million square kilometers with tens of millions 435 00:45:51,550 --> 00:45:52,750 people under its yoke. 436 00:45:54,050 --> 00:45:58,630 Rome is at its zenith, thanks to its powerful new army. 437 00:46:00,990 --> 00:46:05,550 disciplined, regimented, and tactically perfect, the most brutally efficient 438 00:46:05,550 --> 00:46:08,310 killing machine in the ancient world. 439 00:46:15,790 --> 00:46:21,110 For all the ancient powers, if killed, will be killed. 440 00:46:22,070 --> 00:46:24,390 But there are different routes to victory. 441 00:46:26,060 --> 00:46:31,340 The Greeks use unrivaled bravery and charisma to inspire their people to 442 00:46:39,160 --> 00:46:44,620 Egypt's sparrows consolidate their great triumphs with propaganda. 443 00:46:47,240 --> 00:46:52,360 China pushes the boundaries of technology to achieve total domination. 444 00:46:59,600 --> 00:47:05,380 India embraces the value of training to turn its elephants into living 445 00:47:05,380 --> 00:47:06,380 superweapons. 446 00:47:09,540 --> 00:47:16,400 And Rome employs its legions to build an empire almost unopposed. 447 00:47:21,460 --> 00:47:28,400 But with their enemies subdued, the next challenge is to ensure the obedience 448 00:47:29,120 --> 00:47:30,280 of their own people. 41258

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