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- [Narrator] The world's
greatest structures,
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pushed the boundaries
of engineering,
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all fueled by a constant
desire to innovate.
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- Without engineering,
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there would be no modern world.
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- [Narrator] Gigantic buildings,
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complex infrastructure,
and ingenious inventions,
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- Engineering is the key
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that turns dreams into reality.
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- [Narrator] Many of today's
incredible achievements
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rely on breakthrough
technologies
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first devised by
ancient engineers.
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- It's astounding how
they achieved this.
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- [Narrator] Early civilizations
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built on an unimaginable scale
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and with incredible precision.
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- They raised a
bar for engineering
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in a way that no one
thought possible.
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- These are some of the
finest engineers in history.
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- [Narrator] Redefining
the known laws of physics
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and dreaming up the impossible,
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they constructed
engineering wonders
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from colossal stadiums
to mighty waterways
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and complex machines,
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all with the simplest of tools.
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- You cannot imagine the skills
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people would've needed
to build like this.
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- [Narrator] By
unearthing the mysteries
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left by these ancient engineers,
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we can now decode their secrets.
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- That so many of their
creations still survive
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is testament to their
engineering prowess.
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- [Narrator] And ultimately
reveal how they're genius
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laid the foundations for
everything we build today.
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(grand, triumphant
music playing)
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(army screaming into attack)
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From the earliest times,
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human history has
been driven by the use
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of a ranged weapons,
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brilliant yet brutal
engineering achievements
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behind the rise and fall of some
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of the world's greatest
ancient civilizations.
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- Human beings are
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wonderful and
inventive and curious,
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but they're also a violent
and nasty and greedy.
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And there's a streak of human
nature that wants to compete
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and competing leads to conflict
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and conflict leads to weaponry.
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- We're humans and it's
part of who we are.
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It's embedded in our DNA.
We're pretty violent creatures.
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And we always find new
ways of harming those
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and taking the things that
we love; terrible, but true.
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- [Narrator] Times of war
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have witnessed
violence and suffering
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on an unimaginable scale,
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but also steered major advances
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in science, technology,
and engineering.
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- Weapons also act as an in
initiator for innovation.
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They tend to advance
what is possible
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in terms of technology,
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which can then seep into
other areas of industry
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and benefit mankind in
plenty of other ways.
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- [Narrator] While the
very first ranged weapons
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were used op close,
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usually within a stone's throw,
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the battle distance
has continued to grow,
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as ancient engineers
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developed more efficient
and destructive weaponry.
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- Over the millennia,
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humans have used engineering
and material science
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to improve precision, power,
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and mobility of
projectile weapons.
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- It's an inescapable truth
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that whoever has
the best weapon,
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the most advanced weapon, has
a greater chance of winning.
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- [Narrator] Today,
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wars continue to be fought
on huge battlefields.
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Across the sea, and in the air,
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and despite the inescapable
death and destruction caused,
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the need for new
and improved weapons
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shows no sign of stopping.
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- We're always improving weapons
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and whichever way you look at
it, weapons is a big business.
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There's a huge amount of
money pumped into defense.
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- [Narrator] In 2020, the
global military expenditure
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rose to almost $2 trillion,
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with the USA recognized
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as the world's largest
military spender,
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investing more than $775 billion
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in that year alone.
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But none of this military
technology would've existed
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without the very first tools,
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more than two and a
half million years ago.
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Long before Neanderthals or
modern humans roamed the earth,
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an ancient species of human
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began to pick up
items around them.
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- Life would've been
astonishingly difficult
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in the Stone Age, and
humans learned very quickly
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that they wouldn't survive
with just their bare hands.
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- [Narrator] By
splitting pebbles,
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they created
primitive stone tools
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marking the beginning
of the Stone Age,
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that covered the greatest
portion of human history,
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until around 3,300 BC.
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- Tools are amazing inventions
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because they give the population
an evolutionary advantage.
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So it means that they can
outperform their rivals,
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they can control more territory,
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they can get access to
more resources, et cetera.
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So the invention of
tools, when it happened,
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was an absolutely
seminal moment,
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as seminal as the
invention of fire.
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- [Narrator] These early humans
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gradually developed meat-rich
diets as scavengers,
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before embracing the
hunter-gatherer lifestyle
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2 million years ago,
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relying on large
branches and heavy rocks
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to bring down prey.
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- From the moment at which
we are hunter-gatherers,
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we're using sticks and stones
both to capture animals,
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but also to gather crops.
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- [Narrator] But
humans eventually
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turned their attention to larger
and more dangerous animals
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and that called for a new
piece in their arsenal.
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By sharpening a
wooden pole at one end
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with a rock or piece of bone,
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they produced one of
the earliest weapons
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devised by humans,
500,000 years ago:
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the spear.
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- Well, an early spear
is a straight stick,
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full staff, a utilitarian tool,
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which you can use for
a variety of things
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for a stick with a sharp end,
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that can be a weapon
for use for anything.
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- [Narrator] Originally
used as a thrusting weapon
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to keep the hunters
out of harm's way,
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but it wasn't fool-proof.
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- You tend to find on
the bones and skeletons
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of very early humans,
huge physical injuries
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because of the fact that
they put themselves at risk
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by being so close to their
prey or their opponents,
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'cause they would've
used the spear
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to stick into something;
to stab something.
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- [Narrator] Early humans
then began to throw the spear
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to hunt at a greater distance.
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- The spear is really genius
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in its simplicity
of how it works.
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So before ancient humans
will have understood
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anything around aerodynamics,
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they built these
incredible weapons
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that were so sleek and slender
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that they would
travel through the air
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with very little air resistance
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and hit a target very precisely.
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- [Narrator] An effective weapon
for killing large animals,
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such as mammoths and bison,
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which were an essential
part of their diet.
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- For really big game,
it's absolutely ideal
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where multiple projectiles
can hit the animal
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and bring down something
as big as a mammoth,
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which we've actually seen
in the archeological record.
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- [Narrator] And with
the help of fire,
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charring was used to harden
and sharpen the spear tip.
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- Charring actually changes
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the chemical composition
of the wood at the point,
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making it stronger,
also more brittle,
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but the strength
of it is important
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for being able to
go into the target.
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- [Narrator] The flames fuse
the grains of the timber,
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even tighter together,
resulting in a stronger,
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more durable, piece of wood.
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And that wasn't the only way
the spear was improved further.
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Humans also realized
that a pointed stone
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could be attached to
the end of a spear
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increasing its sharpness,
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and thus increasing
the damage done
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when it reached the target.
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- There's a real
lesson to learn here,
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when we're talking about
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all these various stages of
the evolution of weaponry,
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and that is that we
should never, ever,
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underestimate
peoples of the past.
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- [Narrator] A simple but
successful hunting weapon:
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light, lethal, and
relatively easy to construct.
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But the distance
reached by a spear
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was limited by the
strength of the thrower.
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- How to extend the
range accurately
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of the human beings using
their wits and their ingenuity
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to give themselves
this advantage
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over the other apex predators.
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- [Narrator] Paleolithic
humans found a way
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to throw further and with
more force than ever before
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with an ingenious device
known as an atlatl.
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- An atlatl is one of the
earliest ancient weapons
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that is more than
just human power.
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It was a curved piece of wood.
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And at one end you would be
able to slot a spear into it
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and you could essentially
stretch your arm up
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and fling the spear forward
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with much greater
force and acceleration
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than just using your own arm.
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- The atlatl a very
clever invention.
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It creates another hinge,
almost like another elbow
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and that extends the
length of your throwing arm
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and that means you can throw
the spear much, much further.
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- [Narrator] As the hunter
swings the atlatl forward,
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similar to an
overhand tennis serve,
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the force is concentrated
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at the point where the
hooks connects to the spear.
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Reaching speeds of
around 78 miles per hour,
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spears can now be
projected up to 330 feet
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with enough force to
kill a woolly mammoth.
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- It took the human input
and basically magnified it.
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By designing weapons
and using engineering,
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you could start to
minimize the human energy,
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00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:17,400
the human endeavor part of it.
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- What we are seeing
here, effectively,
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is the very earliest
evidence of engineering.
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Somebody invented the lever.
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- [Narrator] The proper
use of the atlatl
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made spear-assisted hunting
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an efficient and
deadly operation.
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- There's far more to an atlatl
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than some people may
initially realize.
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If it's too long,
it's inefficient.
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If it's too short,
then you're not getting
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all the power out of
it that you should do.
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It's a case of making something,
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many times fine-tuning it,
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seeing what works and
trying to replicate that.
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- [Narrator] One of humankind's
first mechanical inventions,
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but over the millennia,
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the species continued to
spread across the planet.
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- Initially the weapons
are just used for hunting,
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but of course, if you're
successful at hunting,
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the population grows.
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That will inevitably
lead to conflict
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00:12:15,233 --> 00:12:18,033
as people are competing
for resources.
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00:12:18,033 --> 00:12:19,967
- [Narrator] Numbers increased,
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space became more limited,
and tensions grew.
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00:12:25,567 --> 00:12:29,300
The groups of people began
waging war against each other,
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00:12:29,300 --> 00:12:31,233
making use of the weapons
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00:12:31,233 --> 00:12:34,100
that had proven so
successful in hunting.
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00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,233
But they discovered
that a throwing spear
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00:12:38,233 --> 00:12:40,867
carried a decisive
risk in battle.
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- Spears are good 'cause
they give you range.
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You can throw them without
closing on the enemy
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so you are safe as you throw it.
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00:12:46,667 --> 00:12:47,933
But of course, if you miss,
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they can pick it up
and throw it back.
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00:12:49,867 --> 00:12:51,800
- [Narrator] Although
other ranged weapons
252
00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,667
were invented throughout
ancient history,
253
00:12:54,667 --> 00:12:58,100
the throwing spear remained
an important armament
254
00:12:58,100 --> 00:13:03,000
for the Egyptians, Greeks
and other civilizations,
255
00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:08,133
constantly improved
and arguably perfected
256
00:13:08,133 --> 00:13:12,967
by one of history's most
legendary military forces.
257
00:13:20,933 --> 00:13:25,933
The Romans: true masters
of war and weaponry.
258
00:13:27,133 --> 00:13:29,800
- I would argue that
the Roman legionary
259
00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:31,800
of any phase of their existence
260
00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:35,467
was the elite warrior
of the ancient world.
261
00:13:35,467 --> 00:13:38,167
- Rome's prowess through its
heavy infantry, its legion,
262
00:13:38,167 --> 00:13:40,300
is their organized,
disciplined, standing army.
263
00:13:40,300 --> 00:13:42,100
It's the best army
in the ancient world.
264
00:13:42,100 --> 00:13:44,200
It is the foundation
of the Roman empire
265
00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:46,567
and it stood the source
of their power and wealth.
266
00:13:46,567 --> 00:13:50,133
- [Narrator] Hundreds of
thousands of Roman soldiers,
267
00:13:50,133 --> 00:13:54,033
each equipped with carefully
engineered weapons of war,
268
00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:58,633
including one piece that
marked the beginning
269
00:13:58,633 --> 00:14:01,700
of a new chapter in
the history of spears.
270
00:14:05,233 --> 00:14:06,933
- If you were to look at the
classic Roman legionnaire,
271
00:14:06,933 --> 00:14:09,200
the weapon which most people
would physically recognize
272
00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:10,500
is the pilum.
273
00:14:10,500 --> 00:14:12,633
- The Roman pilum
is a throwing spear.
274
00:14:12,633 --> 00:14:14,200
Spear carrying
infantry have a very,
275
00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:15,733
very long history
in the Roman world.
276
00:14:15,733 --> 00:14:19,333
But what the Romans do is
refine, both the equipment
277
00:14:19,333 --> 00:14:21,700
and I think also
crucially the tactics.
278
00:14:21,700 --> 00:14:23,600
- [Narrator] It was
the decisive weapon
279
00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:28,600
for Imperial legions, used
in battles for centuries.
280
00:14:30,033 --> 00:14:32,533
- You have a wooden shaft
and then you have a socket,
281
00:14:32,533 --> 00:14:36,033
and in the socket
goes an iron tang,
282
00:14:36,033 --> 00:14:37,733
and on the end of the tang
there's a barbed head.
283
00:14:37,733 --> 00:14:41,000
Now the tank is quite
thin. That's important.
284
00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:43,000
And also the socket's
got a lead weight.
285
00:14:44,533 --> 00:14:46,533
- [Narrator] An unusual design
286
00:14:46,533 --> 00:14:49,367
that was perfect
against Rome's enemies,
287
00:14:50,900 --> 00:14:52,833
the barbarian hoards,
288
00:14:52,833 --> 00:14:56,233
armed to the teeth and
carrying heavy shields.
289
00:14:57,367 --> 00:14:59,867
And that's where
the pilum comes in.
290
00:15:02,133 --> 00:15:04,767
- The heavy pilum disrupts
the opponents as they come in
291
00:15:04,767 --> 00:15:08,400
because of this amazing
engineering example
292
00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:09,767
from the world of weaponry.
293
00:15:11,167 --> 00:15:13,700
- [Narrator] Ancient records
describe how the pilum
294
00:15:13,700 --> 00:15:16,900
was able to punch through
their adversaries shields.
295
00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:21,967
The broad conical
head was designed
296
00:15:21,967 --> 00:15:23,400
to pierce through the wood
297
00:15:25,500 --> 00:15:28,967
and with virtually no friction
against a narrow foreshaft,
298
00:15:29,967 --> 00:15:31,633
it pushed straight through.
299
00:15:33,900 --> 00:15:35,933
- Once that conical
spear tip punches through
300
00:15:35,933 --> 00:15:38,400
it makes the shield useless
and you have to put it down,
301
00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:39,667
or you can try and
pull the thing out,
302
00:15:39,667 --> 00:15:40,933
but then the shaft bends.
303
00:15:40,933 --> 00:15:42,867
It's designed to be
a single use weapon
304
00:15:42,867 --> 00:15:44,500
that can't be returned
305
00:15:44,500 --> 00:15:46,700
and it's gonna impede
the enemy's ability
to defend himself
306
00:15:46,700 --> 00:15:48,300
at best, and at worst,
307
00:15:48,300 --> 00:15:51,133
it's gonna go straight through
his armor and kill him.
308
00:15:51,133 --> 00:15:52,967
- [Narrator] A
merciless master stroke
309
00:15:52,967 --> 00:15:55,433
by the Roman weapon designers
310
00:15:56,867 --> 00:16:00,833
that helped their empire
conquer the ancient world.
311
00:16:00,833 --> 00:16:04,700
But keeping the entire
Roman army equipped
312
00:16:04,700 --> 00:16:07,100
with a single-use pilum,
313
00:16:07,100 --> 00:16:10,400
would have been a
daunting prospect.
314
00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:12,200
- You take an ingot
of tempered iron
315
00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:13,700
and you heat it and
beat it into shape,
316
00:16:13,700 --> 00:16:15,500
it's quite a complicated
piece of forging.
317
00:16:15,500 --> 00:16:16,967
Each soldier has at
least two of them.
318
00:16:16,967 --> 00:16:18,600
There are 5,000
soldiers in a legion.
319
00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:21,067
So you can imagine there would
be blacksmith and armorers
320
00:16:21,067 --> 00:16:23,267
traveling with the
troops all the time,
321
00:16:23,267 --> 00:16:25,000
making and repairing
these things.
322
00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:28,000
- If you imagine the Roman
empire with all its legions
323
00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:29,900
and all of them need equipping.
324
00:16:29,900 --> 00:16:32,900
Now that's a vast
amount of equipment:
325
00:16:32,900 --> 00:16:35,267
swords, pilums, et cetera.
326
00:16:35,267 --> 00:16:39,100
So it's no known
example of a Roman army
327
00:16:39,100 --> 00:16:42,300
ever going into
battle underequiped.
328
00:16:43,867 --> 00:16:46,000
- [Narrator] Regardless of the
sophisticated manufacturing
329
00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,300
of a single pilum,
330
00:16:48,300 --> 00:16:52,467
and the sheer volume required
to keep the legion supplied,
331
00:16:53,900 --> 00:16:57,467
the industrial complex of
the Roman arms industry
332
00:16:57,467 --> 00:16:59,300
was up to the challenge.
333
00:17:10,500 --> 00:17:13,667
Despite its ancient
history, forging remains
334
00:17:13,667 --> 00:17:16,767
one of the most effective
ways to shape metals,
335
00:17:18,133 --> 00:17:21,567
creating structural
components for all variety
336
00:17:21,567 --> 00:17:25,600
of tools, machinery,
and weapons.
337
00:17:27,033 --> 00:17:30,300
But modern engineers have
increased the efficiency
338
00:17:30,300 --> 00:17:33,333
beyond the imagination
of a Roman blacksmith.
339
00:17:34,700 --> 00:17:38,833
Today, giant mechanical
forging hammers are employed,
340
00:17:40,300 --> 00:17:44,933
which use non-muscular power
as their source of energy.
341
00:17:44,933 --> 00:17:46,733
- So essentially
this huge hammer
342
00:17:46,733 --> 00:17:49,867
that under either
electrical or steam power,
343
00:17:49,867 --> 00:17:54,400
is accelerated down, to crush
whatever is underneath it,
344
00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,200
under huge pressure.
345
00:17:57,633 --> 00:18:00,667
- [Narrator] Hitting hard
and hitting accurately.
346
00:18:02,067 --> 00:18:06,567
- It is heavy engineering
at its most powerful.
347
00:18:06,567 --> 00:18:10,667
You really do feel, the might
coming from these machines.
348
00:18:12,067 --> 00:18:14,833
- [Narrator] Even a small
personal power hammer
349
00:18:14,833 --> 00:18:16,100
can carry out the work
350
00:18:16,100 --> 00:18:19,133
of two stout adults
with sledgehammers,
351
00:18:20,767 --> 00:18:23,800
while the largest hits
with the force equivalent
352
00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,700
to the weight of a blue whale,
353
00:18:26,700 --> 00:18:29,667
compressing hot metal with ease.
354
00:18:33,733 --> 00:18:34,900
(armies marching)
355
00:18:34,900 --> 00:18:36,700
The Romans had
engineered the spear
356
00:18:36,700 --> 00:18:39,000
into a formidable
piece of equipment,
357
00:18:40,267 --> 00:18:42,067
but these weapons were thrown
358
00:18:42,067 --> 00:18:46,033
a relatively short distance
of only a few dozen feet.
359
00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:51,567
To extend the range and
impact of a projectile,
360
00:18:52,567 --> 00:18:55,133
early humans had to devise a way
361
00:18:55,133 --> 00:18:58,667
of increasing the force
with which it was propelled
362
00:18:59,833 --> 00:19:03,267
while also being more
accurate than the atlatl
363
00:19:04,667 --> 00:19:09,233
and constructed a weapon
more than 60,000 years ago,
364
00:19:09,233 --> 00:19:13,067
that would change the landscape
of warfare for millennia:
365
00:19:15,733 --> 00:19:17,667
the bow and arrow.
366
00:19:18,567 --> 00:19:19,800
- Initially the bow and arrow
367
00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:21,667
would've been used
as a hunting weapon
368
00:19:21,667 --> 00:19:24,633
to give humans the food
that they needed to survive.
369
00:19:24,633 --> 00:19:27,233
The materials are
apparently simple,
370
00:19:27,233 --> 00:19:30,333
but actually the technology
behind it is quite complicated.
371
00:19:31,900 --> 00:19:34,167
- [Narrator] Consisting
of a wooden stave,
372
00:19:34,167 --> 00:19:38,633
flexible enough to bend
and curve with pressure
373
00:19:38,633 --> 00:19:41,100
and held in tension by a string.
374
00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:46,033
When an arrow is
then drawn back,
375
00:19:46,033 --> 00:19:48,900
enough tension is
produced in the bow
376
00:19:48,900 --> 00:19:51,300
to propel it forward
when released.
377
00:19:53,333 --> 00:19:55,200
- When you stretch
the bow itself,
378
00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:59,567
it puts an enormous amount
of tension into the materials
379
00:19:59,567 --> 00:20:02,533
and that stores
potential energy.
380
00:20:02,533 --> 00:20:04,233
And then when you let that go,
381
00:20:04,233 --> 00:20:05,700
the tension is released,
382
00:20:05,700 --> 00:20:08,533
that potential energy
turns into kinetic energy,
383
00:20:08,533 --> 00:20:09,767
movement energy,
384
00:20:09,767 --> 00:20:12,367
which fires the bow
at enormous speeds
385
00:20:12,367 --> 00:20:14,400
and acceleration
towards the target.
386
00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:15,667
- It's the first time
387
00:20:15,667 --> 00:20:19,033
that we can actually
store kinetic energy
388
00:20:19,033 --> 00:20:20,867
and it's waiting to be released
389
00:20:20,867 --> 00:20:23,367
at a speed far, far faster
390
00:20:23,367 --> 00:20:25,967
than we could actually
achieve with our own muscles.
391
00:20:30,133 --> 00:20:33,500
- [Narrator] The bow and arrow
was the perfect hunting tool,
392
00:20:33,500 --> 00:20:38,467
as the archer could aim with
slow and steady movements,
393
00:20:38,467 --> 00:20:41,000
keeping them hidden from prey.
394
00:20:43,300 --> 00:20:45,833
The invention of this
new stealth weapon
395
00:20:45,833 --> 00:20:47,267
was a massive advance
396
00:20:47,267 --> 00:20:49,967
in projecting a missile
towards the enemy
397
00:20:52,167 --> 00:20:55,367
and eventually began
replacing the atlatl
398
00:20:55,367 --> 00:20:56,500
over the millennia.
399
00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:04,267
But this was only
the initial design.
400
00:21:04,267 --> 00:21:06,167
- The ranged weapon
gives you an advantage,
401
00:21:06,167 --> 00:21:07,733
not only in conflict
with other human beings,
402
00:21:07,733 --> 00:21:08,733
but also in hunting.
403
00:21:09,900 --> 00:21:11,600
But human ingenuity,
being what it is,
404
00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:16,600
over time improvements
were made to the bows.
405
00:21:18,333 --> 00:21:20,667
- [Narrator] By 1200 AD,
406
00:21:20,667 --> 00:21:24,533
a much more efficient form
of bow made its appearance
407
00:21:27,667 --> 00:21:31,100
known from its method
of construction,
408
00:21:31,100 --> 00:21:32,667
as the composite bow,
409
00:21:33,967 --> 00:21:36,600
a smaller and lighter weapon
410
00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:39,233
that provided much
greater power.
411
00:21:40,467 --> 00:21:43,900
- So here we have
another small step
412
00:21:43,900 --> 00:21:45,467
in the evolution of weaponry.
413
00:21:45,467 --> 00:21:46,767
The ranges are getting better.
414
00:21:46,767 --> 00:21:48,433
The penetrating power
is getting better.
415
00:21:48,433 --> 00:21:50,700
It gives a competitive advantage
416
00:21:50,700 --> 00:21:54,367
in terms of warfare to whoever's
got this composite bow.
417
00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:58,833
- [Narrator] The secret
behind its success,
418
00:21:58,833 --> 00:22:01,433
a combination of
specially chosen materials
419
00:22:01,433 --> 00:22:04,333
that form the bow itself.
420
00:22:06,833 --> 00:22:09,167
- The amazing thing here
with the composite bow,
421
00:22:09,167 --> 00:22:10,833
is it gives us a real snapshot
422
00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,967
into the engineering ingenuity
423
00:22:14,967 --> 00:22:16,433
of the human beings
who invented it.
424
00:22:16,433 --> 00:22:18,633
So this is an incredible
engineering solution
425
00:22:18,633 --> 00:22:22,500
showing real skill on
the part of the designer.
426
00:22:22,500 --> 00:22:25,133
- Now the middle of the
bow is the neutral plane.
427
00:22:25,133 --> 00:22:27,400
It's not in compression,
like the belly,
428
00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:30,133
and it's not in
tension, like the back.
429
00:22:30,133 --> 00:22:32,967
So it's just subject
to sheer forces,
430
00:22:32,967 --> 00:22:35,433
so you need something
that's gonna withstand that.
431
00:22:35,433 --> 00:22:40,067
- [Narrator] Craftsman
began with a piece of wood
432
00:22:40,067 --> 00:22:42,400
that other materials
would be bound to.
433
00:22:43,500 --> 00:22:46,467
Thin strips of
buffalo or cow horn
434
00:22:46,467 --> 00:22:49,567
were added to the
inside of the bow
435
00:22:49,567 --> 00:22:52,967
as it can store more energy
than wood in compression.
436
00:22:54,933 --> 00:22:59,833
This was the engine of the
bow, which kept its shape
437
00:23:00,967 --> 00:23:03,000
and acted as a powerful
spring while firing.
438
00:23:04,733 --> 00:23:08,367
Animal sinew was then placed
on the back of the bow,
439
00:23:08,367 --> 00:23:11,633
which stretches
farther than wood
440
00:23:11,633 --> 00:23:14,100
and therefore stores more power.
441
00:23:16,300 --> 00:23:18,700
- The sinews must
be pulverized down
442
00:23:18,700 --> 00:23:23,500
to make thin fibers,
that's laid on with a glue,
443
00:23:23,500 --> 00:23:25,000
usually an animal glue.
444
00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:27,067
And the finest glue that
you can use is isinglass,
445
00:23:27,067 --> 00:23:29,567
which is made of the swim
bladders of sturgeons.
446
00:23:29,567 --> 00:23:30,933
It's quite waterproof.
447
00:23:30,933 --> 00:23:32,167
So you can think of that
448
00:23:32,167 --> 00:23:35,200
as a very early
version of fiberglass.
449
00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,400
- Buffalo horn stores
far more energy
450
00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:39,633
than timber when
it's compressed,
451
00:23:39,633 --> 00:23:42,400
and animal sinew
stores far more energy
452
00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:43,833
than timber when it's stretched.
453
00:23:43,833 --> 00:23:45,333
So the combination of the two
454
00:23:45,333 --> 00:23:47,667
made that bow so
much more powerful.
455
00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:50,900
- [Narrator] Making
a composite bow
456
00:23:50,900 --> 00:23:54,733
was a highly
developed technology,
457
00:23:54,733 --> 00:23:59,633
but also an incredibly expensive
and time-consuming process.
458
00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:07,433
The new smaller bows
could fire lighter arrows
459
00:24:07,433 --> 00:24:11,600
up to 600 feet, with
the advantage of
460
00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:15,867
reaching only from the head of
the archer down to his waist,
461
00:24:17,733 --> 00:24:20,933
a ranged weapon with
a potential to become
462
00:24:20,933 --> 00:24:23,433
even more lethal
on the battlefield.
463
00:24:24,900 --> 00:24:29,200
- The amount that you can
strain sinew and cow horn
464
00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:31,800
is far in excess of what
you can strain wood.
465
00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:34,233
So you can shrink
the design right down
466
00:24:34,233 --> 00:24:38,133
to enable you to be able to use
in a lot more circumstances.
467
00:24:38,133 --> 00:24:40,000
- A crucial aspect of the
design of the composite bow
468
00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:44,067
was that it was quite short in
comparison to previous bows.
469
00:24:44,067 --> 00:24:47,133
And that meant that you
could use it on horseback.
470
00:24:49,167 --> 00:24:51,433
- [Narrator] It's been
claimed that horses
471
00:24:51,433 --> 00:24:55,300
were first used to pull
wagons or chariots in battle
472
00:24:55,300 --> 00:24:58,967
as far back as 2,500 BC.
473
00:25:01,333 --> 00:25:04,767
Centuries later,
warriors themselves
474
00:25:04,767 --> 00:25:07,267
then began to
fight on horseback,
475
00:25:07,267 --> 00:25:10,100
armed with any number
of melee weapons,
476
00:25:11,500 --> 00:25:14,700
but the invention of the
composite bow allowed for an
477
00:25:14,700 --> 00:25:17,067
entirely new breed of warrior:
478
00:25:19,033 --> 00:25:21,267
mounted archers.
479
00:25:21,267 --> 00:25:22,967
- It's a different
way of fighting
480
00:25:22,967 --> 00:25:26,900
combining cavalry
and missile troops
481
00:25:26,900 --> 00:25:29,000
so they're attacking you
when they're coming forward,
482
00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:30,833
they're attacking you
when you are retreating.
483
00:25:30,833 --> 00:25:33,033
Infantry would really
struggle against that.
484
00:25:33,033 --> 00:25:35,100
They're not even gonna
get close to them.
485
00:25:35,100 --> 00:25:39,500
- [Narrator] Its greatest
efficiency was seen in Mongolia.
486
00:25:41,067 --> 00:25:44,500
- The mounted archer was the
key to Genghis Kahn's success.
487
00:25:44,500 --> 00:25:47,733
He seized one of the greatest
empires in all of history
488
00:25:47,733 --> 00:25:50,467
by using armies of
mounted archers.
489
00:25:50,467 --> 00:25:51,733
And those archers
490
00:25:51,733 --> 00:25:55,133
could move with great
speed across the plains.
491
00:25:55,133 --> 00:25:58,200
- Genghis Khan, the greatest
warrior of the Mongols,
492
00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:02,300
you can really envisage him,
riding across the Asian step.
493
00:26:02,300 --> 00:26:04,700
Riding across Europe,
fighting his opponents,
494
00:26:04,700 --> 00:26:07,067
using his bow and
arrow from his saddle
495
00:26:07,067 --> 00:26:08,800
as though it was
his second nature.
496
00:26:11,333 --> 00:26:14,900
- [Narrator] A masterful
piece of military engineering,
497
00:26:14,900 --> 00:26:19,267
more compact and more
powerful than previous bows
498
00:26:19,267 --> 00:26:21,067
that helped establish
499
00:26:21,067 --> 00:26:23,900
one of the largest
empires in the world.
500
00:26:28,167 --> 00:26:30,533
While Genghis Kahn
was conquering,
501
00:26:30,533 --> 00:26:34,033
the bow and arrow was being
engineered further in Europe
502
00:26:37,300 --> 00:26:39,700
into one of its most recognized
503
00:26:39,700 --> 00:26:42,600
and arguably most deadly forms:
504
00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:47,867
the longbow.
505
00:26:47,867 --> 00:26:52,867
- The longbow is a very
long, body-sized, self bow.
506
00:26:53,733 --> 00:26:55,233
And because it's so large,
507
00:26:55,233 --> 00:26:58,500
it had incredible penetrative
power in terms of the arrows
508
00:26:58,500 --> 00:26:59,633
and also range.
509
00:27:01,100 --> 00:27:03,933
- [Narrator] And the material
used to construct the longbow
510
00:27:03,933 --> 00:27:06,933
was just as important
as its size.
511
00:27:09,533 --> 00:27:11,833
- The beauty of the
longbow is its simplicity.
512
00:27:11,833 --> 00:27:13,500
It's made from a
single piece of wood
513
00:27:13,500 --> 00:27:15,367
so its incredibly robust
514
00:27:15,367 --> 00:27:17,300
and actually quite
quick to produce.
515
00:27:17,300 --> 00:27:19,800
- The really clever
engineering feat
516
00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:21,133
with the longbow,
517
00:27:21,133 --> 00:27:23,467
is how the wood was
actually removed
518
00:27:23,467 --> 00:27:25,200
from the yew tree it came from,
519
00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:28,233
because you have the
heartwood on the one side,
520
00:27:28,233 --> 00:27:30,433
but also the sapwood as well,
521
00:27:30,433 --> 00:27:32,333
so the harder wood
and the softer wood.
522
00:27:32,333 --> 00:27:35,233
So effectively, this is
a natural composite bow.
523
00:27:36,733 --> 00:27:38,233
- [Narrator] The
different qualities
524
00:27:38,233 --> 00:27:41,833
of the two types of wood
compliment each other,
525
00:27:41,833 --> 00:27:44,567
combining tension
and compression.
526
00:27:45,967 --> 00:27:48,067
- The combination of those
527
00:27:48,067 --> 00:27:50,167
two types of wood meant that
it was far more powerful
528
00:27:50,167 --> 00:27:53,500
than any bow than had
ever been invented before.
529
00:27:53,500 --> 00:27:56,333
- [Narrator] With a
maximum effective range
530
00:27:56,333 --> 00:27:58,600
of over 1000 feet,
531
00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:02,933
a fully trained longbowman
could be devastating,
532
00:28:04,567 --> 00:28:07,767
firing an arrow
every five seconds.
533
00:28:09,500 --> 00:28:11,200
But there was a downside.
534
00:28:12,167 --> 00:28:13,267
- The problem with the longbow
535
00:28:13,267 --> 00:28:14,767
is that they could only be made
536
00:28:14,767 --> 00:28:17,067
out of one particular
type of wood.
537
00:28:17,067 --> 00:28:19,267
And because of that,
it almost wiped out
538
00:28:19,267 --> 00:28:22,200
the entire population
of yew trees in Europe.
539
00:28:23,533 --> 00:28:26,867
- [Narrator] Armed with nothing
more than axes and saws,
540
00:28:26,867 --> 00:28:29,767
the medieval lumberjacks
almost eliminated
541
00:28:29,767 --> 00:28:33,367
one of the world's longest
living tree species.
542
00:28:37,733 --> 00:28:40,533
Today, crude hand tools
543
00:28:40,533 --> 00:28:43,167
have been replaced
by powerful machinery
544
00:28:45,567 --> 00:28:48,767
as engineers continue
to develop new ways
545
00:28:48,767 --> 00:28:50,267
to gather materials
546
00:28:51,433 --> 00:28:54,533
in an effort to meet the
growing global demand.
547
00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:00,733
And the timber industry
is no exception.
548
00:29:02,067 --> 00:29:04,900
- In the days when
people needed to use wood
549
00:29:04,900 --> 00:29:06,733
for things like weapons,
550
00:29:06,733 --> 00:29:10,200
they would've had to have
taken almost a day probably,
551
00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:12,433
to chop down one of
these enormous trees,
552
00:29:12,433 --> 00:29:14,033
to fell it, to de-limb it,
553
00:29:14,033 --> 00:29:16,000
and to chop it to
the size they needed.
554
00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:19,267
- [Narrator] What
used to require
555
00:29:19,267 --> 00:29:23,767
a small army of lumberjacks
with saws and axes
556
00:29:23,767 --> 00:29:27,567
is now achieved with a
single machine and operator:
557
00:29:29,633 --> 00:29:31,467
timber harvesters.
558
00:29:35,100 --> 00:29:37,733
Self-propelled cutting machines
559
00:29:39,267 --> 00:29:42,667
each with an extendable
arm and cutting head
560
00:29:42,667 --> 00:29:45,900
that allow them to fell, strip,
561
00:29:45,900 --> 00:29:50,600
and chop trees to exact
lengths as if they were twigs.
562
00:29:51,767 --> 00:29:54,400
- The speeds at which
these machines can work
563
00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:56,000
is out of this world.
564
00:29:56,000 --> 00:30:00,233
They can chop down
600 trees a day.
565
00:30:00,233 --> 00:30:02,867
That's over 200,000
trees a year.
566
00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:07,233
- [Narrator] Incredibly
efficient machinery
567
00:30:07,233 --> 00:30:10,367
fueled by the needs
of the modern world.
568
00:30:20,700 --> 00:30:22,367
Thanks to the natural resources
569
00:30:22,367 --> 00:30:25,633
the ancients had
at their disposal,
570
00:30:25,633 --> 00:30:28,233
the bow and arrow was engineered
571
00:30:28,233 --> 00:30:30,867
into the dominant ranged weapon
572
00:30:30,867 --> 00:30:34,200
for hundreds of years
of human history.
573
00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:37,233
But there was a downside.
574
00:30:37,233 --> 00:30:40,367
- Like any weapon, a
highly physical activity
575
00:30:40,367 --> 00:30:43,633
will actually sap the
soldier over time.
576
00:30:43,633 --> 00:30:44,967
This is gonna be really draining
577
00:30:44,967 --> 00:30:46,333
over the course of a battle.
578
00:30:47,533 --> 00:30:49,067
- Even with the best
training in the world,
579
00:30:49,067 --> 00:30:52,600
you can only use
a bow for so long
580
00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:56,000
before you become
physically tired
581
00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:59,533
and your ability to use
it effectively diminishes.
582
00:30:59,533 --> 00:31:00,967
- [Narrator] However,
583
00:31:00,967 --> 00:31:04,833
several hundred years earlier
in the sixth century BC,
584
00:31:04,833 --> 00:31:07,633
an engineering
innovation was made
585
00:31:07,633 --> 00:31:10,733
in one of the world's
oldest civilizations.
586
00:31:13,700 --> 00:31:17,700
The Chinese had devised a new
and improved ranged weapon.
587
00:31:19,167 --> 00:31:22,400
One that would put far
less strain on the archer:
588
00:31:24,933 --> 00:31:26,633
the crossbow.
589
00:31:27,833 --> 00:31:30,100
- The crossbow was an
absolute game changer
590
00:31:30,100 --> 00:31:32,967
in this period of
ranged weapons designed.
591
00:31:32,967 --> 00:31:34,833
You could fire a bolt
with immense speed
592
00:31:34,833 --> 00:31:38,533
and huge destructive power with
very little training indeed.
593
00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:43,900
- A crossbow gives
you many advantages
594
00:31:43,900 --> 00:31:46,033
over a traditional hand bow.
595
00:31:46,033 --> 00:31:47,967
Once you've cocked the weapon,
596
00:31:47,967 --> 00:31:49,500
it's actually preloaded
597
00:31:49,500 --> 00:31:51,733
and then you can shoot when
that's convenient to you.
598
00:31:51,733 --> 00:31:54,700
You're aiming it more in the
way that you would aim a rifle.
599
00:31:55,933 --> 00:31:57,267
- [Narrator] The bow was fixed
600
00:31:57,267 --> 00:31:59,800
crosswise on a wooden frame
601
00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:02,767
with grooves to
guide the projectile.
602
00:32:04,300 --> 00:32:08,500
The string was pulled
back and held in position
603
00:32:08,500 --> 00:32:11,567
by a latch attached to
a trigger mechanism.
604
00:32:13,700 --> 00:32:16,533
- Now the crossbow
is a huge jump
605
00:32:16,533 --> 00:32:19,000
in weapon design
and engineering.
606
00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:23,467
So suddenly, with
the bolt in place,
607
00:32:23,467 --> 00:32:26,867
we can aim it and take our time
608
00:32:26,867 --> 00:32:28,600
because we are not
609
00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:31,067
physically holding the
string with our own muscles,
610
00:32:31,067 --> 00:32:32,133
it's on the catch.
611
00:32:32,133 --> 00:32:33,300
And when we're ready,
612
00:32:34,467 --> 00:32:36,000
we can then release it
through the trigger.
613
00:32:38,233 --> 00:32:39,933
- [Narrator] This
trigger mechanism
614
00:32:39,933 --> 00:32:41,433
could be conceived as
615
00:32:41,433 --> 00:32:45,267
the ancestor of the trigger
from a modern rifle.
616
00:32:45,267 --> 00:32:46,467
- The trigger
mechanism of a crossbow
617
00:32:46,467 --> 00:32:48,800
was very difficult
to manufacture
618
00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:51,233
and it involved
incredibly detailed
619
00:32:51,233 --> 00:32:52,833
and very accurate casting.
620
00:32:52,833 --> 00:32:56,100
There were several moving parts
and very intricate pieces.
621
00:32:56,100 --> 00:32:58,067
They all had to be
put together perfectly
622
00:32:58,067 --> 00:32:59,400
or that simply wouldn't work.
623
00:33:02,133 --> 00:33:04,600
- [Narrator] Crossbows
could be held ready armed
624
00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:07,667
for long periods without
tiring the archer
625
00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:13,233
and so taking aim became easier.
626
00:33:13,233 --> 00:33:15,300
- You can create that tension
627
00:33:15,300 --> 00:33:17,200
to hold the potential
energy there
628
00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:18,700
while you're
finding your target.
629
00:33:18,700 --> 00:33:20,533
Essentially just use
a trigger to release
630
00:33:20,533 --> 00:33:22,867
when you are ready and you've
got the target in the sight.
631
00:33:22,867 --> 00:33:26,267
It's much easier
for humans to use.
632
00:33:26,267 --> 00:33:29,167
- [Narrator] When
released, the crossbow bolt
633
00:33:29,167 --> 00:33:32,500
could fly over 800
feet towards the enemy,
634
00:33:33,867 --> 00:33:38,567
tearing through armor,
flesh, and bone.
635
00:33:38,567 --> 00:33:41,767
- I have held a loaded crossbow
636
00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:46,367
and you can feel the power
of the weapon in your hands.
637
00:33:46,367 --> 00:33:50,400
Believe me, you would not
want to be in the line of fire
638
00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:51,867
of one of these things.
639
00:33:51,867 --> 00:33:54,833
- This weapon created a more
detached way of killing.
640
00:33:54,833 --> 00:33:58,200
You no longer had to look
your enemy in the eye.
641
00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:00,733
- [Narrator] Huge
destructive power,
642
00:34:00,733 --> 00:34:03,667
unleashed by simply
squeezing a trigger.
643
00:34:07,033 --> 00:34:08,500
There are obvious heirs
644
00:34:08,500 --> 00:34:11,267
of the propulsion
mechanism of the crossbow,
645
00:34:12,900 --> 00:34:16,033
including the modern
rifle or revolver,
646
00:34:17,467 --> 00:34:22,267
but also a surprising one,
on a much grander scale.
647
00:34:24,233 --> 00:34:27,667
Aircraft carriers are one
of the largest examples
648
00:34:27,667 --> 00:34:30,633
of naval force in the world.
649
00:34:30,633 --> 00:34:33,167
- These aircraft
carriers are huge;
650
00:34:33,167 --> 00:34:35,133
think huge floating cities,
651
00:34:35,133 --> 00:34:37,533
and they have the
potential for plane to land
652
00:34:37,533 --> 00:34:38,967
and to take off on them.
653
00:34:38,967 --> 00:34:41,400
Absolutely extraordinary.
654
00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:44,333
- Despite the enormous size
of these aircraft carriers,
655
00:34:44,333 --> 00:34:45,533
it's still only
656
00:34:45,533 --> 00:34:48,933
a fraction of the length
of a runway on land.
657
00:34:48,933 --> 00:34:50,333
When you've got these aircraft
658
00:34:50,333 --> 00:34:52,700
that need to reach
their takeoff speed,
659
00:34:52,700 --> 00:34:55,800
they've got to do that
over a much shorter length.
660
00:34:55,800 --> 00:34:58,300
- [Narrator] Runways
of around 300 feet
661
00:34:58,300 --> 00:35:00,267
in the middle of the ocean,
662
00:35:01,467 --> 00:35:05,200
less than 3% of the
total distance seen
663
00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:08,500
at London Heathrow
airport's Northern runway.
664
00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:13,100
- To get these aircraft
to the takeoff speeds
665
00:35:13,100 --> 00:35:15,567
they need over
such a short space
666
00:35:15,567 --> 00:35:18,400
means they need an additional
device to help them.
667
00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:19,900
And this is the catapult
668
00:35:19,900 --> 00:35:23,200
that's on board the
aircraft carriers.
669
00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:25,000
- [Narrator] A small
shuttle on the flight deck
670
00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:27,633
that connects to the aircraft,
671
00:35:29,033 --> 00:35:33,767
capable of accelerating from
zero to over 170 miles per hour
672
00:35:34,900 --> 00:35:37,633
in less than two
and a half seconds.
673
00:35:37,633 --> 00:35:41,167
- This catapult system doesn't
look like much above deck,
674
00:35:41,167 --> 00:35:43,900
but underneath you've
got the engineering magic
675
00:35:43,900 --> 00:35:47,267
that lets this aircraft take
off at such high speeds.
676
00:35:48,467 --> 00:35:51,600
- [Narrator] A catapult
consists of two pistons
677
00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:56,200
that each sit inside a long
cylinder underneath the deck.
678
00:35:56,200 --> 00:35:59,833
The pistons, attached
to the small shuttle,
679
00:36:01,367 --> 00:36:03,267
which will pull the
aircraft at launch.
680
00:36:04,667 --> 00:36:08,700
High pressure steam is
collected in large tanks
681
00:36:08,700 --> 00:36:11,667
until the desired
pressure is reached
682
00:36:11,667 --> 00:36:14,767
and the catapult is
then ready to fire.
683
00:36:15,900 --> 00:36:17,900
When the steam is released,
684
00:36:17,900 --> 00:36:20,433
the pistons act like bullets,
685
00:36:20,433 --> 00:36:24,200
as the pressure rockets the
shuttle and plane forward.
686
00:36:26,067 --> 00:36:28,333
- That pressure forces
the plane to take off
687
00:36:28,333 --> 00:36:30,400
with this kind of
catapult effect
688
00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:33,100
without actually having the
excessive length of runway
689
00:36:33,100 --> 00:36:34,633
that we use more traditionally.
690
00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:37,533
- [Narrator] The
aircraft catapult
691
00:36:37,533 --> 00:36:39,667
provides the necessary force
692
00:36:39,667 --> 00:36:43,433
to sling a 45,000
pound plane forward
693
00:36:44,767 --> 00:36:47,900
to generate the necessary
lift for takeoff.
694
00:37:00,633 --> 00:37:03,033
Chinese military innovators
695
00:37:03,033 --> 00:37:05,867
were centuries ahead of
the rest of the world,
696
00:37:06,967 --> 00:37:09,100
bringing inventions
into existence
697
00:37:09,100 --> 00:37:11,833
that redefined engineering.
698
00:37:13,033 --> 00:37:15,133
- Ancient Chinese
military heritage
699
00:37:15,133 --> 00:37:16,867
is often at the root
700
00:37:16,867 --> 00:37:19,333
of many innovations
that we use in the West.
701
00:37:20,633 --> 00:37:22,167
- It's very easy to forget
702
00:37:22,167 --> 00:37:24,333
that what was going on in
China a thousand years ago
703
00:37:24,333 --> 00:37:25,833
was phenomenal.
704
00:37:25,833 --> 00:37:27,833
Some of the innovations we
see coming out of China,
705
00:37:27,833 --> 00:37:29,733
are really quite remarkable.
706
00:37:31,433 --> 00:37:33,667
- [Narrator] By the
ninth century AD,
707
00:37:33,667 --> 00:37:36,033
China's engineers
and blacksmiths
708
00:37:36,033 --> 00:37:39,800
were becoming experts at
creating deadly weapons,
709
00:37:41,233 --> 00:37:44,833
and we're on the verge of
a truly volatile invention.
710
00:37:46,233 --> 00:37:49,233
- The Chinese were actually
after the secret of eternal life
711
00:37:49,233 --> 00:37:52,033
and they were messing around
with potions and ingredients.
712
00:37:52,033 --> 00:37:54,633
Ironically, it led to the
invention of something
713
00:37:54,633 --> 00:37:56,333
which has taken more lives
714
00:37:56,333 --> 00:37:59,033
than perhaps anything else
in the history of the world.
715
00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:05,633
- [Narrator] Gunpowder:
a violent explosive
716
00:38:05,633 --> 00:38:10,633
produced by mixing saltpeter,
sulfur, and charcoal.
717
00:38:11,833 --> 00:38:14,467
- These three items by
themselves, innocuous,
718
00:38:14,467 --> 00:38:15,767
not particularly harmful,
719
00:38:15,767 --> 00:38:17,767
but combined together
create a compound
720
00:38:17,767 --> 00:38:20,100
that is explosive in its nature.
721
00:38:20,100 --> 00:38:21,767
- They've got lots
of gas released
722
00:38:21,767 --> 00:38:23,467
in a very short space of time,
723
00:38:23,467 --> 00:38:26,333
which creates a lot
of explosive power.
724
00:38:26,333 --> 00:38:27,467
- [Narrator] Originally used
725
00:38:27,467 --> 00:38:30,333
to produce fireworks
and rockets,
726
00:38:30,333 --> 00:38:32,067
it didn't take long before
727
00:38:32,067 --> 00:38:35,900
its enormous potential was
recognized by the military.
728
00:38:37,033 --> 00:38:39,667
- Gunpowder is a huge
leap in technology
729
00:38:39,667 --> 00:38:42,000
because you're not storing
kinetic energy anymore
730
00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:44,000
in the way that you
were with a crossbow
731
00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:47,067
or even the earliest
Stone Age bow,
732
00:38:47,067 --> 00:38:48,700
you've now got chemical energy,
733
00:38:48,700 --> 00:38:52,100
and the sky's the limit
with something like that.
734
00:38:55,133 --> 00:38:57,233
- [Narrator] Gunpowder
would eventually become
735
00:38:57,233 --> 00:39:00,533
the most effective ingredient
for weapons of war.
736
00:39:05,400 --> 00:39:10,000
Used to create explosives,
such as bombs and grenades,
737
00:39:11,567 --> 00:39:15,533
eventually leading to the
most deadly weapon of all
738
00:39:15,533 --> 00:39:17,100
in the 20th century:
739
00:39:21,533 --> 00:39:22,933
the nuclear bomb.
740
00:39:29,167 --> 00:39:32,067
Yet almost a thousand
years earlier,
741
00:39:32,067 --> 00:39:34,933
the Chinese engineers
were only just beginning
742
00:39:34,933 --> 00:39:38,267
to realize gunpowder's
potential on the battlefield.
743
00:39:40,333 --> 00:39:44,333
If inserted inside a
narrow tube or cylinder,
744
00:39:44,333 --> 00:39:48,067
gunpowder created
enough explosive force
745
00:39:48,067 --> 00:39:51,300
to shoot a projectile
out at great speed.
746
00:39:52,467 --> 00:39:54,300
- Suddenly you could
project something
747
00:39:54,300 --> 00:39:57,833
towards an enemy much further,
and with far more power
748
00:39:57,833 --> 00:39:58,933
than ever before.
749
00:39:58,933 --> 00:40:00,333
It was terrifying.
750
00:40:00,333 --> 00:40:03,367
No one had ever seen anything
like this ever before.
751
00:40:05,100 --> 00:40:07,067
- [Narrator] While
these early firearms
752
00:40:07,067 --> 00:40:10,467
were a frightening new
weapon on the battlefield,
753
00:40:10,467 --> 00:40:13,533
they were difficult to operate
754
00:40:13,533 --> 00:40:15,667
and nowhere near
effective enough
755
00:40:15,667 --> 00:40:19,500
to replace the already
established ranged weapons
756
00:40:19,500 --> 00:40:21,033
used by their enemies.
757
00:40:24,267 --> 00:40:28,733
To truly harness
gunpowder's extreme power,
758
00:40:28,733 --> 00:40:32,700
China's engineers
had to think bigger.
759
00:40:35,867 --> 00:40:37,800
Over the next centuries,
760
00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:39,667
the Chinese somehow managed
761
00:40:39,667 --> 00:40:44,233
to continue to
monopolize gunpowder,
until the 13th century.
762
00:40:45,567 --> 00:40:50,533
In that time, the same
principle used in the early guns
763
00:40:51,700 --> 00:40:53,167
was applied to a
new form of weaponry
764
00:40:57,033 --> 00:40:58,867
cast metal weapons,
765
00:40:58,867 --> 00:41:02,433
large enough to
batter down buildings
766
00:41:02,433 --> 00:41:04,800
as well as people:
767
00:41:06,767 --> 00:41:07,667
cannons.
768
00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:10,467
- The Chinese were
always very ambitious
769
00:41:10,467 --> 00:41:11,633
with their inventions,
770
00:41:11,633 --> 00:41:13,333
and they were
obsessed with scale,
771
00:41:13,333 --> 00:41:15,333
and they applied
this to gunpowder
772
00:41:15,333 --> 00:41:17,633
and that's how they
invented the cannon.
773
00:41:17,633 --> 00:41:22,533
It was simply enlarged versions
of the small hand cannons.
774
00:41:22,533 --> 00:41:26,300
- What we see being engineered
are huge metal cannons.
775
00:41:26,300 --> 00:41:28,600
These things are pretty
much indestructible
776
00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:30,933
and they can be used
to do much more damage.
777
00:41:32,633 --> 00:41:34,567
- [Narrator] By lighting a fuse,
778
00:41:34,567 --> 00:41:37,500
the flame would be carried
into the breach of the cannon.
779
00:41:39,833 --> 00:41:43,233
Inside, the packed
gunpowder burned rapidly,
780
00:41:43,233 --> 00:41:46,533
producing expanding hot gases
781
00:41:46,533 --> 00:41:50,600
that applied huge amounts of
pressure on the projectile.
782
00:41:51,567 --> 00:41:53,300
Instead of arrows,
783
00:41:53,300 --> 00:41:55,000
enemies now had to dodge
784
00:41:55,000 --> 00:41:58,233
gigantic cannon balls
hurdling towards them.
785
00:42:02,467 --> 00:42:05,267
Eventually, the
Chinese could no longer
786
00:42:05,267 --> 00:42:08,400
keep the science of
gunpowder a secret
787
00:42:08,400 --> 00:42:11,967
as it was passed along the
ancient silk trade route
788
00:42:11,967 --> 00:42:14,333
to Europe and the Islamic world
789
00:42:15,567 --> 00:42:17,267
where it would rain havoc
790
00:42:17,267 --> 00:42:19,933
on many battlefields
of the middle ages.
791
00:42:21,600 --> 00:42:23,733
- When the Europeans
heard about gunpowder,
792
00:42:23,733 --> 00:42:27,467
they decided to apply their
own scientific genius to it.
793
00:42:27,467 --> 00:42:29,833
They wanted to improve it.
794
00:42:29,833 --> 00:42:34,067
- [Narrator] Europeans
refined the mix of gun powder,
795
00:42:34,067 --> 00:42:37,067
maximizing its
explosive potential.
796
00:42:39,167 --> 00:42:41,000
- We see quite advanced
milling technology
797
00:42:41,000 --> 00:42:45,467
being used to grind down all
of those constituent parts,
798
00:42:45,467 --> 00:42:48,700
the saltpeter, the
sulfur, and the charcoal,
799
00:42:48,700 --> 00:42:50,700
into a really fine powder.
800
00:42:50,700 --> 00:42:53,000
You introduce
water into that mix
801
00:42:53,000 --> 00:42:55,500
and what you get is
a really fine paste
802
00:42:55,500 --> 00:42:59,400
and you can take particles,
almost microscopic scale,
803
00:42:59,400 --> 00:43:01,233
and then mix them together.
804
00:43:01,233 --> 00:43:03,133
And it's that
refinement in the mix
805
00:43:03,133 --> 00:43:05,500
makes a powder that is
that much more potent.
806
00:43:06,600 --> 00:43:08,100
- What matters
most with gunpowder
807
00:43:08,100 --> 00:43:11,267
is the uniformity of the
powder that you produced.
808
00:43:11,267 --> 00:43:13,100
And that's what the
Europeans changed.
809
00:43:13,100 --> 00:43:15,533
As a result, they developed
a version of gunpowder,
810
00:43:15,533 --> 00:43:17,833
which was a far
more powerful mix.
811
00:43:21,133 --> 00:43:23,700
- [Narrator] But a more
volatile gun powder
812
00:43:23,700 --> 00:43:26,467
called for better
engineered cannons.
813
00:43:28,633 --> 00:43:33,000
Many designs involved
long rods of wrought iron
814
00:43:33,000 --> 00:43:34,500
that were heated,
815
00:43:34,500 --> 00:43:38,100
aligned around a wooden
core, and beaten into shape
816
00:43:39,800 --> 00:43:43,967
Before a white hot iron
hoop slotted over the form.
817
00:43:45,700 --> 00:43:49,300
These would hold the
rods firmly in place
818
00:43:49,300 --> 00:43:54,133
as they cooled and
shrank creating the
barrel of the cannon.
819
00:43:55,567 --> 00:43:59,200
- That's what creates your
early medieval cannons, okay?
820
00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:01,267
But these things are
pretty dangerous.
821
00:44:01,267 --> 00:44:03,967
And I can't imagine that
particularly accurate.
822
00:44:03,967 --> 00:44:06,833
- [Narrator] The
fierce heat and force
823
00:44:06,833 --> 00:44:09,167
generated by each explosion
824
00:44:09,167 --> 00:44:12,900
meant that the cannons were
extremely temperamental.
825
00:44:12,900 --> 00:44:15,500
(Canon firing)
826
00:44:17,133 --> 00:44:19,367
They needed a new design.
827
00:44:20,967 --> 00:44:25,500
The Europeans were years behind
the Chinese at this time,
828
00:44:25,500 --> 00:44:29,400
but they were highly
accomplished in one technology:
829
00:44:31,900 --> 00:44:33,033
bell casting.
830
00:44:34,433 --> 00:44:35,867
- Europeans had quite
a lot of experience
831
00:44:35,867 --> 00:44:37,400
working with bronze
832
00:44:37,400 --> 00:44:39,767
and there's actually huge
deposits of tin and copper
833
00:44:39,767 --> 00:44:41,333
here on British Isles.
834
00:44:41,333 --> 00:44:44,467
So the logical conclusion was
to take that method of casting
835
00:44:44,467 --> 00:44:47,867
and to use it to
cast large cannon.
836
00:44:47,867 --> 00:44:51,567
- [Narrator] While early Chinese
hand cannons and bombards
837
00:44:51,567 --> 00:44:53,533
were also made from bronze,
838
00:44:53,533 --> 00:44:58,267
these were a far larger and
destructive form of cannon
839
00:45:00,233 --> 00:45:03,267
and the assembled
breach-loading designs
840
00:45:03,267 --> 00:45:07,100
made of a wrought iron,
were seen as inferior
841
00:45:07,100 --> 00:45:11,133
to the new muzzle-loading
cannons cast of bronze,
842
00:45:14,167 --> 00:45:15,700
an expensive alternative
843
00:45:15,700 --> 00:45:19,967
but far more powerful
and safer to use.
844
00:45:22,200 --> 00:45:26,333
Since it's creation
around 850 AD
845
00:45:26,333 --> 00:45:28,500
gunpowder formed the basis
846
00:45:28,500 --> 00:45:30,933
for almost every
weapon used in war
847
00:45:30,933 --> 00:45:32,233
from that point on,
848
00:45:34,467 --> 00:45:37,767
as bows and catapults
were replaced,
849
00:45:37,767 --> 00:45:39,633
with rifles and cannons
850
00:45:42,333 --> 00:45:45,367
responsible for the
deaths of tens of millions
851
00:45:45,367 --> 00:45:46,567
over the centuries.
852
00:45:48,033 --> 00:45:52,600
Gunpowder helped bring an end
to the medieval ages in Europe
853
00:45:52,600 --> 00:45:56,667
and played one of
its most significant
and destructive roles
854
00:45:56,667 --> 00:46:00,767
during the age of exploration
and colonial expansion.
855
00:46:02,000 --> 00:46:03,767
- Cannons were used
in siege warfare
856
00:46:03,767 --> 00:46:06,067
against towns and
against castles,
857
00:46:06,067 --> 00:46:08,167
but perhaps most importantly,
858
00:46:08,167 --> 00:46:10,867
they were mounted onboard
huge sailing ships,
859
00:46:10,867 --> 00:46:13,333
which could sail right
across the world.
860
00:46:15,233 --> 00:46:16,767
- [Narrator] Bold technology
861
00:46:16,767 --> 00:46:19,633
had been used in
warfare since antiquity,
862
00:46:20,767 --> 00:46:24,467
but by combining sailing
ships with cannons,
863
00:46:24,467 --> 00:46:27,800
the Europeans had
engineered a super weapon
864
00:46:27,800 --> 00:46:32,000
that other cultures
had no defense against.
865
00:46:32,000 --> 00:46:34,100
- It's one thing sailing
around the world with ships
866
00:46:34,100 --> 00:46:35,333
trading and exchanging,
867
00:46:35,333 --> 00:46:38,933
but the moment you arm
those boats with cannons
868
00:46:38,933 --> 00:46:41,000
is the moment at which
you can use force
869
00:46:41,000 --> 00:46:43,067
to get what you want from the
four corners of the planet.
870
00:46:43,067 --> 00:46:45,033
And that's exactly what happens.
871
00:46:45,033 --> 00:46:47,967
- [Narrator] With rows of
cannons on their ships,
872
00:46:47,967 --> 00:46:51,600
the Europeans swept
across the world's oceans,
873
00:46:52,767 --> 00:46:56,400
expanding their trade
networks and empires
874
00:46:57,567 --> 00:47:00,467
while exploiting the
natural resources
875
00:47:00,467 --> 00:47:03,233
and indigenous peoples
that they encountered.
876
00:47:05,633 --> 00:47:10,000
By 1900, the vast
majority of countries
877
00:47:10,000 --> 00:47:14,033
were either Western themselves
or under European control
878
00:47:15,200 --> 00:47:19,133
with gunpowder acting
as a key driving force.
879
00:47:23,400 --> 00:47:25,400
Cannons were the pioneers
880
00:47:25,400 --> 00:47:28,767
of a new class of
heavy ranged weapons
881
00:47:28,767 --> 00:47:31,200
built to launch munitions
882
00:47:31,200 --> 00:47:36,000
far beyond the range and
power of infantry firearms:
883
00:47:36,000 --> 00:47:38,933
(artillery firing)
884
00:47:40,033 --> 00:47:40,967
artillery.
885
00:47:42,533 --> 00:47:46,200
- Artillery is one of
the earliest remote
forms of weaponry.
886
00:47:46,200 --> 00:47:48,400
Instead of being
within throwing range
887
00:47:48,400 --> 00:47:49,933
or striking range
of the opposition,
888
00:47:49,933 --> 00:47:52,400
you're using engineered
solutions to throw
889
00:47:52,400 --> 00:47:56,467
projectiles and all sorts of
things at your opposition.
890
00:47:56,467 --> 00:47:58,500
- [Narrator] Since the
introduction of cannons
891
00:47:58,500 --> 00:48:03,067
centuries ago, artillery
has played a decisive role
892
00:48:03,067 --> 00:48:05,267
in numerous major battles,
893
00:48:07,200 --> 00:48:11,700
responsible for 60% of
the battlefield casualties
894
00:48:11,700 --> 00:48:13,367
in World War I alone.
895
00:48:14,733 --> 00:48:17,967
- From the World Wars, artillery
has always been critical.
896
00:48:17,967 --> 00:48:19,833
It's always been a
way to show our power,
897
00:48:19,833 --> 00:48:21,533
show our might on
the battlefield.
898
00:48:23,467 --> 00:48:26,000
- [Narrator] Military
engineers continue to design
899
00:48:26,000 --> 00:48:31,000
ultra long range
artillery systems with
lethal capabilities,
900
00:48:32,367 --> 00:48:36,067
well beyond the limits of
anything previously achieved in
901
00:48:36,067 --> 00:48:37,700
the history of warfare.
902
00:48:38,867 --> 00:48:43,667
The US Army's standard
155 millimeter Howitzer
903
00:48:43,667 --> 00:48:46,733
has a range of up to 14 miles,
904
00:48:48,200 --> 00:48:51,567
with technological advances
being made to the projectile
905
00:48:51,567 --> 00:48:54,700
expected to quadruple
that distance.
906
00:48:56,900 --> 00:48:58,367
- There's huge amounts of might
907
00:48:58,367 --> 00:49:01,800
behind this engineering that
really takes you a step forward
908
00:49:01,800 --> 00:49:03,667
in the destruction
that you can cause.
909
00:49:03,667 --> 00:49:04,933
- It's always been about
910
00:49:04,933 --> 00:49:07,500
increased precision
and increased power.
911
00:49:07,500 --> 00:49:10,367
It's the ability for
a conflict to be over
912
00:49:10,367 --> 00:49:13,400
as quickly and as
efficiently as possible.
913
00:49:14,867 --> 00:49:17,867
- [Narrator] A world
of weapons and warfare
914
00:49:17,867 --> 00:49:21,267
capable of creating a
level of destruction
915
00:49:21,267 --> 00:49:23,967
unimaginable to our ancestors.
916
00:49:26,067 --> 00:49:29,067
The evolution of a ranged weapon
917
00:49:29,067 --> 00:49:34,067
enabled the ancients to
expand, explore, and conquer.
918
00:49:35,600 --> 00:49:39,833
Engineering innovations
that drove human history
919
00:49:39,833 --> 00:49:42,933
while leaving harm and
suffering in their wake.
920
00:49:44,833 --> 00:49:47,867
Whether for good or for bad,
921
00:49:47,867 --> 00:49:52,233
these inventions are
part of the human journey
922
00:49:52,233 --> 00:49:57,233
traced back to the
earliest ancient engineers.
923
00:49:58,100 --> 00:50:01,067
(triumphant music playing)
74946
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