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(dramatic music)
- [Tercelin] Our history
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is no more than a series
of incredible events.
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00:00:06,066 --> 00:00:08,266
Every one of us can
influence it's course.
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00:00:09,366 --> 00:00:12,246
(dramatic music)
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00:00:30,166 --> 00:00:32,316
The most infinitesimal
of our decisions
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can influence the
future of humanity.
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To know the past is
to foresee the future.
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52 B.C.
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Gaul, opiddum of Alesia.
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In the day following a
dreadful night of fighting,
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00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:50,000
the Arverne leader
Vercingetorix is victorious.
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00:00:50,033 --> 00:00:52,133
In the heart of the
fray he confronted,
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00:00:52,166 --> 00:00:54,126
then killed with his bare hands,
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00:00:54,166 --> 00:00:57,026
the enemy leader,
King Hasdrubal.
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00:00:57,066 --> 00:00:58,296
(crashing)
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00:00:58,333 --> 00:01:01,183
After his crushing victory
at the Battle of Cannae,
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00:01:01,216 --> 00:01:03,446
the general Hannibal
attacked Rome.
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00:01:03,483 --> 00:01:06,253
The rival city was
razed to the ground.
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00:01:07,383 --> 00:01:09,473
In Carthage, taking
advantage of both
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his great military prestige
and his huge war chest,
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00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:17,080
Hannibal seized power and
proclaimed himself king.
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During the following century
the Carthaginian armies
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conquered the rest of the
Western Mediterranean,
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even venturing into Gaul.
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But none of that ever happened.
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In 216 B.C. a
small grain of sand
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will change the
outcome of the conflict
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between Rome and Carthage.
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(ethereal music)
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Eighth century B.C.
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A Phoenician Queen, Dido,
landed on the African coasts
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where she founded
the city of Carthage.
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Six centuries later, the
Carthaginian Hannibal Barca
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invaded Italy and decimated
the Roman legions.
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In 146 B.C., finally
defeated by Roman armies
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00:02:02,383 --> 00:02:06,103
Carthage is pillaged,
set ablaze, and razed.
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00:02:07,450 --> 00:02:12,000
These three events are key
moments of the Carthaginian
era.
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They resulted in
it's destruction
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by it's great rival
the Roman Republic.
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00:02:19,266 --> 00:02:22,196
North Africa,
eighth century B.C.
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00:02:24,316 --> 00:02:27,216
The Phoenician Queen
Dido, forced to flee
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from her native city of
Tyre on the Lebanese coast,
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finally landed here,
on the other side
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of the Mediterranean Sea.
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She asked the local
chief for a land
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where she and her
people could settle.
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According to the
legend, he promised her
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as much land as could be
encompassed by an ox hide.
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Dido cut the ox hide
into fine strips,
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00:02:54,116 --> 00:02:55,396
so that she had
enough to encircle
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00:02:55,433 --> 00:02:58,173
an entire nearby hill
for her new city.
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Diplomacy and
negotiation, two mainstays
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00:03:02,416 --> 00:03:05,246
of this embryonic
city, helped create
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00:03:05,283 --> 00:03:08,273
one of the most impressive
powers of antiquity.
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Carthage.
(dramatic music)
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Phoenicians were indisputably
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the greatest sailors
of antiquity.
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Although they didn't
know the compass yet,
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00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,100
they knew how to find their
bearings even at night.
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00:03:26,016 --> 00:03:28,226
At the end of the
2nd millennium B.C.
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00:03:28,266 --> 00:03:30,216
they turned to
maritime commerce,
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00:03:30,250 --> 00:03:34,030
and set up trading posts and
colonies on the Mediterranean.
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Each new colony was independent,
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but they where all united
by a common culture,
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00:03:40,450 --> 00:03:44,050
the same language,
and the same beliefs.
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Carthage, which means new city,
was one of these colonies.
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From the beginning, it's
development relied on trading,
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then agriculture and
craft production.
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Situated on a peninsula
closely linked to the dry
land,
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00:04:02,100 --> 00:04:04,380
the town quickly extended
its zone of influence,
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00:04:04,416 --> 00:04:06,446
from Spain to Cyprus.
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00:04:08,250 --> 00:04:12,420
It became a real sea empire,
an economic confederation.
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00:04:14,216 --> 00:04:17,066
At the head of the
city, no king or tyrant,
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but two senior officials.
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00:04:19,150 --> 00:04:23,180
The Shophets, elected for a
period determined by a senate
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and controlled by
a popular assembly.
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(electronic beat)
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- [Helen] Welcome to
the memory of humanity.
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Every historical event,
regardless of how small,
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is recorded and connected.
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You only need to change one
to upset all the others.
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Here we are able
to control time,
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analyze and compare
billions of events
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in order to rewrite
history in infinite ways.
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Was Carthage the first
republic in history?
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Actually there are only a
few sources of that time,
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and we must rely on Roman
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00:05:00,183 --> 00:05:03,283
or Greek historians
from antiquity.
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00:05:03,316 --> 00:05:06,146
But most likely,
Carthage was ruled
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00:05:06,183 --> 00:05:09,353
by a system both
oligarchic and democratic.
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00:05:11,383 --> 00:05:14,133
Two judges holding
the executive power,
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the Shophet's, were
elected for a period
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determined by a senate whose
members were themselves born
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into the major
Carthaginian families.
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A popular assembly
allowed the population
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to express itself and
constituted an opposition
force.
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According to
Aristotle, Carthage,
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founded 300 years before the
birth of the Roman Republic,
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would thus be the first
republic of history.
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Let's resume.
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(dramatic music)
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- [Tercelin]
Following an argument,
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Remus has just been killed
by his twin brother Romulus.
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According to legend, the
blood of the son of Mars
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establishes a village
on the Palatine hill
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in the heart of the
Italian peninsula.
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He gives the village
his name, Rome.
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00:06:09,333 --> 00:06:13,103
The early days of Rome were as
violent as its founding myth,
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made of frequent wars
against neighboring cities.
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00:06:18,300 --> 00:06:22,120
In 390 B.C. the armies
of Rome were wiped out
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00:06:22,150 --> 00:06:24,350
and the city was devastated
by the Celtic hordes
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00:06:24,383 --> 00:06:26,223
of the great chief Brennus.
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00:06:28,183 --> 00:06:31,353
The Romans will never forget
this traumatic experience.
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Surrounded by enemies,
they become obsessed
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with their own survival
and continuously build
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a bigger and bigger
living space.
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The only guarantor
for their security.
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Yet, in the third century B.C.
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there was no shortage of
enemies
in this part of the world.
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A vast number of peoples,
cities and kingdoms
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were in perpetual motion.
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Alexander the Great's shadow
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00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:01,230
is still hanging over the
Eastern Mediterranean.
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00:07:01,266 --> 00:07:03,996
(dramatic music)
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00:07:04,033 --> 00:07:06,123
in Western Mediterranean,
many Greeks
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live in Sicily, Italy, or Gaul,
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where they had founded
numerous colonies.
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00:07:10,483 --> 00:07:13,253
Such as Massalia or Syracuse.
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00:07:14,416 --> 00:07:17,076
Alliances are formed
and broken up,
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each one trying to
impose its authority.
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War after war, sacrifice
after sacrifice,
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the Roman legions soon control
the entire Italian peninsula.
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In 264 B.C., even though it
was only a regional power,
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Rome had forged itself an
unfailing fighting spirit.
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Its legions of citizen
soldiers were devoted
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and ready to die
for their country.
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During many centuries,
Carthage and Rome
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developed independently.
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Carthage was a sea
confederation rooted in
Africa,
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while Rome was a mainland
power turned towards the
lands.
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Both cities even made
several trading agreements.
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However, Roma had acquired a
taste for conquest and power.
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(dramatic music)
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With Italy conquered
and under control,
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new threats could only come
from Gaul in the north,
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or Sicily in the south.
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00:08:13,100 --> 00:08:16,170
(dramatic music)
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However Sicily, a
strategic island
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situated at the
crossroads of sea routes,
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was almost entirely under
Carthaginian domination.
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Both powers are now
facing each other,
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only separated by a strait
a few kilometers wide.
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(electronic music)
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- [Helen] The Mediterranean Sea
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is surrounded with lands
and sprinkled with islands.
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Whoever wants to control it
must own a great naval fleet.
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In the third century B.C.
the most powerful warship
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was indisputably
the quinquereme.
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An antique galley
whose main feature
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was five lines of rowers,
as the name indicates.
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It's 300 rowers, twice
a standard galley,
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00:09:01,066 --> 00:09:04,076
brought the necessary power
to charge at enemy ships
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and strike them head on.
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The rostrum, a
kind of bronze ram
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situated on the bow, smashed
the opposing hull to pieces.
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The Romans, clearly more at
ease on land than at sea,
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will develop their own tactics.
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The corvus, a wooden
removal bridge
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equipped with an iron post,
was designed to strike
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enemy ships and allow boarding,
followed by a hand to hand
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fight in which the
Legionaries excelled.
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The Romans had found a way
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of turning naval combat
into land battle.
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A way to restore the
balance of power.
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(ethereal music)
- [Tercelin] 260 B.C.,
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off Malia, the Roman fleet
has just defeated Carthage's.
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(ethereal music)
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It came as a shock, one
of the greatest navies
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of the whole Mediterranean
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00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,350
had just been crushed
on it's home turf.
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The first major naval victory in
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Roman military history,
but not the last one.
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As the terrible war between
rival cities drags on for
years.
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00:10:17,366 --> 00:10:20,046
(men shouting)
(dramatic music)
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00:10:20,083 --> 00:10:23,253
From 264 B.C., legions
landed in Sicily.
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Since then, one siege
followed another,
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each camp scoring
points in turn.
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Aware that the conflict
would be settled
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by control of the seas,
the Roman senate voted
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00:10:37,150 --> 00:10:39,020
for the building
of a great fleet
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and heavily recruited Greek
sailors from the south of
Italy.
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00:10:44,250 --> 00:10:47,200
On it's side Carthage
recruited mass mercenaries
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and in Sicily the troops
194
00:10:49,116 --> 00:10:51,476
of the brilliant
General Hamilcar Barca
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succeeded in thwarting
Roman legions.
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00:10:55,150 --> 00:10:57,350
(dramatic music)
(men yelling)
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The conflict gets bogged down,
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soon there are
thousands of casualties.
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00:11:02,250 --> 00:11:05,150
Two super powers are
throwing all their strength
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00:11:05,183 --> 00:11:06,483
into gigantic combat.
201
00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,270
Off Ecnomus, the Roman fleet
is once again victorious
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and lands troops in Africa.
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00:11:13,466 --> 00:11:16,126
The road to Carhage
is wide open.
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00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,450
Carthage counter-attacks
and sends 200 galleys
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00:11:20,483 --> 00:11:23,103
and 100 war elephants in Sicily.
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00:11:24,333 --> 00:11:26,483
In Drapana the
Carthaginian fleet
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inflicts a dreadful defeat
on the Roman galleys.
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00:11:32,166 --> 00:11:34,346
Carthage rules
the seas, but soon
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has to face an uprising
from the Numidian tribes.
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00:11:39,250 --> 00:11:42,250
Forced to devote its
energies to this revolt,
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the city can't capitalize
on its victories.
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In Rome, the last
defeats swallow up money
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00:11:50,233 --> 00:11:52,173
which allows anti-war
forces to bring
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00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:55,420
new military expenditure
to a standstill.
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00:11:55,450 --> 00:11:58,330
At the same time,
Carthage is on it's knees,
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tries to obtain
credit fro Egypt.
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00:12:01,166 --> 00:12:03,096
Trading, the
driving force behind
218
00:12:03,133 --> 00:12:06,123
the Carthaginian
economy is deadlocked.
219
00:12:06,150 --> 00:12:08,300
(dramatic music)
220
00:12:08,333 --> 00:12:10,373
War is expensive.
221
00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:13,120
Seeing that the situation
is at a standstill,
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00:12:13,150 --> 00:12:15,300
Rome is resort to
a private loan.
223
00:12:15,333 --> 00:12:17,423
At their own expense,
wealthy citizens
224
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equip a final naval fleet.
225
00:12:20,183 --> 00:12:21,283
It must end.
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00:12:25,100 --> 00:12:28,470
241 B.C. off Aegatian islands,
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00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:32,470
the confrontation, just
like the war, is huge.
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00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:34,380
The Roman victory is crushing.
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00:12:37,150 --> 00:12:39,300
For the Carthaginian
senate, dominated by
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00:12:39,333 --> 00:12:44,073
major merchant families, this
new defeat is the last straw.
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00:12:44,100 --> 00:12:47,200
For them, instead of
a new military option,
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00:12:47,233 --> 00:12:49,383
it is now time for negotiation.
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00:12:52,116 --> 00:12:54,266
- [Helen] Mercenaries
or citizens,
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00:12:55,316 --> 00:12:59,116
war was both
expensive and risky.
235
00:12:59,150 --> 00:13:01,250
The Carthaginian senate
chose to get out of
236
00:13:01,283 --> 00:13:04,233
this conflict using
money and diplomacy.
237
00:13:05,416 --> 00:13:08,176
The city had soon made
the pragmatic choice
238
00:13:08,216 --> 00:13:11,396
to recruit mercenaries,
particularly to save
239
00:13:11,433 --> 00:13:14,053
it's limited manpower resources.
240
00:13:15,183 --> 00:13:17,053
The Carthaginian
armies were thus,
241
00:13:17,083 --> 00:13:19,173
not permanent and
lacked cohesion.
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00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:24,050
Libyan's, Numidian's,
Iberian's
and Celts made up the basis
243
00:13:24,083 --> 00:13:26,183
of both its infantry
and cavalry.
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00:13:27,333 --> 00:13:29,283
The Carthaginian
generals could also count
245
00:13:29,316 --> 00:13:33,046
on the tanks of the
time, war elephants.
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00:13:34,350 --> 00:13:37,220
Led by a mahout,
they were trained
247
00:13:37,250 --> 00:13:41,250
to charge at the enemy ranks
to break the first lines,
248
00:13:41,283 --> 00:13:45,053
and to spread panic by
trampling on soldiers.
249
00:13:48,100 --> 00:13:51,070
Unlike Carthage, Rome
owned a land army
250
00:13:51,100 --> 00:13:53,470
mostly made up of citizens.
251
00:13:55,300 --> 00:13:58,200
Each legion was
composed of 30 maniples
252
00:13:58,233 --> 00:14:01,303
which were also divided
up into two centuries.
253
00:14:04,116 --> 00:14:07,246
The whole, very flexible
and maneuverable,
254
00:14:07,283 --> 00:14:09,253
made three lines of battle.
255
00:14:09,283 --> 00:14:14,183
On the front line, the hastati
took the first confrontation.
256
00:14:14,216 --> 00:14:17,296
The principe's came after,
followed by the triari,
257
00:14:17,333 --> 00:14:20,083
the veterans who formed
the last bastion.
258
00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,250
A real army of citizens in which
259
00:14:25,283 --> 00:14:28,103
every Roman less
than 46 years old
260
00:14:28,133 --> 00:14:30,403
could be called up to
serve the Republic.
261
00:14:30,433 --> 00:14:34,223
Two completely different
conceptions of an army.
262
00:14:36,233 --> 00:14:40,073
- [Tercelin] October,
218 B.C., Northern Italy.
263
00:14:40,100 --> 00:14:42,020
(marching footsteps)
264
00:14:42,050 --> 00:14:45,080
Hannibal Barca son of
the great Hamilcar,
265
00:14:45,116 --> 00:14:47,396
hero of the last
war against Romans,
266
00:14:47,433 --> 00:14:50,403
has just crossed the Alps.
(elephant trumpets)
267
00:14:50,433 --> 00:14:54,403
Hannibal, his army
and his elephants.
268
00:14:54,433 --> 00:14:56,483
Just in front of them is Italy,
269
00:14:57,016 --> 00:14:58,326
home of the Roman Republic.
270
00:15:00,216 --> 00:15:03,996
It is now time for revenge
for this Carthaginian general.
271
00:15:04,033 --> 00:15:08,203
(marching footsteps)
(sorrowful music)
272
00:15:08,233 --> 00:15:10,103
(men chanting)
273
00:15:10,133 --> 00:15:13,353
At the end of the previous
war Carthage was forced,
274
00:15:13,383 --> 00:15:16,183
in addition to the payment
of a large indemnity,
275
00:15:16,216 --> 00:15:19,996
to give up Sicily
and numerous islands.
276
00:15:20,033 --> 00:15:22,383
23 years of armed
peace had followed,
277
00:15:22,416 --> 00:15:25,126
during which Rome
had seized Sardinia.
278
00:15:26,350 --> 00:15:29,450
Meanwhile, Carthage had made
up for its territorial losses
279
00:15:29,483 --> 00:15:32,203
by the conquest of a
large part of Spain.
280
00:15:33,416 --> 00:15:36,276
The oligarchic power of
the Carthaginian merchants
281
00:15:36,316 --> 00:15:37,396
had seen the emergence
282
00:15:37,433 --> 00:15:40,423
of a new dominant
family, the Barcids,
283
00:15:40,450 --> 00:15:42,370
of which Hannibal was a member.
284
00:15:44,366 --> 00:15:47,466
Deeply devoted to his city,
the young Carthaginian
285
00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:49,200
had lived at the dark moments
286
00:15:49,233 --> 00:15:51,473
of the dreadful
mutinies of mercenaries.
287
00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:55,350
(peaceful music)
Now a grownup and a general
288
00:15:55,383 --> 00:15:58,453
he considers that it is
time to make Rome pay.
289
00:16:01,050 --> 00:16:02,280
Aware that his fleet is weak,
290
00:16:02,316 --> 00:16:05,316
he decides to attack
the Romans bye surprise
291
00:16:05,350 --> 00:16:07,470
and to travel overland
to reach Italy
292
00:16:08,016 --> 00:16:10,426
through the natural
barrier of the Alps.
293
00:16:10,466 --> 00:16:13,366
(dramatic music)
294
00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:17,200
His goal is to provoke the
uprising of the allies of Rome
295
00:16:17,233 --> 00:16:19,223
and to defeat the Roman legions.
296
00:16:20,433 --> 00:16:23,353
When the Roman senators
learn about Hannibal's feat,
297
00:16:23,383 --> 00:16:25,033
they are panic stricken.
298
00:16:26,133 --> 00:16:28,303
An army is immediately
sent to confront him.
299
00:16:29,300 --> 00:16:30,320
Then another one.
300
00:16:32,133 --> 00:16:33,403
And so on.
301
00:16:33,433 --> 00:16:37,103
(dramatic music)
302
00:16:37,133 --> 00:16:39,403
Each one of them is defeated.
303
00:16:41,250 --> 00:16:43,450
Showing a true tactical genius,
304
00:16:43,483 --> 00:16:46,423
Hannibal surrounds the
legions at Ticinus,
305
00:16:46,450 --> 00:16:49,130
attacks the by
surprise at the Trebia,
306
00:16:49,166 --> 00:16:50,376
slaughters them in thousands
307
00:16:50,416 --> 00:16:53,046
on the misty shores
of Lake Trasimene.
308
00:16:56,316 --> 00:17:00,266
The Republic is abandoned
by several allies of Rome,
309
00:17:00,300 --> 00:17:03,250
but most of them remain
faithful to Rome.
310
00:17:03,283 --> 00:17:06,303
Despite his resounding
military victories,
311
00:17:06,333 --> 00:17:10,073
Hannibal has not yet
succeeded in raising up Italy.
312
00:17:11,250 --> 00:17:14,270
He is counting on a
decisive military victory,
313
00:17:14,300 --> 00:17:18,200
however the Romans now
refuse direct confrontation.
314
00:17:18,233 --> 00:17:20,353
They understand that
for the time being,
315
00:17:20,383 --> 00:17:23,123
the Carthaginian is
simply invincible.
316
00:17:25,216 --> 00:17:29,366
To force them to fight,
Hannibal seizes the Cannae
area.
317
00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:31,170
The Roman army's granary.
318
00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:33,300
(dramatic music)
319
00:17:33,333 --> 00:17:37,123
Rome has no other choice but
to fight with its last army.
320
00:17:37,150 --> 00:17:40,030
(dramatic music)
321
00:17:41,383 --> 00:17:42,433
August 2nd.
322
00:17:44,083 --> 00:17:48,403
In the year 216 B.C.
Hannibal's 50,000 mercenaries
323
00:17:49,466 --> 00:17:51,466
are facing the 80,000
Roman Legionaries
324
00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:53,430
who are rushing
headlong into the
325
00:17:53,466 --> 00:17:55,296
Carthaginian generals' trap.
326
00:17:56,383 --> 00:17:59,103
Quickly surrounded and
attacked from all sides,
327
00:17:59,133 --> 00:18:02,173
the legions are unable to
maneuver and are slaughtered.
328
00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:04,400
(dramatic music)
329
00:18:04,433 --> 00:18:06,283
In the evening of the battle,
330
00:18:06,316 --> 00:18:09,096
there are more than 45,000 dead.
331
00:18:10,483 --> 00:18:13,383
Hannibal is at
the gates of Rome.
332
00:18:18,416 --> 00:18:21,426
- [Helen] We are now at
a point of divergence.
333
00:18:21,466 --> 00:18:24,296
A point of divergence
is a key moment,
334
00:18:24,333 --> 00:18:26,073
a crossroads in our history
335
00:18:26,100 --> 00:18:29,230
where our world can swing
from one side or the other.
336
00:18:31,183 --> 00:18:34,123
Hannibal had just brought
down the Roman armies.
337
00:18:34,150 --> 00:18:37,320
Now, he only had to advance
on Rome, take the city,
338
00:18:37,350 --> 00:18:40,320
and nip the Roman
ambition in the bud.
339
00:18:40,350 --> 00:18:43,450
If he had done it, we
would now live in a world
340
00:18:43,483 --> 00:18:46,133
which would have never
known the Roman Empire.
341
00:18:47,300 --> 00:18:49,380
Numerous serious
consequences would have
342
00:18:49,416 --> 00:18:52,196
completely changed
the face of the world.
343
00:18:54,466 --> 00:18:58,126
From the Empire, the west
inherited the Roman law,
344
00:18:58,166 --> 00:19:01,276
the right of property, Latin
and Greek art and culture,
345
00:19:01,316 --> 00:19:03,266
but also the Christian religion.
346
00:19:03,300 --> 00:19:06,180
(haunting music)
347
00:19:07,483 --> 00:19:10,373
Carthage might have exerted
it's influence to Gaul.
348
00:19:12,100 --> 00:19:15,230
Nowadays, Europeans would be
deeply impregnated with the
349
00:19:15,266 --> 00:19:17,476
Carthaginian culture,
and might speak
350
00:19:18,016 --> 00:19:21,026
a Semitic language
closely related to Arabic.
351
00:19:22,116 --> 00:19:24,326
However, arrived at
the gates of Rome,
352
00:19:24,366 --> 00:19:26,476
Hannibal seemed to be hesitant.
353
00:19:27,016 --> 00:19:31,126
His troops were exhausted and
he lacked siege equipment.
354
00:19:31,166 --> 00:19:33,096
Hannibal gave up
the siege of Rome
355
00:19:33,133 --> 00:19:36,333
and occupied the south
of Italy instead.
356
00:19:36,366 --> 00:19:38,396
He thought that the
surrender of the Romans
357
00:19:38,433 --> 00:19:41,353
was both inevitable
and imminent.
358
00:19:41,383 --> 00:19:45,023
However, sheltered
by it's sturdy walls,
359
00:19:45,050 --> 00:19:48,120
the Roman people will
decide otherwise.
360
00:19:49,433 --> 00:19:53,173
- [Tercelin] 202 B.C.,
plain of Zama, North Africa.
361
00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,350
(marching footsteps)
362
00:19:56,383 --> 00:19:59,123
Hannibal has just been
called back from Italy.
363
00:20:00,350 --> 00:20:03,370
The Roman troops of General
Scipio had landed in Africa,
364
00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:06,480
allied themselves with the
Numidian Prince Masinissa,
365
00:20:07,016 --> 00:20:08,316
and threatened to take Carthage.
366
00:20:08,350 --> 00:20:10,200
(dramatic music)
367
00:20:10,233 --> 00:20:12,303
What a strange irony of fate.
368
00:20:12,333 --> 00:20:15,173
After having threatened the
Roman capital many years ago,
369
00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:19,120
his strategy of isolation
had completely failed.
370
00:20:19,150 --> 00:20:21,070
Italy had remained
faithful to Rome
371
00:20:21,100 --> 00:20:24,150
and today he is forced to
fly to Carthage's assistance.
372
00:20:24,183 --> 00:20:27,323
(dramatic music)
(Hannibal yelling)
373
00:20:27,350 --> 00:20:31,050
The Carthaginian elephants
charge General Scipios
legions.
374
00:20:31,083 --> 00:20:33,453
(dramatic music)
375
00:20:33,483 --> 00:20:36,203
But Scipio had
anticipated the attack
376
00:20:36,233 --> 00:20:39,083
and had ordered his troops
to let through the mastodons
377
00:20:39,116 --> 00:20:42,196
to better surround them
before slaughtering them.
378
00:20:42,233 --> 00:20:43,283
The soldiers of Rome rapidly had
379
00:20:43,316 --> 00:20:45,216
the advantage over Hannibal.
380
00:20:49,066 --> 00:20:52,376
Hannibal is defeated,
the war is lost.
381
00:20:55,116 --> 00:20:58,146
The city is forced to hand
over its entire fleet,
382
00:20:58,183 --> 00:21:01,183
its war elephants, and Spain.
383
00:21:01,216 --> 00:21:04,046
Carthage is a mere shadow
of its former self.
384
00:21:04,083 --> 00:21:06,353
(dramatic music)
385
00:21:06,383 --> 00:21:10,033
But even if the city is
down, it is still living.
386
00:21:12,016 --> 00:21:15,146
Deprived of both political
and military roles,
387
00:21:15,183 --> 00:21:17,223
Carthage boosts
its trade and puts
388
00:21:17,250 --> 00:21:20,480
the economical situation
right in only a few years.
389
00:21:21,016 --> 00:21:25,076
The city gets rich again,
after barely 10 years Carthage
390
00:21:25,116 --> 00:21:28,366
offers Rome to pay its
war debts in advance.
391
00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,300
In the senate, the senators
are once more haunted
392
00:21:31,333 --> 00:21:34,303
by the specter of a military
recovery of Carthage.
393
00:21:34,333 --> 00:21:37,483
Caton, one of the
most virulent ones ,
394
00:21:38,016 --> 00:21:40,276
ends every one of his
speeches by the sentence
395
00:21:40,316 --> 00:21:45,266
Carthago delende est meaning,
Carthage must be destroyed.
396
00:21:45,300 --> 00:21:48,050
The Romans won't take
long to find a pretext,
397
00:21:48,083 --> 00:21:50,223
forced to defend itself
against an aggression
398
00:21:50,250 --> 00:21:54,000
from the Numidian Kingdom,
Carthage has to rearm.
399
00:21:54,033 --> 00:21:55,433
It doesn't take more.
400
00:21:55,466 --> 00:21:59,296
In 146 B.C. after a
long three year siege,
401
00:21:59,333 --> 00:22:03,083
it is the last action
of this age old war.
402
00:22:03,116 --> 00:22:05,426
The Roman troops enter
the burning city.
403
00:22:05,466 --> 00:22:09,116
(somber music)
404
00:22:09,150 --> 00:22:13,030
The fighting, house
after house, is pitiless.
405
00:22:13,066 --> 00:22:15,296
The streets are
strewn with corpses.
406
00:22:17,316 --> 00:22:19,366
The cornered Carthaginians know
407
00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:21,230
they are fighting to survive.
408
00:22:22,366 --> 00:22:23,296
In vain.
409
00:22:24,316 --> 00:22:27,166
During six days and six nights
410
00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:31,400
the city is engulfed in
flames
and given over to pillage.
411
00:22:31,433 --> 00:22:35,173
(somber music)
(people faintly shouting)
412
00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:38,300
The survivors are
reduced to slavery.
413
00:22:38,333 --> 00:22:42,303
The land is declared sah
sehre, which means cursed.
414
00:22:42,333 --> 00:22:45,333
It is strictly forbidden
for anyone to settle there.
415
00:22:47,233 --> 00:22:50,373
Carthage has been well
and truly destroyed.
416
00:22:54,033 --> 00:22:56,323
During the same year,
Greece is subjected
417
00:22:56,350 --> 00:22:58,450
by the legions for good.
418
00:22:58,483 --> 00:23:00,453
The influence of
Rome soon expands
419
00:23:00,483 --> 00:23:03,003
to the entire Mediterranean.
420
00:23:03,033 --> 00:23:06,073
However, both this expansion
ant this wealth inflow
421
00:23:06,100 --> 00:23:08,470
are about to completely
change the stability
422
00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:11,000
of the original city state.
423
00:23:11,033 --> 00:23:13,123
Serious crises would
soon be triggered
424
00:23:13,150 --> 00:23:15,170
followed by a
dreadful civil war,
425
00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:17,400
which would lead to the
end of the Roman Republic,
426
00:23:17,433 --> 00:23:20,223
then to the advent
of the Empire.
427
00:23:20,250 --> 00:23:23,280
But that is another story.
428
00:23:23,316 --> 00:23:26,346
(crowd cheering)
(electronic beat)
429
00:23:26,383 --> 00:23:28,473
- [Helen] Woe to the vanquished.
430
00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,380
(eerie music)
431
00:23:31,416 --> 00:23:34,176
During the antiquity
it was customary
432
00:23:34,216 --> 00:23:37,066
to plunder the city
seized from the enemy.
433
00:23:38,100 --> 00:23:40,320
The capture of
Carthage was a tragedy
434
00:23:40,350 --> 00:23:42,130
and an appalling sight.
435
00:23:42,166 --> 00:23:44,096
(soft music)
436
00:23:44,133 --> 00:23:47,303
Its population was
enslaved or wiped out,
437
00:23:47,333 --> 00:23:50,083
its archives went up in smoke.
438
00:23:50,116 --> 00:23:53,216
Its magnificent
library was devastated.
439
00:23:54,466 --> 00:23:58,196
After a 650 year old existence,
440
00:23:58,233 --> 00:24:01,273
hardly anything is
known about this city.
441
00:24:01,300 --> 00:24:04,170
It is as if it had
disappeared from history.
442
00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:08,120
It will subsist only through
its language and its culture
443
00:24:08,150 --> 00:24:10,320
which survived in
its former colonies.
444
00:24:11,466 --> 00:24:13,416
The succession of the three wars
445
00:24:13,450 --> 00:24:15,130
which led to its destruction
446
00:24:15,166 --> 00:24:18,376
are these days known
as the Punic Wars.
447
00:24:18,416 --> 00:24:22,096
The word Punic is
Latin, not Carthaginian.
448
00:24:22,133 --> 00:24:24,453
It reveals that the
conquerors make history.
449
00:24:26,366 --> 00:24:28,396
(somber music)
450
00:24:28,433 --> 00:24:32,253
Rome is the one which
survived a century of wars.
451
00:24:33,250 --> 00:24:35,430
Thanks to a stronger demography,
452
00:24:35,466 --> 00:24:38,466
it showed an
unfailing resilience.
453
00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:41,420
A tremendous ability to
know how to roll with
454
00:24:41,450 --> 00:24:45,280
dreadful punches
without ever giving up.
455
00:24:45,316 --> 00:24:48,066
With its armies
devastated and Hannibal
456
00:24:48,100 --> 00:24:51,150
ready to give the death
blow, Rome refused every kind
457
00:24:51,183 --> 00:24:53,373
of surrender and
prepared their reprisal.
458
00:24:55,016 --> 00:24:56,366
(dramatic music)
459
00:24:56,400 --> 00:25:01,370
Through its long history, it
seems that Rome always refused
460
00:25:03,066 --> 00:25:05,316
to negotiate without having
secured victory first.
461
00:25:05,350 --> 00:25:07,150
(dramatic music)
462
00:25:07,183 --> 00:25:12,183
The secret of the Roman
success may lie in these
facts.
463
00:25:13,283 --> 00:25:16,153
(dramatic music)
36791
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