纪录片《大英博物馆世界简史》 021拉吉浮雕

021：EPISODE 21 - Lachish Reliefs 拉吉浮雕

Abstract摘要 :

Lachish Reliefs (made around 700 BC). Stone panel, found in northern Iraq

拉吉浮雕(约公元前700年),发现于伊拉克北部 

MP3听力原文：

Three thousand years ago, the world was, as usual, at war. On the face of it this might seem surprising, as the entire population of the world three thousand years ago was only about 50 million people - roughly the number that now live in England. So you'd have thought there might have been enough land and wealth to go round without major conflict. But, however you look at human history, it's quite clear that one of the constants is the urge to fight. And, around 1000 BC, we find evidence for war on a quite new scale ? but with exactly the same results as war always brings with it.

"Rulers wished to establish their total power. It was a demonstration of their supremacy." (Anthony Beevor)

"There's always wars, there's always deaths, there's always refugees - they're a bi-product of war, and have been since the very very earliest times." (Paddy Ashdown)

This warfare transformed the political landscape from the Mediterranean to the Pacific . In what's now Iraq, the Assyrians created a model of empire which would last for centuries. Established powers ruling Egypt and China were invaded by outsiders, and indeed, across the whole world, we encounter new peoples and new powers. This week's objects take us into the minds of these peoples and powers of three thousand years ago, and our first object takes us straight into the heat of battle.