CONQUISTADORS - MICHAEL WOOD / The epic journeys which lie behind the Spanish conquest of the Americas / BBC DVD / DVD VIDEO

UPC 5014503169428

Playtime is 196 Minutes  

REGION 2 PAL DVD 

MADE IN ENGLAND

The Spanish conquest of the Americas in the sixteenth century was one of the most cataclysmic events in history. Spanish expeditions had to endure the most unbelievable hardships to open up the lands of the New World. Few stories, if any, in history match these for sheer drama, endurance and distance covered.

In CONQUISTADORS Michael Wood travels in the footsteps of some of the greatest of the Spanish adventurers from Amazonia to Lake Titicaca, and from the deserts of North Mexico to the heights of Macchu Picchu. He experiences first hand the reality of epic journeys, such as those made by Hernan Cortes, and Francisco and Gonzalo Pizarro, and explores the turbulent and terrifying events surrounding the Spanish conquest of the Aztec and the Inca empires, as well as Cabeza de Vaca's extraordinary journey across America to the Pacific. In Peru, as in Mexico, the Conquistadors swept away the indigenous states, subjugating the native people, destroying their religion and culture.

Michael Wood brings history alive as he relates this story of conquest, heroism and greed, and shows us how the Conquistadors have changed the way that we see the world in terms of history and civilisation, justice and human rights.

Written and Presented by Michael Wood, Music: Howard Davidson. Director: David Wallace, Producer: Rebecca Dobbs. A Maya Vision International Production for BBC and PBS. Photography; front cover top: Barrie Britton; bottom: Robert Harding/Geoff Renner, back cover: Maya Vision.

Originally transmitted: 24/11/00-15/12/00

• Subtitles English SDH
• DOLBY STEREO
• Regions 2+4 PAL UK
• DVD9 16.9
• Running Time 196 mins approx