　　We take our liberties for granted. They seem absolute and untouchable. But they are the result of a series of violent struggles fought over 800 years that, at times, have threatened to tear our society apart. On the frontline was a document originally inked on animal skin – Magna Carta. Distinguished constitutional historian David Starkey looks at the origins of the Great Charter in 1215 to check the abuses of King John - and how it nearly died at birth. He explores its subsequent deployment, its contribution to making everyone – even the monarch – subject to the rule of law, and how this quintessentially English document migrated to the North American colonies and eventually became the foundation of the US constitution. Magna Carta has become a universal symbol of individual freedom against the tyranny of the state, but with ever-tightening government control on our lives, is it time to resurrect it?

4872

2015

大宪章史话

主演：David Starkey

　　在诺曼地登陆行动之所以能够幸存与英勇无关，一切都是机运。这个现代历史最出名的关键时刻，全都取决于非凡战术与预料之外的因素。它不仅与人力和精良武器有关，更需要施展魔法与天马行空的发明—例如会游泳的战车、人数足以遮蔽天空的伞兵、善用信鸽传递机密的间谍。这场攸关数千名美军性命的战役完全仰赖正确的天气预测或是降落伞带扣。本节目将首度沿用全新的科学研究，详实剖析这场战役的生存机率。两千名伞兵在面积九平方哩的天空面对34万5千发子弹攻击，存活率是四分之一，但有一半伞兵活了下来。他们是如何做到的？只吃一条巧克力的军人和当天早餐吃得饱足的同袍又是谁更有存活机会？特别节目将利用精辟剖析与惊心动魄的画面，生动的戏剧情节，为观众展现精采的英雄故事。