Broadside: Emerging Empires Collide (Part I)

A 2009 War Documentary narrated by Ray Childs.

Throughout the 17th century the Dutch and English fought desperate wars over which country would dominate world trade for the next two centuries. They waged massive sea battles in Europe and embarked on violent raids in Asia, Africa and North America.

This two-part series employs drama, large-scale re-enactments, computer animation and interviews to chronicle these fierce struggles, such as that between the King of England, Charles II and Johann de Witt, the bold and able Dutch leader who stopped a war the young Dutch Republic could not win.

Computer generated 3D animation reveals what sea battles between hundreds of large sailing warships looked like. Naval experts describe the tactics and technologies of large sailing ships capable of half-ton broadsides and fleets with more firepower than any land army, while historians provide a modern-day perspective of how political leaders responded for the first time to the demand for freedom of conscience and religion.