Hanes Cymru a'r Mor ‹ Hanes Cymru a'r Mor

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-Yes, -Wales and the sea is our subject.	0:00:44	0:00:47
-But the story -doesn't begin in Wales.	0:00:47	0:00:51
-Growing up on the Mersey, the sea -was an integral part of our lives.	0:00:59	0:01:04
-Throughout the year, -ships from all over the world...	0:01:07	0:01:10
-..sailed in and out of the docks.	0:01:11	0:01:13
-I was raised this side of the river, -in Birkenhead.	0:01:18	0:01:21
-When I was a girl, the Liverpool -and Birkenhead docks were bustling.	0:01:21	0:01:25
-My family was one of thousands -who flocked here from north Wales...	0:01:26	0:01:29
-..to work in one of the world's -busiest ports.	0:01:29	0:01:32
-We didn't see magnificent ships -like The Lusitania sailing past.	0:01:40	0:01:44
-Even so, the famous Cammel Laird -shipping yard...	0:01:45	0:01:48
-..employed hundreds of men, -many of them from Wales.	0:01:49	0:01:52
-Oil tankers could be seen -sailing in and out...	0:01:52	0:01:56
-..from the dozen or more -working docks.	0:01:56	0:01:59
-To me, venturing to sea -was completely natural.	0:02:03	0:02:06
-The famous Mersey ferry -enabled me to visit Liverpool.	0:02:07	0:02:11
-My father was a former ship's -captain but now worked on dry land.	0:02:12	0:02:17
-He was responsible for ships -on both sides of the river.	0:02:17	0:02:21
-My two brothers and I loved sailing.	0:02:22	0:02:24
-We were raised with salt water -in our blood.	0:02:27	0:02:30
-I swapped the shores of the Mersey -for the Menai Straits.	0:02:38	0:02:41
-I can't live far -from the sight and smell of the sea.	0:02:41	0:02:44
-We're that sort of family.	0:02:45	0:02:47
-I'm with David, my eldest -brother's son, on board Glaslyn.	0:02:50	0:02:53
-Life on the ocean wave -is an adventure and a thrill.	0:03:01	0:03:04
-But to me, -sailing is almost second nature.	0:03:04	0:03:07
-The human race has lived on dry land -for millions of years.	0:03:11	0:03:15
-But according to scientists, -life began on the seabed.	0:03:16	0:03:19
-That's the origin of all species - -each one of us.	0:03:21	0:03:24
-It's hardly surprising -that throughout the centuries...	0:03:25	0:03:29
-..people have ventured to sea.	0:03:30	0:03:32
-The history of man and the sea -is inseparable.	0:03:32	0:03:35
-Primitive cousins of the human race -wandered parts of the earth...	0:03:43	0:03:47
-..for almost two million years.	0:03:47	0:03:49
-But the geography and people -of today's Wales...	0:03:50	0:03:53
-..didn't exist until much later.	0:03:53	0:03:56
-There is evidence that -primitive peoples inhabited Wales...	0:03:58	0:04:02
-..a quarter of a million years ago.	0:04:02	0:04:04
-It was the earth's Ice Age.	0:04:05	0:04:09
-Wales was covered with thick ice -for hundreds of thousands of years.	0:04:10	0:04:15
-As the ice slowly melted -12,000 years ago...	0:04:21	0:04:24
-..the seas rose around Britain.	0:04:24	0:04:27
-The lowlands between the south Wales -coast and the west of England...	0:04:29	0:04:33
-..filled with water, -creating the Bristol Channel.	0:04:33	0:04:37
-To the west, water flowed into the -valleys between Wales and Ireland.	0:04:37	0:04:42
-There was a massive population boom.	0:04:48	0:04:51
-Around 8,000 BC, five millennia -of global warming began.	0:04:52	0:04:58
-A settled human society -could thrive in this new climate.	0:04:59	0:05:03
-They gave up a nomadic lifestyle and -began to lay down permanent roots...	0:05:06	0:05:10
-..turning to agriculture -for sustenance, rather than hunting.	0:05:11	0:05:14
-These peoples left behind the -earliest known traces of seamanship.	0:05:21	0:05:25
-It's necessary to travel to Kent -in England to see those remains.	0:05:29	0:05:33
-The boundary between England and -Wales didn't exist 3,000 years ago.	0:05:34	0:05:39
-The Early Britons lived here.	0:05:41	0:05:45
-The name Dover derives from -the Welsh word for water, 'Dwr'.	0:05:46	0:05:50
-In September 1992...	0:05:53	0:05:55
-..while excavating a tunnel under -a new road leading to the harbour...	0:05:55	0:05:59
-..a workman found a series -of wooden rafters in the mud.	0:05:59	0:06:03
-The rafters were part -of an ancient boat.	0:06:04	0:06:07
-The discovery helped us -understand Bronze Age seamanship.	0:06:08	0:06:12
-Owain Roberts is an international -authority on historical ships.	0:06:20	0:06:24
-He's been studying the boat -for more than a decade.	0:06:25	0:06:28
-Initially, I just looked -at archaeologists' findings.	0:06:31	0:06:35
-My own research followed...	0:06:35	0:06:37
-..and I put the pieces together, -to form an actual boat.	0:06:37	0:06:41
-We've never worked on such a boat.	0:06:43	0:06:47
-I can't compare it to another boat.	0:06:47	0:06:50
-I had to work from scratch.	0:06:51	0:06:53
-The boat wasn't intact.	0:06:56	0:06:58
-It was hard to decide -which new pieces to add...	0:06:59	0:07:02
-..that complemented -the original boat.	0:07:03	0:07:06
-The boat was almost like a jigsaw, -with some pieces missing.	0:07:13	0:07:17
-To fill the gaps...	0:07:17	0:07:19
-..Owain Roberts turned -to basic seamanship principles.	0:07:19	0:07:23
-What was needed to turn the pile -of rafters into an actual boat?	0:07:23	0:07:28
-After puzzling for months, Owain -Roberts published his final plans.	0:07:29	0:07:34
-He was certain that this was -the original shape of the boat.	0:07:36	0:07:40
-Many experts claim it was built -to work on the Dover river.	0:07:42	0:07:47
-But as Owain Roberts' -plan took shape...	0:07:48	0:07:50
-..he became convinced that the boat -had sailed the oceans and seas.	0:07:50	0:07:54
-They found pottery from Dorset -alongside the boat.	0:07:58	0:08:01
-This proves she sailed -the English channel.	0:08:02	0:08:05
-The remains of a cod -were still attached to her hull.	0:08:05	0:08:09
-She'd therefore been a fishing boat.	0:08:11	0:08:13
-Within a stone's throw of Dover...	0:08:17	0:08:19
-..another archaeological site -confirmed Owain Roberts' theory.	0:08:20	0:08:24
-Divers found bronze pieces -from a shipwreck...	0:08:26	0:08:29
-..no boat, just these.	0:08:30	0:08:32
-From chemical tests, -we know the metal came from France.	0:08:32	0:08:36
-Some sort of commerce was ongoing -between France and Britain.	0:08:37	0:08:42
-That told us it was obviously -a Bronze Age boat...	0:08:43	0:08:47
-..sailing along the coastline -and crossing to France.	0:08:48	0:08:53
-The Dover boat -is one of the world's oldest.	0:08:55	0:08:58
-There was a great deal of interest -in Owain Roberts' plans.	0:08:58	0:09:02
-To prove the plans were practical...	0:09:03	0:09:05
-..shipbuilders reconstructed -the original boat.	0:09:05	0:09:09
-They used the same -techniques and equipment...	0:09:10	0:09:13
-..that were available -in the Bronze Age.	0:09:13	0:09:16
-The results can be viewed in -the exhibition of the original boat.	0:09:16	0:09:20
-This is a model of a section -of the boat.	0:09:23	0:09:25
-It demonstrates how -it was pieced together.	0:09:26	0:09:29
-There are four pieces of wood.	0:09:30	0:09:32
-Two big sections down the middle.	0:09:33	0:09:35
-The sides were carved out -of a quarter of a tree trunk.	0:09:36	0:09:40
-We believe another plank was above -it, but that plank hasn't appeared.	0:09:40	0:09:45
-The wood from which it was carved -was substantial.	0:09:46	0:09:49
-These blocks are this thick.	0:09:50	0:09:53
-They started -with a piece of oak this wide.	0:09:54	0:09:59
-There's been an incredible amount -of carving here.	0:10:02	0:10:04
-The stitches tie -both sides together.	0:10:05	0:10:08
-They were threaded -through the holes.	0:10:08	0:10:11
-The hole below has been made -to prevent the stitch...	0:10:11	0:10:14
-..from being damaged on the beach.	0:10:14	0:10:17
-The pressed wax seals the water, -as much as possible.	0:10:18	0:10:23
-A different method was used down the -middle. There are no stitches here.	0:10:25	0:10:28
-They've put small planks of wood -across.	0:10:29	0:10:33
-Others were positioned -at an opposite angle.	0:10:33	0:10:36
-They firmly secure -the two parts of the boat.	0:10:36	0:10:40
-It's a very interesting trick. -I haven't seen it anywhere else.	0:10:41	0:10:45
-They were a sophisticated crew.	0:10:45	0:10:47
-They were a sophisticated crew. - -Very sophisticated.	0:10:47	0:10:48
-They worked directly from -a piece of wood to create a shape...	0:10:50	0:10:56
-..without using plans. -That's more than we can do today!	0:10:56	0:11:01
-The only comparable work -is the craft of a sculptor...	0:11:01	0:11:04
-..carving straight -into the material.	0:11:05	0:11:08
-What was the lifespan of the boat?	0:11:08	0:11:11
-How long would the stitches last?	0:11:11	0:11:15
-The continuous motion -wore the stitches down.	0:11:15	0:11:18
-Eventually, they'd disintegrate.	0:11:18	0:11:21
-Once a year, they probably -pulled her ashore, and re-stitched.	0:11:21	0:11:27
-Ships are repainted every winter -today.	0:11:27	0:11:32
-It's the same idea.	0:11:32	0:11:34
-The Dover boat is the best evidence -we have to prove...	0:11:41	0:11:44
-..that Bronze Age people -crossed the seas.	0:11:44	0:11:47
-But there are other reasons -to believe...	0:11:48	0:11:51
-..that our primitive forefathers -were enthusiastic sailors.	0:11:52	0:11:55
-All along the west coast of Wales...	0:12:02	0:12:04
-..dozens of megalithic tombs -have been discovered.	0:12:04	0:12:08
-They're amongst the world's -oldest permanent buildings.	0:12:09	0:12:12
-They were built -as community centres.	0:12:21	0:12:24
-Places to meet, hold rituals, -and bury the dead.	0:12:25	0:12:29
-The significance -of some megalithic tombs...	0:12:34	0:12:37
-..is that they suggest Wales -had an indigenous seafaring culture.	0:12:37	0:12:41
-There is a similarity between -the layout of some Welsh tombs...	0:12:48	0:12:51
-..and their Irish counterparts.	0:12:52	0:12:54
-Although no hard evidence -has survived...	0:12:55	0:12:58
-..it's more than likely that early -residents of Wales and Dover...	0:12:58	0:13:02
-..travelled back and forth -across the sea.	0:13:02	0:13:05
-It's fair to conclude -that the huge ships...	0:13:14	0:13:17
-..that sail between Ireland -and Europe through Welsh ports...	0:13:17	0:13:21
-..are part of a sailing tradition -dating back thousands of years.	0:13:21	0:13:25
-888	0:13:39	0:13:41
-Megalithic tombs are dotted -around the West Wales coastline.	0:13:49	0:13:53
-Their presence suggests -that the early Welsh...	0:13:53	0:13:56
-..who lived here in 8,000 BC, -were familiar with the sea.	0:13:56	0:14:01
-Unlike Dover, a boat from that era -has yet to be discovered in Wales.	0:14:03	0:14:08
-To understand more -about Welsh seafaring...	0:14:09	0:14:12
-..we have to look -for other evidence.	0:14:12	0:14:15
-As the locations -of the tombs demonstrate...	0:14:21	0:14:23
-..most of the population -lived in west Wales.	0:14:23	0:14:26
-Towards the east, the mountainous -terrain was hard to cross.	0:14:27	0:14:31
-The roads were primitive. -Wheeled-transport was very rare.	0:14:34	0:14:38
-Furthermore, most of Wales -was covered in forests.	0:14:40	0:14:44
-It was quite a feat to travel -anywhere overland.	0:14:45	0:14:48
-The prospect of transporting goods -overland was even more daunting.	0:14:49	0:14:53
-If it was hard -to cross land on foot...	0:14:54	0:14:56
-..it was almost impossible -with a heavy load.	0:14:56	0:15:00
-But the open sea was to the west.	0:15:07	0:15:09
-Despite the dangers -associated with sailing...	0:15:10	0:15:13
-..it was easier and more practical -than overland.	0:15:13	0:15:17
-This period in our history -is known as the Bronze Age.	0:15:28	0:15:31
-Rather than depending -on stone weapons...	0:15:32	0:15:34
-..the people learnt -how to use metals.	0:15:35	0:15:37
-To understand the relationship -of the early Welsh and the sea...	0:15:43	0:15:47
-..we must follow the development -of these new metals.	0:15:47	0:15:50
-An ideal place for this -is the Great Orme, Llandudno.	0:15:51	0:15:54
-Ken Brassil took me there.	0:16:00	0:16:02
-He's an archaeologist -who works for the National Museum.	0:16:02	0:16:06
-Ken specialises -in the prehistoric era.	0:16:06	0:16:09
-He's very familiar with the site.	0:16:10	0:16:12
-Below us here, there are almost -5 kilometres of tunnels...	0:16:13	0:16:17
-..reaching a depth of 100 metres -under the Orme.	0:16:17	0:16:22
-This is the world's biggest -prehistoric underground copper mine.	0:16:25	0:16:31
-They began to use metals in -the British Isles around 2,000 BC.	0:16:35	0:16:42
-The mined copper was mixed -with Cornish tin to create bronze.	0:16:45	0:16:52
-This new bronze metal was used...	0:16:56	0:17:00
-..to make axes, swords and so on.	0:17:00	0:17:04
-The mine at the Great Orme -is a tourist attraction nowadays.	0:17:10	0:17:13
-But 4,000 years ago, it would -have been a hive of activity.	0:17:14	0:17:19
-Because of the unique geology...	0:17:21	0:17:23
-..it was easy to use pieces -of animal bone to mine the copper.	0:17:23	0:17:29
-The mining resulted -in the presence of miles of tunnels.	0:17:32	0:17:37
-Most are so narrow, children -must have carried out the work.	0:17:37	0:17:43
-It would be very difficult -to get any candlelight here...	0:17:45	0:17:49
-..because of the lack of oxygen -in the tunnels.	0:17:49	0:17:53
-Most of the work -was carried out in darkness.	0:17:53	0:17:56
-Because this is -the north Wales coast...	0:17:59	0:18:02
-..the sea must have played a part, -moving the copper and tin...	0:18:03	0:18:07
-..and moving equipment -from community to community.	0:18:08	0:18:11
-The sea also provided the means...	0:18:15	0:18:17
-..to share and spread -technological information...	0:18:17	0:18:20
-..such as mixing copper and tin.	0:18:20	0:18:22
-There is no direct evidence of -Bronze Age seamanship in Llandudno.	0:18:26	0:18:30
-But discoveries -in other parts of north Wales...	0:18:31	0:18:35
-..prove the existence -of an exporting industry here.	0:18:35	0:18:38
-There are examples of shipwrecks.	0:18:40	0:18:43
-Unfortunately, the boats -themselves remain undiscovered.	0:18:43	0:18:46
-But their contents were found -off the Pembrokeshire coastline.	0:18:46	0:18:50
-Archaeologists have found -a number of Bronze Age swords.	0:18:51	0:18:56
-Their sheer numbers suggest -they're the remains of a shipwreck.	0:18:57	0:19:01
-We believe bronze was exported -to the continent, even to France.	0:19:03	0:19:09
-During the Bronze Age, importing -and exporting took place...	0:19:10	0:19:14
-..between the British Isles -and the rest of Europe.	0:19:15	0:19:18
-The Great Orme copper mines can -be compared to the megalithic tombs.	0:19:24	0:19:27
-Seafaring skills were crucial -to the existence of both.	0:19:28	0:19:32
-But on their own, -they're not proof of seamanship.	0:19:33	0:19:38
-Lawyers would describe it as -'circumstantial evidence'.	0:19:39	0:19:43
-But yet, -a short distance up the coast...	0:19:43	0:19:46
-..a site proves beyond doubt that -early sailors lived in the area.	0:19:46	0:19:52
-Caergwrle, east of Llandudno, -is in the Wrexham area.	0:20:02	0:20:06
-The ruins of Prince Dafydd -ap Gruffydd's castle are here.	0:20:07	0:20:10
-He was the brother -of Llywelyn, Last Prince of Wales.	0:20:10	0:20:12
-On the hill, there are remains -of a prehistoric settlement.	0:20:13	0:20:18
-Although there is a fair distance -between the village and sea...	0:20:23	0:20:26
-..an historical discovery of early -Welsh seamanship was made here.	0:20:27	0:20:32
-In 1823, a farmhand made a valuable -discovery whilst opening a ditch.	0:20:36	0:20:40
-It is now -in the National Museum of Wales.	0:20:41	0:20:45
-When the treasure first surfaced...	0:20:47	0:20:49
-..Victorian archaeologists -were convinced...	0:20:49	0:20:52
-..they'd found -an intricately crafted bowl.	0:20:52	0:20:55
-We're certain today -that it isn't a bowl.	0:21:00	0:21:03
-It's a model of a boat -made out of special stone - shale.	0:21:04	0:21:09
-The oars and waves -are made out of thin gold.	0:21:11	0:21:19
-There are circular shields -on the side of the boat.	0:21:22	0:21:26
-The eyes seem to be looking -for stones underwater.	0:21:28	0:21:32
-The detail suggests -this is something unique.	0:21:34	0:21:38
-Almost as important as -the boat design is its manufacture.	0:21:41	0:21:44
-We reckon the gold comes -from Ireland.	0:21:45	0:21:49
-The gold has been embossed into -the decoration on the shale stone...	0:21:49	0:21:56
-..with tin.	0:21:58	0:21:59
-Tin was only found -in Cornwall at this time.	0:22:00	0:22:06
-This is of Welsh and international -significance.	0:22:07	0:22:14
-There's a tradition -dating back centuries...	0:22:20	0:22:23
-..of burying valuable items -in wet earth.	0:22:23	0:22:28
-They were thrown into lakes, -rivers, wells, or even gorse land.	0:22:30	0:22:36
-Why would people throw away -their treasures?	0:22:37	0:22:44
-One theory is that gold merchants, -crossing from Ireland...	0:22:49	0:22:55
-..had collected the gold -from Wicklow mountain streams...	0:22:56	0:23:01
-..south of Dublin.	0:23:02	0:23:03
-They sailed to Anglesey -and crossed the Menai Straits...	0:23:05	0:23:09
-..and eventually sailed -along the coastline.	0:23:10	0:23:14
-They passed us here in Caergwrle.	0:23:15	0:23:18
-Perhaps there was -a major incident...	0:23:18	0:23:22
-..as the merchants -passed a certain place.	0:23:23	0:23:26
-They had to keep -the local goddess happy.	0:23:28	0:23:32
-All they could do was present their -treasure to appease their goddess.	0:23:33	0:23:38
-That's just a theory.	0:23:40	0:23:42
-In the prehistoric era, -nothing was recorded.	0:23:42	0:23:46
-In prehistoric times, people worried -about keeping their gods happy.	0:23:50	0:23:56
-The day was fast approaching when -the peoples of the British Isles...	0:23:56	0:24:00
-..would have to bow -before men of flesh and blood.	0:24:00	0:24:03
-A powerful race - -who came, who saw and who conquered.	0:24:03	0:24:08
-888	0:24:20	0:24:22
-Commerce uses boats -for peaceful means.	0:24:28	0:24:30
-It was mainly responsible for the -growth of early seamanship in Wales.	0:24:30	0:24:34
-Transporting goods -was the role of most boats.	0:24:38	0:24:41
-This continued for many years.	0:24:42	0:24:44
-About 2,000 years ago...	0:24:46	0:24:48
-..a new civilization -arrived on these islands.	0:24:48	0:24:51
-But the Romans used the sea -for less peaceful goals.	0:24:51	0:24:54
-The Romans first landed -on the southern shores of England.	0:24:58	0:25:01
-Their leader was Julius Caesar, -in the year 55 BC.	0:25:02	0:25:06
-There was no attempt to conquer the -British Isles for another century...	0:25:07	0:25:11
-..until the year 43 AD.	0:25:12	0:25:14
-The Roman fleet was awesome.	0:25:20	0:25:23
-According to some historians, -a comparable fleet...	0:25:23	0:25:28
-..would not sail the seas of Europe -for another 2,000 years.	0:25:28	0:25:32
-Twenty thousand men landed -in the south of England...	0:25:34	0:25:36
-..conquering -the natives effortlessly.	0:25:37	0:25:39
-The Britons' boats weren't a match -for the sophisticated Roman fleet.	0:25:41	0:25:46
-Emperor Claudius -brought elephants with him...	0:25:47	0:25:51
-..when he arrived in Britain...	0:25:52	0:25:54
-..to witness the natives -submitting to his power.	0:25:54	0:25:57
-The Roman grip soon tightened in -every corner of Wales and England.	0:26:02	0:26:07
-Although the armies -normally went overland...	0:26:09	0:26:12
-..the sea was a crucial part -of their strategy...	0:26:12	0:26:15
-..in conquering and ruling -their new territory.	0:26:16	0:26:19
-Traces of the Roman invasion -can be seen in Wales today.	0:26:25	0:26:28
-There's an old Roman fort -to the north of Holyhead harbour.	0:26:29	0:26:33
-According to historian -John Ellis Jones...	0:26:34	0:26:36
-..it's a perfect example of how -the new invaders used the sea...	0:26:36	0:26:41
-..to wage war.	0:26:42	0:26:43
-As you can see, -the walls are very high.	0:26:44	0:26:47
-They've survived since the -fourth century in good condition.	0:26:48	0:26:53
-There's an interesting pattern.	0:26:55	0:26:56
-There's an interesting pattern. - -Very interesting.	0:26:56	0:26:58
-There's an interesting pattern.	0:26:58	0:26:58
-It's quite a common stone.	0:26:59	0:27:02
-Some have been positioned -horizontally...	0:27:02	0:27:06
-..and others have been placed -to create a herringbone pattern.	0:27:06	0:27:11
-This is typical -of the late Roman era...	0:27:11	0:27:17
-..3rd, 4th and 5th centuries AD.	0:27:19	0:27:21
-This is how we can date the fort.	0:27:22	0:27:26
-The fort was designed -to maximise its location.	0:27:35	0:27:39
-More than likely, -although the fort is here...	0:27:41	0:27:45
-..the walls in front of us -and behind us...	0:27:45	0:27:49
-..stretched outwards, -like arms, towards the sea.	0:27:50	0:27:53
-The boats sailed -directly into the fort.	0:27:54	0:27:56
-Within these walls...	0:27:57	0:28:01
-..they were in a safe haven.	0:28:01	0:28:04
-The author Vegetius provides -a fascinating description.	0:28:06	0:28:12
-He explains how the Romans -utilized small fleets...	0:28:14	0:28:20
-..not one large fleet...	0:28:21	0:28:23
-..and they had boats -called liburnae.	0:28:23	0:28:26
-These were fast boats.	0:28:27	0:28:29
-Today's equivalent -are destroyers or patrol vessels.	0:28:30	0:28:35
-The Roman world was a dangerous one.	0:28:38	0:28:41
-Officially, they governed...	0:28:41	0:28:43
-..but their settlement -was always under threat.	0:28:43	0:28:46
-The small fleets -defended the settlement.	0:28:50	0:28:54
-They warned the soldiers -of an approaching enemy.	0:28:55	0:28:59
-There was uncertainty how -this was achieved in Holyhead...	0:29:02	0:29:05
-..until archaeologists -excavated on Holyhead Mountain.	0:29:06	0:29:11
-A few years ago, the ruins -of a Roman tower were found.	0:29:13	0:29:17
-From the tower, they had -a brilliant view towards Ireland.	0:29:18	0:29:23
-They could send smoke signals...	0:29:24	0:29:27
-..or light fires...	0:29:28	0:29:31
-..or use a semaphore system -of signalling.	0:29:31	0:29:38
-That's how the garrison was warned -of an approaching enemy.	0:29:39	0:29:44
-Despite the Romans' sophisticated -warning system...	0:29:49	0:29:52
-..they weren't always successful.	0:29:53	0:29:55
-There was no certainty -invaders could be intercepted...	0:29:56	0:29:59
-..before they raped, -plundered and murdered.	0:30:00	0:30:04
-But you were aware -invaders had landed...	0:30:05	0:30:10
-..and sailors alerted -the Roman fleet of their presence.	0:30:10	0:30:14
-Anglesey was a small corner -of the Roman Empire.	0:30:18	0:30:22
-The history books -are written by the victors.	0:30:22	0:30:26
-What we know about Wales and the sea -during the Roman age...	0:30:29	0:30:33
-..is the Roman version of history.	0:30:33	0:30:36
-That's the only version we have.	0:30:37	0:30:44
-It gives us an idea -of how they treated the sea.	0:30:44	0:30:49
-We have a picture, -but it's a rather Roman picture.	0:30:49	0:30:53
-There are no Welsh versions -from that time.	0:30:53	0:30:59
-Like the Welsh, -the Romans realised...	0:31:05	0:31:08
-..that sailing was easier -than travelling overland.	0:31:08	0:31:11
-Whilst the Welsh used -this knowledge for peaceful ends...	0:31:16	0:31:20
-..the Romans used the sea...	0:31:20	0:31:22
-..to tighten their grip -on their conquered lands.	0:31:22	0:31:26
-That tactic was a key reason -for their success in Britain.	0:31:27	0:31:30
-After the Romans left, Wales was -attacked on numerous occasions.	0:31:35	0:31:38
-The Vikings were a particular threat -along the coastline.	0:31:39	0:31:43
-Anglicised Welsh place names -with Viking roots...	0:31:43	0:31:47
-..are found in a number -of places along the coast.	0:31:47	0:31:50
-Abertawe became Swan Sea, -or Swains Isle...	0:31:52	0:31:55
-..to pay homage -to King Swain Fork-Beard.	0:31:56	0:31:59
-In the same way, Mona, or Ynys Mon, -became Anglesey.	0:32:00	0:32:04
-But unlike the Romans, -not a single Viking fort survived.	0:32:10	0:32:15
-There are no ruins to match -those left by the next invaders...	0:32:15	0:32:20
-..the Normans.	0:32:21	0:32:22
-The Norman fort at Pembroke -is in an area known as...	0:32:27	0:32:31
-..'little England beyond Wales.'	0:32:32	0:32:34
-Historian Nia Powell -traces the Normans' lineage.	0:32:36	0:32:40
-It's interesting that -their forefathers were Vikings.	0:32:41	0:32:45
-Vikings emigrated from the north, -and settled in northern France.	0:32:46	0:32:52
-They formed -a dominion and territory there.	0:32:53	0:32:56
-The old Viking seafaring tradition -was adopted by the Normans.	0:32:56	0:33:03
-When they came from Normandy -to attack Harold in Hastings...	0:33:05	0:33:11
-..they came in ships, -along with their war horses.	0:33:12	0:33:16
-The Bayeux Tapestry -has fascinating pictures of ships.	0:33:17	0:33:22
-There are rows of shields -along the sides.	0:33:22	0:33:25
-This is similar -to the Viking longboats.	0:33:25	0:33:29
-After defeating Harold -in the Battle of Hastings...	0:33:31	0:33:34
-..the Normans settled -in south east England.	0:33:34	0:33:37
-They began -their westerly campaign...	0:33:37	0:33:40
-..at a time -when Wales was a divided country.	0:33:41	0:33:44
-Although a number of Welsh -Princedoms fell relatively easily...	0:33:47	0:33:50
-..many held onto their lands.	0:33:51	0:33:54
-The sea and mountains helped them.	0:33:54	0:33:57
-The relationship -between Wales and the sea...	0:33:58	0:34:02
-..was strengthened -by the Irish connection.	0:34:03	0:34:05
-Irish sea crossings -happened regularly.	0:34:06	0:34:09
-Rhys ap Tewdwr, -King of South Wales...	0:34:09	0:34:14
-..and Gruffydd ap Cynan, -King of Gwynedd...	0:34:14	0:34:17
-..had lived in Ireland.	0:34:18	0:34:20
-They returned from Ireland -to claim their territory...	0:34:21	0:34:25
-..before the battle of Carn Mountain -in 1081.	0:34:25	0:34:28
-Gruffydd ap Cynan -was probably born in Dublin.	0:34:30	0:34:34
-His father was exiled to Ireland.	0:34:34	0:34:37
-He married the daughter of Dublin's -Danish King - a Viking, therefore.	0:34:38	0:34:43
-There was Viking blood -in Gruffydd ap Cynan.	0:34:43	0:34:46
-I think the relationship between -the Kings of Wales...	0:34:48	0:34:53
-..the sea and Ireland...	0:34:54	0:34:56
-..explains how they could keep -the west in Welsh hands.	0:34:56	0:35:01
-The Princes of the west held onto -their independent lands...	0:35:04	0:35:08
-..for 250 years.	0:35:08	0:35:10
-The Age of the Princes ended -at the end of the 13th century.	0:35:11	0:35:15
-To ensure the continuation -of the new order...	0:35:16	0:35:19
-..Edward I built a series of castles -along the Welsh coastline.	0:35:19	0:35:24
-The castles defended -coastal towns from sea strikes.	0:35:25	0:35:30
-The sea was a defence -against overland attacks.	0:35:30	0:35:34
-Pembroke Castle -is a perfect example.	0:35:38	0:35:41
-This is one of the few -Norman castles to resist attack.	0:35:42	0:35:47
-It was a Norman stronghold.	0:35:47	0:35:53
-They had access to supplies -from the sea.	0:35:54	0:35:58
-There's a little dock -under the tower.	0:36:00	0:36:04
-Ships up to 50 tonnes, no more, -could sail in from the sea.	0:36:05	0:36:10
-Not all the Norman castles -are by the seaside.	0:36:12	0:36:16
-But having said that, -a number of the surviving castles...	0:36:18	0:36:24
-..are on the coast.	0:36:24	0:36:28
-Today, to many Welshmen...	0:36:32	0:36:34
-..the castles built by English kings -are a symbol of oppression.	0:36:35	0:36:39
-But to many -who lived in their shadows...	0:36:41	0:36:43
-..the castles, towns and harbours -that grew around them...	0:36:44	0:36:47
-..offered up new opportunities.	0:36:48	0:36:50
-But throughout history, the picture -isn't completely black and white.	0:36:52	0:36:56
-The Normans and the English -were cruel masters.	0:36:58	0:37:02
-But like the Romans, they were -teachers as well as governors.	0:37:04	0:37:08
-The invaders' influence -on our seafaring culture continues.	0:37:10	0:37:14
-Over the centuries, -they built harbours.	0:37:14	0:37:17
-The harbours are still with us, -but they're now used by the Welsh.	0:37:17	0:37:22
-888	0:37:31	0:37:33
-We've tried to understand -why people ventured to sea...	0:37:41	0:37:44
-..through looking at objects - -boats, tombs and castles.	0:37:45	0:37:50
-It's futile -to look for written evidence.	0:37:51	0:37:53
-Dependable written history -doesn't appear until much later.	0:37:55	0:37:59
-But there is one more source.	0:38:00	0:38:02
-When the human race -mastered language...	0:38:03	0:38:06
-..we told tales to one another.	0:38:06	0:38:09
-The most famous Welsh legends -are The Mabinogion.	0:38:19	0:38:22
-They were formally recorded -in the 13th century.	0:38:23	0:38:26
-But they were repeated orally -many years before that.	0:38:26	0:38:30
-Through being repeated -over the generations...	0:38:31	0:38:34
-..these tales -grew into magical fantasies.	0:38:34	0:38:37
-You could argue that the legends...	0:38:44	0:38:46
-..are rooted in the real -experiences of the early Welsh.	0:38:46	0:38:50
-The sea plays a key role in the tale -of Branwen, daughter of Llyr.	0:38:51	0:38:55
-It's one of the four branches -of The Mabinogion.	0:38:55	0:38:57
-I met Gwyn Thomas, -the poet and scholar...	0:38:58	0:39:01
-..who's immersed himself -in the legends.	0:39:02	0:39:05
-The story was first written -about 1,000 years ago.	0:39:05	0:39:09
-But it was repeated -for centuries before that.	0:39:10	0:39:13
-They include ancient tales.	0:39:13	0:39:16
-The story begins with Branwen's -brother, the giant, Bendigeidfran.	0:39:16	0:39:20
-He was sitting somewhere in Harlech, -near to where we are.	0:39:20	0:39:24
-He and his courtiers spotted -13 ships coming towards them...	0:39:25	0:39:30
-..from southern Ireland.	0:39:30	0:39:32
-They could see -the magnificent, grand ships.	0:39:33	0:39:37
-They had silk sails.	0:39:38	0:39:40
-He sent his men -to discover what they wanted.	0:39:42	0:39:45
-The sea was high...	0:39:46	0:39:50
-..reaching the bottom of the rock -where we're standing.	0:39:50	0:39:54
-The Irish launched the barges they -carried on their larger boats...	0:39:54	0:39:59
-..and sailed to shore.	0:40:00	0:40:02
-Bendigeidfran asked them -what they wanted.	0:40:03	0:40:06
-Matholwch, King of Ireland...	0:40:07	0:40:09
-..had come to ask Bendigeidfran -for his sister's hand in marriage.	0:40:10	0:40:14
-Bendigeidfran and Matholwch -arranged the marriage.	0:40:16	0:40:19
-The Irish received a warm welcome.	0:40:20	0:40:22
-But Matholwch and Efnisien -didn't see eye to eye.	0:40:22	0:40:25
-Efnisien was Bendigedifran's -half-brother.	0:40:25	0:40:28
-Efnisien attacked the Irishmen's -horses, fatally wounding them.	0:40:28	0:40:32
-The Irish wanted revenge.	0:40:34	0:40:38
-Back in Ireland, Branwen -was sent to work as a maid...	0:40:40	0:40:43
-..in Matholwch's kitchen.	0:40:44	0:40:45
-Once again, the sea played -a central role in the story.	0:40:46	0:40:50
-In case the news of Branwen's -punishment reached Bendigeidfran...	0:40:51	0:40:55
-..in Britain...	0:40:56	0:40:58
-..Matholwch, King of Ireland, -prevented every ship...	0:40:58	0:41:02
-..every barge and coracle -from leaving Ireland.	0:41:02	0:41:05
-The three types of boats mentioned -sailed to and from Ireland to Wales.	0:41:05	0:41:10
-There were sails -on the larger ships.	0:41:11	0:41:14
-They could also carry smaller boats.	0:41:14	0:41:17
-Gruffydd ap Cynan crossed to Ireland -from Wales in a barge.	0:41:18	0:41:26
-But there were sails of some sort -on the Irish boats.	0:41:27	0:41:32
-The coracles were much bigger -than the ones we're accustomed to.	0:41:33	0:41:38
-They would fish in these -15 foot long, fragile boats.	0:41:41	0:41:47
-More than likely, the references -to coracles and barges...	0:41:53	0:41:57
-..were added to The Mabinogion -at a later stage...	0:41:57	0:42:00
-..when the tales -were first written down.	0:42:00	0:42:03
-The Irish coracle, the curragh...	0:42:06	0:42:08
-..is still used -on the Aran Islands today.	0:42:08	0:42:11
-Here in Wales, after crossing -the beach in Harlech...	0:42:19	0:42:22
-..the valley we associate with -Bendigeidfran and Branwen's home...	0:42:22	0:42:27
-..Gwyn Thomas discussed how the sea -has moved over the centuries.	0:42:28	0:42:32
-When Bendigeidfran and -his soldiers sailed to Ireland...	0:42:35	0:42:39
-..to save Branwen...	0:42:39	0:42:41
-..the sea was no wider -than a large river.	0:42:42	0:42:46
-The soldiers sailed in boats.	0:42:47	0:42:49
-Bendigeidfran walked through -the shallow water.	0:42:49	0:42:52
-The sea later invaded this area.	0:42:53	0:42:58
-The drowned community -of Cantre'r Gwaelod...	0:42:59	0:43:02
-..testified that -there was a town or city there.	0:43:02	0:43:04
-Yes. There were three kingdoms here, -according to legend.	0:43:04	0:43:10
-One became Cantre'r Gwaelod, -in the kingdom of Gwyddno.	0:43:10	0:43:14
-Seithennin guarded -the doors to keep the sea out.	0:43:15	0:43:20
-But he got drunk one night -and the sea flooded in.	0:43:21	0:43:26
-What does that say about the Welsh, -when these stories were written?	0:43:29	0:43:33
-I think they were very accustomed -to the sea, especially around here.	0:43:34	0:43:40
-They could remember the sea flooding -the land.	0:43:42	0:43:47
-As if to strengthen that belief...	0:43:54	0:43:57
-..at low tide, remains of an old -forest are visible on the seabed...	0:43:57	0:44:01
-..in Cardigan Bay.	0:44:01	0:44:03
-This suggests there is an element -of truth in some of the tales.	0:44:03	0:44:07
-Perhaps it's just the imagination -of the old storytellers.	0:44:11	0:44:15
-But we know for certain that -there's a recurring connection...	0:44:16	0:44:19
-..between Wales and Ireland, -over thousands of years.	0:44:19	0:44:22
-Some claim that Welsh sailors...	0:44:26	0:44:28
-..ventured further afield -than the Emerald Isle.	0:44:29	0:44:32
-The most famous of these -adventurers is Madog.	0:44:32	0:44:36
-According to legend, he was -a Prince, who lived in Anglesey.	0:44:38	0:44:44
-He and his sailors -sailed to America.	0:44:45	0:44:50
-If that were true, they were the -first Europeans to discover America.	0:44:52	0:44:59
-People lived there anyway.	0:44:59	0:45:02
-It's a very dubious story, -rooted in Tudor times.	0:45:04	0:45:09
-The Tudors believed -Henry VII was Welsh.	0:45:10	0:45:14
-A Welsh family sat -on the throne of Britain.	0:45:14	0:45:18
-The Madog legend was exaggerated -for a purpose.	0:45:20	0:45:24
-If they could claim -that Britain discovered America...	0:45:24	0:45:30
-..they would lay claim -to the country.	0:45:31	0:45:35
-Madog would have been to America -before Columbus.	0:45:35	0:45:39
-It's interesting that Madog's tale -came to the public domain...	0:45:44	0:45:48
-..at a time when a feeling of -national pride existed in Wales.	0:45:48	0:45:52
-At the end of the Tudor era, -the tale was forgotten...	0:45:54	0:45:58
-..only to be resurrected -in the Victorian Age.	0:45:58	0:46:01
-This is when the new industrial -Wales began to grow in confidence.	0:46:02	0:46:06
-Welsh steel and coal -were exported all over the world.	0:46:07	0:46:11
-The idea of a Welshman discovering -America fired the imagination again.	0:46:11	0:46:16
-In the 19th century, -Thomas Stephens wrote an essay...	0:46:18	0:46:22
-..for the 1858 National Eisteddfod -at Llangollen.	0:46:23	0:46:25
-He dismissed the legend, -accusing it of being false.	0:46:28	0:46:33
-Although the judges said -it was the best piece of work...	0:46:36	0:46:39
-..he didn't get the prize -because he destroyed the legend.	0:46:40	0:46:46
-Legends explain -our sailing history...	0:46:50	0:46:53
-..and help us understand -the sea itself.	0:46:53	0:46:56
-But more than anything...	0:46:57	0:46:59
-..they present a vivid picture -of the early Welsh psyche.	0:46:59	0:47:03
-We've been sailors -for many centuries...	0:47:04	0:47:07
-..starting with -the legend of Branwen.	0:47:08	0:47:11
-But there were people -in Aberdaron in the early 1900s...	0:47:11	0:47:16
-..who had been, as children, -to Rio de Janeiro...	0:47:17	0:47:20
-..but who hadn't been -near Llandudno.	0:47:20	0:47:22
-The seafaring tradition is strong -along the coastline of Wales.	0:47:23	0:47:27
-And there's plenty -of coastline in Wales.	0:47:30	0:47:32
-750 miles of sea surrounds us -on three sides of our country.	0:47:32	0:47:37
-But despite the proverb -'familiarity breeds contempt'...	0:47:41	0:47:44
-..that wasn't the experience -of the Welsh.	0:47:44	0:47:47
-There's a famous story -about the climber George Mallory.	0:47:49	0:47:53
-People asked him what drove him -to climb Everest.	0:47:53	0:47:57
-"Because it's there," he replied.	0:47:57	0:48:00
-Perhaps this explains our -ancient fascination with the sea.	0:48:00	0:48:04
-The sea is all around us, -challenging us to explore it.	0:48:04	0:48:08
-And yet, I'm not sure -whether that's the whole story.	0:48:19	0:48:22
-Is that how we explain -the Welsh seafaring culture?	0:48:22	0:48:26
-Or is there -a less exciting explanation...	0:48:28	0:48:31
-..that's closer to the truth?	0:48:32	0:48:34
-Were the first sailors -searching for a better life...	0:48:35	0:48:39
-..rather than an adventurous life?	0:48:39	0:48:41
-As the poet once remarked, 'Few -of God's wonders were performed...	0:48:43	0:48:47
-..'on the impoverished -Menai Straits.'	0:48:47	0:48:49
-S4C Subtitles by GWEAD	0:49:12	0:49:14

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