History Specials — Season 1, Episode 69: Art of War

Episode synopsis

All warfare is based on deception. Therefore, when capable of attacking, feign incapacity; when active in moving troops, feign inactivity. When near the enemy, make it seem that you are far away; when far away, make it seem that you are near." - Sun Tzu Sun Tzu was the Nostradamus of warfare and his book Art of War, written 2,400 years ago, is still the ultimate how-to guide for winning at war. This feature-length HISTORY special weaves together the epic story of Sun Tzu himself, and a war that occurred soon after his death in which a city was saved using his tactics, paving the way toward the unification of China. Art of War is an emotional, epic and ultimately visual understanding of Sun Tzu's lessons, telling the story of other great battles in history, from Rome to the Civil War, WWII and the present day, that help to illustrate that on the battlefields of war, people who understand strategy are the most dangerous weapons of all.

About History Specials

From the 4.5 billion-year epic of planet Earth, to the centuries-old prophecies of Nostradamus, to the hunt for the man who killed Abraham Lincoln, History Specials brings together the channel's most watched and acclaimed historical programs. History captures the grand sweep of our past with wit, intelligence, and enthusiasm, in programs covering critical turning points and fascinating cultural phenomena from the Dark Ages to Sherman's March, the comets to Columbus. Cutting-edge CGI recreates ancient battle scenes, and expert interviews shed light on some of history's greatest mysteries. See the past and present wonders of the world come together in this captivating collection — the source for all the fascinating history you want to know.

More episodes from Season 1

• E6Holy Grail in America
• E16The Crusades: Crescent & The Cross, Part 1
• E17The Crusades: Crescent & The Cross, Part 2
• E48The Real Face of Jesus
• E103Afraid of the Dark
• E104Most Extreme Airports
• E113Third Reich: The Rise
• E114Third Reich: Third Fall
• E119It's Good to be President
• E122Weird Warfare
• E124Jesus: The Lost 40 Days
• E136Scammed