How we research

Every episode starts with the sources, not the script. We read the historians and the original documents, copy the exact words that support each fact, and note the page they are on. Only then do we write the narration.

How we grade a fact

Each fact gets one grade, and the grade decides how we may use it.

• Verified: two independent sources agree. We state it plainly.
• Supported: one solid source. We state it, and the note under the article names that source.
• Disputed: the sources disagree. We only say it with a qualifier, such as “according to the historian…” or “sources disagree on…”.
• Tradition: a story handed down as legend. We only tell it as legend.
• Unverified: not shown at all, in the video or on this site.

Wikipedia and popular articles help us find sources, but they never count as evidence.

On every episode page, each number in the article leads to a note giving the fact, its grade, the sources behind it and the pages they are on. The sources themselves are listed with links, most of them free to read online.

Quotations

We never invent a quotation or a line of dialogue. When the video shows someone’s words, they are copied exactly from a named source or translation.

Maps

The maps show places, not borders. A place whose position is only roughly known is labelled “approximate location”, and a place whose position is unknown is not drawn. Arrows, boats and troop movements are illustrative unless the episode says otherwise.

3D scenes

The 3D scenes are reconstructions built on the real terrain. They are always labelled “Illustrative reconstruction”. They are not footage, and the numbers of boats or soldiers in them are not taken from the sources.

Pictures

We use real pictures only when we can trace them to their original and their licence allows it. Each one carries its caption and credit, it is never altered, and a modern photograph is labelled as modern.

Mistakes

If you find a mistake, please tell us. We check it against the sources and correct the page.