In the early 16th century, some 35 million people were ruled by two men, whose names have resonated down the centuries, the Aztec Montezuma and the Inca Atahualpa. They were kings and gods in one, divine rulers with total sway over their subjects, yet these all-powerful emperors were swiftly brought to their knees by small armies from across the ocean, the Spanish conquistadors.

This three-part series tells the tale of the fateful years when the Spanish Empire overwhelmed two of the greatest civilisations the world has ever known, the Aztecs of Mexico and the Incas of Peru. Using the atmosphere of the original locations and subtle dramatic reconstruction, created by cutting edge computer graphics, we see this massive clash of cultures through the eyes of both sides.

In this episode we see how Pizarro brutally invaded the Inca territory, but also how mass rebellion threatened to shatter his dreams of conquest. The Inca Empire was torn apart by years of civil war, invasion and deadly plagues of European disease. It teetered on the brink of ruin. The conquistadors forged alliances with native groups hostile to the Incas and seized enough treasure to make Spain the most powerful nation in Europe.