00:00It's 1896 on the island of Zanzibar.
00:04A tropical paradise is about to become a slaughterhouse.
00:09When the pro-British sultan dies, his cousin Khaled bin Bargash seizes the throne.
00:15The British empire demands he step down.
00:18Khaled refuses, barricading himself inside the royal palace with nearly 3,000 defenders.
00:26Big mistake!
00:27The British park five massive warships directly in the harbor, their cannons aimed right at Khaled's front door.
00:36They give an ultimatum.
00:38Surrender by 9 a.m. or face oblivion.
00:42As the sun rises, the tension is unbearable.
00:478.58, 8.59, at 9 o'clock sharp, the order is given.
00:54Fire!
00:54The bombardment is apocalyptic.
00:58Heavy shells tear through the wooden palace like paper.
01:02Ink and watercolor explosions consume the building.
01:06It's total chaos.
01:08By 9.02, Khaled realizes he's doomed and flees out the back door, leaving his army to die.
01:16At 9.38 a.m., the shelling stops.
01:20The palace is a smoking ruin.
01:23The war is over.
01:26Five hundred casualties for Zanzibar.
01:29One injured sailor for the British.
01:32Total elapsed time, 38 minutes.
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