威尼斯的瘋狂工程奇蹟：英語精讀講義

The year is 452.

時間是西元452年。

The Roman Empire is on the brink of collapse 片語搭配

羅馬帝國正處於崩潰的邊緣，

and the Huns have just launched their attack on Northern Italy.

而匈奴人剛剛對義大利北部發起了攻擊。

Several cities are completely destroyed,

幾座城市被徹底摧毀，

forcing the locals to go on the run. 慣用語

迫使當地人四處逃亡。

They head for a lagoon just off the coast

他們逃向了海岸外的一個潟湖，

and take refuge on several small islands, 片語搭配

並在幾個小島上避難，

a decision that would no doubt save their lives.

這個決定無疑拯救了他們的性命。

Against all odds, 慣用語

儘管困難重重，

this small civilization eventually went on to build 片語動詞

這個小小的文明最終建設出了

one of the most impressive feats of engineering 文法

世界上前所未見的最令人驚嘆的

the world has ever seen.

工程奇蹟之一。

Venice.

那就是威尼斯。

Despite having no roads, no land, 文法

儘管沒有道路、沒有土地，

and no fresh water,

也沒有淡水，

the Venetians managed to turn a muddy swamp 文法

威尼斯人卻成功地將一片泥濘的沼澤

into the most powerful

變成了當時最強大

and wealthiest city of its time.

且最富有的城市。

This unique layout of canals and bridges

這種運河與橋樑穿插其間的獨特佈局

woven through hundreds of islands made Venice 文法

交織在數百個島嶼中，使得威尼斯

incredibly accessible

交通異常便利，

and it became the epicenter of all business.

它也因此成為了所有商業活動的中心。

We modeled the entire thing to show you

我們為整個城市建了模型來向你展示

what's going on beneath the surface 片語動詞

在地表之下到底發生了什麼，

and how its clever design and medieval engineering

以及它巧妙的設計和中世紀的工程技術

allowed it to take over the world.

是如何讓它主導世界的。

When the first refugees arrived to start their new lives

當第一批難民抵達小島

on the islands,

開始他們的新生活時，

they had the worst possible surface to build on.

他們所面臨的是最糟糕的建築地基。

The small marshy islands

這些小小的沼澤島嶼

were made of an incredibly soft clay,

是由極其柔軟的黏土構成的，

which would barely hold the weight of a human,

這甚至難以承受一個人的重量，

let alone an entire city. 片語搭配

更不用說一整座城市了。

To create stable foundations for buildings,

為了給建築物打造穩定的基礎，

the Venetians collected large timber piles 用詞

威尼斯人收集了大量的巨大原木樁

from the forests of Croatia

——這些木材來自克羅埃西亞的森林，

and started hammering them into the ground.

並開始將它們打入地下。

They drove them about 5 m deep

他們把木樁打入約5公尺深，

until they reached a much harder layer of clay.

直到觸及一層更堅硬的黏土層。

Not only did this stabilize the piles, 文法

這不僅使木樁變得穩固，

but by packing them really close together,

而且透過將它們極其密集地排列，

it compressed the surrounding clay,

周圍的黏土被壓縮，

pushing out the water and making it much stronger. 文法

水被擠出，使得地基堅固得多。

Once the piles were firmly in the ground,

一旦木樁牢牢地打入地下，

the tops were cut off

頂部就會被鋸平，

and wooden planks were laid on top to spread the load. 片語搭配

並在上面鋪上木板以分散重量。

Special blocks of Istrian stone were then placed

隨後會放置特製的伊斯特拉石塊，

to raise the foundations above the water.

將地基抬高至水面之上。

This design was a stroke of genius, 慣用語

這一設計堪稱天才之舉，

as the wooden piles were sealed away from the air, 片語搭配

因為木樁與空氣隔絕，

making it impossible for them to rot. 文法

使得它們根本不可能腐爛。

To this day, almost all of the original piles 片語搭配

直到今天，幾乎所有最初的木樁

are in great condition

都處於極佳的狀況，

and are still holding up the city. 片語動詞

並且依然在支撐著這座城市。

Once the foundation had been properly laid down, 文法

在地基妥善鋪設好之後，

the buildings themselves were built.

建築物本身便開始建造了。

Venetians started off using wood for their houses, 片語動詞

威尼斯人一開始用木頭建造房屋，

but after numerous fires, they switched to brick. 片語搭配

但在經歷了多次火災後，他們改用了磚塊。

To keep the buildings as lightweight as possible, 文法

為了盡可能減輕建築物的重量，

they had to be no more than three stories high. 片語搭配

房子的高度不能超過三層。

Lime mortar had to be used instead of cement

必須使用石灰砂漿代替水泥，

because it was flexible

因為它是柔性的，

and would allow the entire building to flex 文法

能讓整座建築隨著

as the ground beneath slowly moved.

地下土層的緩慢移動而發生形變。

The inner walls were built in a criss-cross pattern

內牆被建成交錯的網格狀，

that would also flex like a trellis.

這也能像格架一樣具備柔韌性。

The facade walls, which had large windows

而帶有大窗戶

and elegant stone designs, made them much heavier.

以及優雅石頭雕刻的立面牆，則要重得多。

And so, in order to stop them from falling over, 文法

因此，為了防止牆體倒塌，

they were pinned into the floor using iron rods,

它們被用鐵條固定在地板上，

keeping the entire building together.

將整座建築物連結在一起。

This method of building worked well for the Venetians

這種建築方法對威尼斯人來說非常有效，

and soon several islands around the lagoon

很快，潟湖周圍的幾個島嶼

were established in this way.

就以這種方式建起了房屋。

Instead of expanding outwards like most cities, 表達脈絡

這些島嶼並沒有像大多數城市那樣向外擴展，

these islands expanded into each other.

而是彼此相向擴張。

At first, 表達脈絡

起初，

boats were the only way to cross between the islands,

小船是島嶼之間唯一的通行方式，

but eventually the islands grew closer together

但最終，島與島之間的距離變得越來越近，

and many could be crossed by simply wading

其中很多地方只需騎馬

through the shallow water on a horse.

涉過淺水就能穿過。

The next step in Venice's evolution

威尼斯演變的下一步，

would of course be connecting the islands.

自然就是將這些島嶼連接起來。

Surprisingly,

令人驚訝的是，

there were no bridges

在威尼斯存在的前500年裡，

for the first 500 years of Venice's existence.

這裡並沒有橋樑。

But as the population increased

但隨著人口的增加

and business started to ramp up, 片語動詞

以及商業活動開始激增，

there needed to be an easier way to reach Rialto,

人們需要一種更便捷的方式到達里亞托

the financial center of Venice.

——威尼斯的金融中心。

And so, the Doge of Venice set up a prize 講解

因此，威尼斯總督設立了一項獎金，

for the engineer that could design the best bridge.

獎勵給能設計出最好橋樑的工程師。

He announced this by putting up Displate 片語動詞

他透過在全城張貼 Displate

posters all around the city.

海報來宣布這一消息。

Just kidding. 語氣意圖

開個玩笑。

Displate, today's sponsor,

本期贊助商 Displate

makes awesome metal posters

製作了超酷的金屬海報，

that can be easily mounted using their custom

使用他們客製化的磁吸安裝系統

magnet mounting system.

就可以輕鬆懸掛。

They have over 2 million pieces of artwork available,

他們有超過200萬件藝術作品可供選擇，

whether it's a beautiful Venice painting

無論是美麗的威尼斯畫作，

or an official poster

還是官方海報，

from collaborators like NASA,

來自像 NASA、

Star Wars, Call of Duty, or Netflix.

《星際大戰》、《決勝時刻》或 Netflix 這樣的合作方。

My personal favorites are this Venice poster

我個人的最愛是這張威尼斯海報，

and this awesome James Webb design.

以及這款超棒的詹姆斯·韋伯望遠鏡設計。

With their magnet mounting system,

藉助他們的磁吸安裝系統，

you can mount a Displate in just 20 seconds,

你只需20秒就能裝好一幅 Displate 海報，

without power tools 文法

不需要電動工具，

and without damaging your walls.

也不會損壞你的牆壁。

Displate now offers these new Textra posters,

Displate 現在提供全新的 Textra 海報，

which bring the artwork to life 慣用語

讓藝術作品栩栩如生。

with awesome 3D textures

它們帶有超酷3D紋理，

shaped into the metal itself.

這些紋理成形於金屬本身。

This premium finish is already available

這種高級工藝已經應用在

on hundreds of top-selling Displates.

數百款暢銷的 Displate 海報上了。

Displate offers ultra-fast shipping

Displate 提供極速配送服務，

and your metal poster should be at your door

你的金屬海報應該在4到5天內

in just 4 to 5 days.

就能送到你家門口。

Start your collection today

今天就開始你的收藏吧，

and visit displate.com/primalspace

請造訪 displate.com/primalspace，

or use code primalspace.

或者使用優惠碼 primalspace。

In order to turn Venice from a collection of islands 文法

為了讓威尼斯從一群島嶼

into a bustling city,

變成一座熙熙攘攘的城市，

bridges had to be built.

必須建造橋樑。

The first attempt was a simple pontoon bridge

最初的嘗試是一座簡單的浮橋，

that joined the two largest sections of Venice together

它將威尼斯最大的兩個區域連接在一起，

and, crucially,

並且，至關重要的是，

provided quick access to the Rialto area. 片語搭配

它提供了前往里亞托地區的快速通道。

The bridge was later upgraded to a wooden bridge,

後來這座橋被升級為木橋，

which eventually burned down and collapsed

但它最終被燒毀並坍塌了，

before it was finally replaced

直到後來被一座

by a much stronger stone bridge.

堅固得多的石橋所取代。

To build it, over 12,000 timber piles

為了建造它，有超過12,000根木樁

were driven into the banks of the canal

被打入運河的兩岸，

and 10,000 tons of stone

接著在上面建起了10,000噸重的石頭

were built on top to form the bridge.

以形成橋身。

To this day, the bridge still stands

直到今天，這座橋依然矗立著，

and it serves as the main artery 慣用語

並作為威尼斯市中心的

in the center of Venice.

主要交通動脈而發揮作用。

After this, stone bridges started to pop up everywhere, 片語動詞

在此之後，石橋開始如雨後春筍般隨處可見，

turning Venice into a compact city

將威尼斯變成了一個完全由運河而非道路

made up entirely of canals instead of roads. 片語動詞

組成的緊湊型城市。

This gave Venice a unique advantage,

這賦予了威尼斯得天獨厚的優勢，

since the canals allowed goods and traffic to flow

因為運河使得貨物和交通

quickly through every part of the city.

能夠快速流經城市的每個角落。

The messy overlap of pedestrians

行人與馬車交通

and horse-drawn traffic

雜亂無章交織在一起的情況

didn't exist in Venice,

在威尼斯並不存在，

since the walkways and canals

因為人行道和運河

were completely separated.

是完全分開的。

Yet people could transition between the two effortlessly,

不過人們可以毫不費力地在兩者之間切換，

without slowing down.

不需要減慢速度。

By now, the city had become

到了這個時候，這座城市已經成為了

the most powerful and richest city in Europe.

歐洲最強大和最富有的城市。

Everything being bought and sold went through Venice 文法

幾乎所有買賣的東西都要經過威尼斯，

and the Venetians were making enormous amounts of money.

威尼斯人因此賺取了巨額財富。

But as business increased, 文法

但隨著商業活動的增加，

so did the population

人口也在增長，

and the demand for fresh water was out of control. 慣用語

對淡水的需求已經失控。

Despite being surrounded by water,

儘管四周都被水包圍，

Venice couldn't use any of it,

威尼斯卻無法利用其中的任何一滴水，

since it was extremely salty and undrinkable.

因為那是極鹹且無法飲用的海水。

Without natural springs or rivers

由於沒有天然泉水或河流

to collect fresh water,

來收集淡水，

Venice relied upon boats 片語搭配

威尼斯只能依靠船隻

to deliver water from the mainland.

從大陸運送淡水過來。

But with 170,000 people,

但在有17萬人居住的情況下，

the demand became too much

這種需求變得難以承受，

and the Venetian engineers had to get creative. 片語搭配

威尼斯的工程師們必須發揮創造力。

From the beginning, Venetian islands

從一開始，威尼斯的島嶼

were built around squares,

就是圍繞廣場建造的，

which were initially just empty fields

這些廣場最初只是一片空地，

for animals to graze upon.

供動物吃草。

The idea was to use these squares 文法

後來的想法是利用這些廣場

to collect rainwater.

來收集雨水。

They started by digging out large areas 文法

他們首先在整個廣場下方挖出大片區域，

under the entire square and lining the walls

並在四壁塗上

with a thick layer of clay to make it waterproof.

一層厚厚的黏土以發揮防水作用。

The space was then filled in with sand and stones 片語動詞

然後用沙子和石頭填滿這個空間，

and the surface was redone with tiles

並在表面重新鋪設瓷磚，

that would lead the water

這些瓷磚會把水

towards each corner of the square.

導向廣場的各個角落。

From here, rainwater would flow into the basin

雨水從這裡流入水池中，

and gradually filter through the sand and stones

然後逐漸過濾流經沙子和石頭，

until it reached the main well at the center of the square.

直到流入位於廣場中心的這口主井。

To maximize the surface area for water collection,

為了最大限度地增加集水表面積，

the roofs of the nearby buildings were fitted with gutters 片語搭配

附近建築物的屋頂都安裝了排水溝，

that would direct the water onto the square

它們會將水直接導流到廣場上

and into the drains.

並流進排水口。

Venice then became an enormous funnel, 慣用語

這樣一來，威尼斯就變成了一個巨大的漏斗，

which filled more than 600 wells around the city.

為城市各處600多口水井蓄水。

The Venetians had once again engineered a masterpiece

威尼斯人再次設計出了一項傑作

to save its city.

來拯救他們的城市。

But there was still one huge problem: 表達脈絡

但當時依然還有一個巨大的問題：

waste.

廢棄物處理。

Until this point, people threw all of their waste

在此之前，人們總是把所有的垃圾

out of the window, some of it landing in the canal. 文法

扔出窗外，其中一部分落進了運河裡。

But for those who didn't live

但對於那些住處不夠靠近，

within throwing distance of a canal, 片語搭配

無法把垃圾扔進運河裡的人來說，

urine, feces, and rotten food

尿液、糞便和腐爛的食物

all ended up in the streets. 片語動詞

全都被丟棄在街上了。

And so, in the 16th century,

因此，在16世紀，

the Venetians started building

威尼斯人開始建造

a network of underground tunnels

一個地下隧道網路，

that would collect the waste from every building

用來收集每棟建築的排泄物

and flush it into the canal.

並將其沖入運河。

When the tide of the lagoon was down,

當潟湖退潮時，

solid waste would collect at the bottom

固體廢物會積聚在底部，

and the liquids would naturally flow into the canals.

而液體則會自然流入運河中。

Then, when the tide rose,

接著，當潮水上漲時，

it would flood the tunnels

它會淹沒隧道，

and pull the solid waste into the canal.

並將固體廢物拉入運河中。

The motion of the tide coming in

潮水每天兩次

and out twice a day

進進出出的運動

would exchange the dirty water 片語搭配

會將污濁的水

for fresh water from the sea,

換成來自海洋的清澈海水，

flushing Venice from all of its waste.

沖走威尼斯所有的廢棄物垃圾。

The extremely salty water

極度鹹澀的海水

worked as a strong disinfectant

起到了強效消毒劑的作用，

and, thanks to this system, the streets became clean.

多虧了這個系統，街道變得乾淨了。

Amazingly, almost all of the incredible

令人驚奇的是，成就了威尼斯的

engineering that made Venice

所有這些不可思議的工程中，幾乎全部

is still around today.

一直存留到今天。

The bridges, the canals,

那些橋樑、運河、

the buildings are all ancient relics 慣用語

建築全都是古老的遺跡，

sitting on a forest

它們坐落在一片地下的森林之上，

that has held up the entire city

而這片森林支撐起這整座城市

for over a thousand years.

已有一千多年的歷史。

And now, time for the Primal Space giveaway.

現在，到了 Primal Space 抽獎環節。

The winner of the previous giveaway is Leon.

上期抽獎的獲勝者是 Leon。

Congrats.

恭喜你。

In the next video,

在下期影片中，

we'll be giving away

我們將送出

this Primal Space designed Venice poster.

由 Primal Space 設計的這張威尼斯海報。

All you need to do is sign up at the link below,

你只需要透過下方的連結註冊，

like the video,

為影片按讚，

and leave a comment saying what you think about Venice.

並留下一條留言說說你對威尼斯的看法。

Thank you very much for watching

非常感謝你們的收看，

and I'll see you in the next video.

我們下期影片再見。