Ancient Warriors

All Episodes 1994 - 1995

  • Ended
  • 1994-04-17T04:00:00Z
  • 25m
  • 8h 11m (20 episodes)
  • United States
  • English
  • Documentary
This Ancient Warriors series from the Discovery Channel is an excellent look at the warrior groups and armies that shaped history. Each half-hour episode looks at a major fighting people or force and charts the reasons for their rise to dominance and subsequent fall. People who are interested in warfare throughout the ages - or the specific warrior groups themselves - will appreciate this series.

24 episodes

Series Premiere

1994-04-17T04:00:00Z

1x01 The Assyrians: Masters of War

Series Premiere

1x01 The Assyrians: Masters of War

  • 1994-04-17T04:00:00Z23m

The Assyrians were the first people to employ a standing army, using recruits from conquered nations to put 200,000 men in the field. The Assyrians' best-known development was their use of two-wheeled chariots and cavalry.

1994-04-24T04:00:00Z

1x02 The Celts

1x02 The Celts

  • 1994-04-24T04:00:00Z25m

The Celts were one of the most important civilisations of Europe and at their zenith had conquered Central Europe, France, Spain and the British Isles. The source of their military success lay in their use of finely made iron weaponry, especially their swords and helmets, and their skilled chariot tactics.

1994-05-01T04:00:00Z

1x03 The Normans

1x03 The Normans

  • 1994-05-01T04:00:00Z25m

Descendants of the Vikings, the Normans were one of the most successful warrior groups of the Middle Ages, conquering the French coast and England.

1994-05-08T04:00:00Z

1x04 The Legions of Rome

1x04 The Legions of Rome

  • 1994-05-08T04:00:00Z23m

The story of Rome's rise to a world empire is one of the most fascinating in history and it was the training, discipline and manoeuvrability of the legion that brought the Romans victory.

1994-05-15T04:00:00Z

1x05 The Macedonians

1x05 The Macedonians

  • 1994-05-15T04:00:00Z24m

Philip of Macedonia created one of the most effective and successful armies of antiquity based on the phalanx, a compact body of infantry armed with long spikes. His even more illustrious son, Alexander the Great, defeated and conquered the great Persian Empire.

1994-05-22T04:00:00Z

1x06 Soldiers of the Pharaoh

1x06 Soldiers of the Pharaoh

  • 1994-05-22T04:00:00Z23m

Enormous preparation and financial expenditure went towards creating a fighting force for Ramses II that could protect and expand Egyptian territories in Palestine and Syria, especially against the threats of the Hittites.

Season Finale

1994-05-29T04:00:00Z

1x07 The Spartans

Season Finale

1x07 The Spartans

  • 1994-05-29T04:00:00Z23m

The Spartans were the most effective warriors of the Greek civilisations due to their rigorous training and the austerity of the Spartan culture.

Season Premiere

1994-09-11T04:00:00Z

2x01 The Janissaries: An Army of Slaves

Season Premiere

2x01 The Janissaries: An Army of Slaves

  • 1994-09-11T04:00:00Z25m

Originally captured Christian slaves, the Janissaries became some of the most feared troops of the Muslim world.

1994-09-18T04:00:00Z

2x02 The Huns

2x02 The Huns

  • 1994-09-18T04:00:00Z25m

The hordes that swept across Europe were more than just wild tribesmen - they were a highly trained and disciplined army of conquerors.

1994-09-25T04:00:00Z

2x03 The Knights Templar

2x03 The Knights Templar

  • 1994-09-25T04:00:00Z25m

These Christian warrior-monks were sworn to a life of poverty and chastity - as well as one of ridding the Holy Land of all Muslims.

1994-10-02T04:00:00Z

2x04 The Vikings

2x04 The Vikings

  • 1994-10-02T04:00:00Z25m

Just the name was enough to strike fear into the hearts of Europeans and the wide-ranging trail of these fierce pagan raiders was littered with cruel violence.

1994-10-09T04:00:00Z

2x05 The Highlanders

2x05 The Highlanders

  • 1994-10-09T04:00:00Z25m

The clans of the Scottish highlands were hardy people and the men fought hard to maintain their independence from all comers.

The ancient Irish were part of a highly sophisticated society that bred musicians, farmers, druids and brave warriors.

Season Finale

1994-10-23T04:00:00Z

2x07 The Maurya: Warriors of the Elephant

Season Finale

2x07 The Maurya: Warriors of the Elephant

  • 1994-10-23T04:00:00Z25m

The Mauryan army of India would have been a heart-stopping sight for enemies as it numbered more than 600,000 men, 30,000 cavalry and 9000 elephants.

2x08 Unknown

  • no air date25m

Season Premiere

1995-05-07T04:00:00Z

3x01 The Aztecs

Season Premiere

3x01 The Aztecs

  • 1995-05-07T04:00:00Z25m

The Aztecs were one of the great empires of the Americas and came to power through force of arms.

1995-05-14T04:00:00Z

3x02 The Samurai

3x02 The Samurai

  • 1995-05-14T04:00:00Z25m

Japan's superbly trained soldiers, the Samurai, lived a life of devotion to honour and loyalty and to betray either required death.

The famous warrior-monks' philosophy blended rigorous military training with religion and technology.

The campaign to conquer paradise required the Hawaiian king Kamehameha to train his warriors for years in the arts of war.

Few things caused such awe in ancient Japan as the feared Ninja who struck at night with cunning ruthlessness.

Season Finale

1995-06-11T04:00:00Z

3x06 The Sioux: Warriors of the Plains

Season Finale

3x06 The Sioux: Warriors of the Plains

  • 1995-06-11T04:00:00Z25m

An Indian nation that was forced from its homelands and who had to learn the art of war in order to survive.

3x07 The Zulus

  • no air date25m

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