Genres
Ancient Warriors
Overview
Ancient Warriors is a 1994 20-part documentary series from the Discovery Channel. Each half-hour episode looks at a major fighting people or force and charts the reasons for their rise to dominance and subsequent fall. The show explores the motivations of ancient soldiers, as well as how they lived, fought, trained, died, and changed the world. It also uses battle re-enactments and computer graphics to demonstrate military strategy.
Seasons
Season 1 (1994)
No overview available.
7 episodes
Episodes
Episode 1: Assyrians: Masters of War
1994-04-17The 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.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 2: Celts
1994-04-24The 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.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 3: Normans
1994-05-01Descendants of the Vikings, the Normans were one of the most successful warrior groups of the Middle Ages, conquering the French coast and England.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 4: Legions of Rome
1994-05-08The 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.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 5: Macedonians
1994-05-15Philip 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.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 6: Soldiers of Pharoah
1994-05-22Enormous 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.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 7: Spartans
1994-05-29The Spartans were the most effective warriors of the Greek civilisations due to their rigorous training and the austerity of the Spartan culture.
Runtime: N/A minSeason 2 (1994)
No overview available.
7 episodes
Episodes
Episode 1: Janissaries: An Army of Slaves
1994-09-11Originally captured Christian slaves, the Janissaries became some of the most feared troops of the Muslim world.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 2: Huns
1994-09-18The hordes that swept across Europe were more than just wild tribesmen - they were a highly trained and disciplined army of conquerors.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 3: Knights Templer
1994-09-25These Christian warrior-monks were sworn to a life of poverty and chastity - as well as one of ridding the Holy Land of all Muslims.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 4: Vikings
1994-10-02Just 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.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 5: Highlanders
1994-10-09The clans of the Scottish highlands were hardy people and the men fought hard to maintain their independence from all comers.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 6: Irish: Warriors of the Emerald Isle
1994-10-16The ancient Irish were part of a highly sophisticated society that bred musicians, farmers, druids and brave warriors.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 7: Maurya: Warriors of the Elephant
1994-10-23The 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.
Runtime: N/A minSeason 3 (1995)
No overview available.
6 episodes
Episodes
Episode 1: Aztecs
1995-05-07The Aztecs were one of the great empires of the Americas and came to power through force of arms.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 2: Samurai
1995-05-14Japan's superbly trained soldiers, the Samurai, lived a life of devotion to honour and loyalty and to betray either required death.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 3: Shaolin Monks: Masters of Kung Fu
1995-05-21The famous warrior-monks' philosophy blended rigorous military training with religion and technology.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 4: Hawaiians: Warriors of Paradise
1995-05-28The campaign to conquer paradise required the Hawaiian king Kamehameha to train his warriors for years in the arts of war.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 5: Ninja: Warriors of the Night
1995-06-04Few things caused such awe in ancient Japan as the feared Ninja who struck at night with cunning ruthlessness.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 6: Sioux: Warriors of the Plains
1995-06-11An Indian nation that was forced from its homelands and who had to learn the art of war in order to survive.
Runtime: N/A min
