About this season
Decisive Battles was a television show on the History Channel that depicted historic battles. It ran for thirteen episodes in mid-2004. The show used the game engine from Rome: Total War to present 3-D versions of the battles. The show was hosted by Matthew Settle, who usually traveled to the sites of the battle. Reruns of the show air on the History International channel and the Military History channel.
Episodes (13)
1. Cannae
Aired 23 July 2004 • 30 min
2. Gaugamela
Aired 30 July 2004 • 30 min
Return to the scene of one of Alexander the Great's most decisive battles, where he wrested control of the Persian Empire from Darius III.
3. Marathon
Aired 6 August 2004 • 30 min
Marathon, Greece, September 490 BC. King Darius leads his Persian army in an attack on Greece.
4. Thermopylae
Aired 13 August 2004 • 30 min
Using cutting-edge computer gaming technology, we recreate conflicts that shaped the ancient world and witness great battles like never before. Hosted on location by Matthew Settle (Band of Brothers), we return to Thermopylae in 480 BC.
5. Spartacus
Aired 20 August 2004 • 30 min
Spartacus is one of the Ancient World's most famous figures. A Thracian soldier, Spartacus was captured by Romans and sold as a slave for training as a gladiator.
6. Attila the Hun
Aired 27 August 2004 • 30 min
Chalons, 451 AD. What made this battle so compelling? Attila the Hun, the terrifying menace who had his eyes set on what was left of the Western Roman Empire.
7. Crassus: Rich Man, Poor Man
Aired 3 September 2004 • 30 min
Although he may have been the richest man in Rome, Crassus was the political poor relation in the First Triumvirate. He needed military laurels to raise him up.
8. The Gothic Invasion of Rome
Aired 10 September 2004 • 30 min
The Battle of Adrianople in 378 A.D., in which the invading Goths defeated Roman forces, is recalled.
9. Hail Caesar!
Aired 24 September 2004 • 30 min
10. Birth of the Roman Empire
Aired 1 October 2004 • 30 min
11. Boudicca: Warrior Queen
Aired 8 October 2004 • 30 min
The 60 A.D. Iceni Rebellion against Rome, led by Celtic queen Boudicca, is recalled.
12. Ramses II
Aired 15 October 2004 • 30 min
The Battle of Kadesh (circa 1300 B.C.) between Egypt and the Hittites is recalled.
13. Herman the German
Aired 22 October 2004 • 30 min