About this season
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.
Episodes (7)
1. Janissaries: An Army of Slaves
Aired 11 September 1994
Originally captured Christian slaves, the Janissaries became some of the most feared troops of the Muslim world.
2. Huns
Aired 18 September 1994
The hordes that swept across Europe were more than just wild tribesmen - they were a highly trained and disciplined army of conquerors.
3. Knights Templer
Aired 25 September 1994
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.
4. Vikings
Aired 2 October 1994
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.
5. Highlanders
Aired 9 October 1994
The clans of the Scottish highlands were hardy people and the men fought hard to maintain their independence from all comers.
6. Irish: Warriors of the Emerald Isle
Aired 16 October 1994
The ancient Irish were part of a highly sophisticated society that bred musicians, farmers, druids and brave warriors.
7. Maurya: Warriors of the Elephant
Aired 23 October 1994
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.