World of Weapons

The pilum, which played a vital role in the rise of the Roman Empire. The longbow, which made England a medieval superpower. The Minie ball, which revolutionized 19th century firearm capabilities. Three ranged weapons that transformed combat over the course of thousands of years. What was the secret to their lethal success? Through unique experiments with weapons experts, we reveal how they worked and how, over the centuries, ranged weapons evolved in accuracy and in the distances they can travel.

Hand-to-hand combat is warfare at its most visceral. Since ancient times, soldiers on the battlefield have relied on specialized weapons to survive this form of fighting. Military experts explore some of historys most effective weapons, from the Gladius, the short sword Roman legionaries relied on for centuries, to the medieval war hammer, to the bayonet, a firearm still being used today.

Since humans began fighting one another, quickness and mobility have been key factors in determining victory or defeat. Experts take a hands-on look at three weapons that were built for speed. Discover the history of the two-wheeled chariot, a weapons system developed by the Hyksos before the Egyptians and Romans perfected it. Examine and test how a simple range weapon--the sling--rocked its enemy at speeds of 116. And see how small handguns like the revolver changed warfare forever.

War at sea is a unique form of warfare requiring new tactics and arsenal. We look at three revolutionary weapons: Greek fire, developed by the Byzantine Empire to fight back Arab ships; the cannon, used by the British Royal Navy to defeat Spain; and the torpedo, which dominated the seas during the World Wars. Join an international team of experts as they reinvent ancient formulas and follow 17th century construction plans to recreate weapons used in past sea battles and put them to the test.

As technology evolved over the centuries, inventors and engineers upgraded weapons and influenced the course of global history. Join military and weapons experts as they examine three deadly inventions that heightened bloodshed in battle: the scorpio, an ancient missile launcher used by the Romans; the longsword, intrinsically tied to the medieval world of knights; and the Henry rifle, which influenced warfare thanks to its revolutionary reloading design.