Ancient Black Ops
S1 · E1IMDB:
6.9
Released
9/17/2014
Duration
1h 0m
Genre
N/A
Country
United Kingdom
Cast
Kumud Pant, Umit Ulgen, Murtaza Arif
Overview
From Ancient Greece to the frozen North, rulers have always needed their elite troops – men trained to perfection, skilled with a devastating array of weaponry – men who will track down their leader’s enemies and kill them. All assassination teams faced one big problem: getting close enough to kill. No one in the ancient world had sniper rifles. As a result even the most formidable Japanese Ninjas got captured and tortured. This series brings some of the most dramatic tales of antiquity to life with a mixture of dramatic reconstruction, documentary filming and expert testimony. Each episode details the intricate complexity of the elite troops who performed the assassination missions and how they worked. It shows what they had to do to achieve elite status, how they could dress, and the weapons they got to use when they completed their first mission.
Ancient Black Ops
Season 1 · Episode 1IMDB:
6.9Released
9/17/2014
Genre
N/A
Cast
Kumud Pant, Umit Ulgen, Murtaza Arif
Duration
1h 0m
Country
United Kingdom
Overview
From Ancient Greece to the frozen North, rulers have always needed their elite troops – men trained to perfection, skilled with a devastating array of weaponry – men who will track down their leader’s enemies and kill them. All assassination teams faced one big problem: getting close enough to kill. No one in the ancient world had sniper rifles. As a result even the most formidable Japanese Ninjas got captured and tortured. This series brings some of the most dramatic tales of antiquity to life with a mixture of dramatic reconstruction, documentary filming and expert testimony. Each episode details the intricate complexity of the elite troops who performed the assassination missions and how they worked. It shows what they had to do to achieve elite status, how they could dress, and the weapons they got to use when they completed their first mission.
Episodes
EP 1AvailableAssassins
The true story of the Assassins. Originally a persecuted band of Ismailis, a Shi’ite Muslim sect, they found themselves vastly outnumbered by the Sunnis of medieval Persia. So they developed a special way of fighting back - killing their enemies’ leaders by using stealth, infiltration and their skills with a dagger (image shows an assassin receiving a dagger for his first mission in Persia). They would go on to murder the King of the Crusaders on the eve of his coronation.
Assassins
The true story of the Assassins. Originally a persecuted band of Ismailis, a Shi’ite Muslim sect, they found themselves vastly outnumbered by the Sunnis of medieval Persia. So they developed a special way of fighting back - killing their enemies’ leaders by using stealth, infiltration and their skills with a dagger (image shows an assassin receiving a dagger for his first mission in Persia). They would go on to murder the King of the Crusaders on the eve of his coronation.
EP 2AvailableSpartans
How the training of the Spartan 300 is bizarrely similar to that of today’s special forces. Here we see the distinctive Spartan helmet (pictured) protects them from spear thrusts and sword strikes. Within this battled hardened group of of warriors was an elite of the elite- the Krypteia – a secret death squad. The story goes that they set out to kill the invading Persian Emperor.
Spartans
How the training of the Spartan 300 is bizarrely similar to that of today’s special forces. Here we see the distinctive Spartan helmet (pictured) protects them from spear thrusts and sword strikes. Within this battled hardened group of of warriors was an elite of the elite- the Krypteia – a secret death squad. The story goes that they set out to kill the invading Persian Emperor.
EP 3AvailableThe Sicarii
The specialist hit squads that wreaked havoc against the Roman invaders in Jerusalem. This deadly band of stealthy assassins would eventually be cornered in the mighty hilltop fortress of Masada. What happened next has horrified and fascinated the world ever since. Image shows the ruins at Masada with the Dead Sea in background.
The Sicarii
The specialist hit squads that wreaked havoc against the Roman invaders in Jerusalem. This deadly band of stealthy assassins would eventually be cornered in the mighty hilltop fortress of Masada. What happened next has horrified and fascinated the world ever since. Image shows the ruins at Masada with the Dead Sea in background.
EP 4AvailableThe Ghost Warrior
The Germanic Ghost Warriors were one of the first special forces trained to fight specifically at night. They emerged out of the fiercely independent tribes of Germania, the wild lands to the North of the Roman Empire. When a huge Roman Army came to conquer their territory, the Ghost Warriors helped inflict the worst defeat in Roman history.
The Ghost Warrior
The Germanic Ghost Warriors were one of the first special forces trained to fight specifically at night. They emerged out of the fiercely independent tribes of Germania, the wild lands to the North of the Roman Empire. When a huge Roman Army came to conquer their territory, the Ghost Warriors helped inflict the worst defeat in Roman history.
EP 5AvailableViking Berserkers
The Viking Beserkers were the elite shock-troops of Viking warlords. Fuelled by alcohol, religious fervour and possibly hallucinogenic magic mushrooms, they believed they could adopt the spirits of wild animals. One single Viking Beserker, after working himself up into a frenzy, held up an entire Saxon army with just an axe.
Viking Berserkers
The Viking Beserkers were the elite shock-troops of Viking warlords. Fuelled by alcohol, religious fervour and possibly hallucinogenic magic mushrooms, they believed they could adopt the spirits of wild animals. One single Viking Beserker, after working himself up into a frenzy, held up an entire Saxon army with just an axe.
EP 6AvailableThe Varangian Guard
A look at the story of the Varangian Guard, the elite bodyguards of the Byzantine Emperor.
The Varangian Guard
A look at the story of the Varangian Guard, the elite bodyguards of the Byzantine Emperor.
EP 7AvailableAztec Eagle Warriors
A look at the story of what happened when 2 planes ended up on a collision course above Brazil.
Aztec Eagle Warriors
A look at the story of what happened when 2 planes ended up on a collision course above Brazil.
EP 8AvailableHawaiian Koa Warriors
A look at the formidable Hawaiian Koa Warriors trained in the art of Loa, Hawaii's own martial arts.
Hawaiian Koa Warriors
A look at the formidable Hawaiian Koa Warriors trained in the art of Loa, Hawaii's own martial arts.
EP 9AvailableNinja
The history of Ninja's, who first were a division of Japan's greatest Shogun.
Ninja
The history of Ninja's, who first were a division of Japan's greatest Shogun.
EP 10AvailableThe 47 Ronin
A look at the group of 47 Ronin - dishonoured Samurais who had lost their status.
The 47 Ronin
A look at the group of 47 Ronin - dishonoured Samurais who had lost their status.
Cast
High Priest
Kumud Pant
King Saladin
Umit Ulgen
Mamluk 2
Murtaza Arif
Harald Hardrada
Max Bracey
Himself
Martin Krøis Holtmann
Assassin
