Name: Great Battles of the Ancient World
Released: 2005-07-25T00:00:00.000Z
Cast: Garrett G. Fagan

TV Show · Documentary · History

Hollywood goes to elaborate lengths to recreate the violence and mayhem of ancient warfare in movies such as "Gladiator" and "Troy"; ancient battles and use weapons, tactics, armor and logistics; Professor Garrett G. Fagan explains notable battles.

2005 · 31m

Starring Garrett G. Fagan

EPISODE 1

Why Study Battles? What Is War?

Garrett G. Fagan addresses the importance of studying battles and surveys the changing scholarly approach to the subject; he concludes by looking at different definitions of warfare, particularly the operational and social-constructivist models.
EPISODE 2

The Problem of Warfare's Origins

Three types of evidence shed light on the origins of warfare; human remains bearing evidence of trauma; artifacts that function primarily as weapons; fortifications or depictions of warriors painted on cave walls; their interpretations are tricky.
EPISODE 3

Sumer, Akkad, and Early Mesopotamian Warfare

Written records first become available in the historical era; evidence reconstructs the conventions and conditions of warfare among the first cities in Sumer circa the 30th century B.C.; exploring the nature of Sumerian armies and battle tactics.
EPISODE 4

Egyptian Warfare From the Old to New Kingdoms

Evidence of warfare in ancient Egypt is ambiguous, but it is much more plentiful in later periods; the pharaoh's role is increasingly that of a war leader; Egyptian warfare is transformed by the introduction of the chariot.
EPISODE 5

The Battles of Megiddo and Kadesh

In the New Kingdom of Egypt, one gets the first fully recorded battle in history, the Battle of Megiddo; covering the later Battle of Kadesh, which is attested in both Egyptian and Hittite accounts.
EPISODE 6

The Trojan War and Homeric Warfare

The reality of the Trojan War is disputed since ancient times; surveying the archeological evidence for Troy and for warfare among the mainland Greeks, called Mycenaeans.