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Ancient Black Ops Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
10 Episodes 2014 - 2014
Episode 1
Assassins
Wed, Sep 17, 2014 48 mins
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.
Episode 2
Spartans
Wed, Sep 24, 2014 48 mins
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.
Episode 3
The Sicarii
Wed, Oct 1, 2014 48 mins
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.
Episode 4
The Ghost Warriors
Wed, Oct 8, 2014 48 mins
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.
Episode 5
The Varangian Guard
Wed, Oct 22, 2014 48 mins
A look at the story of the Varangian Guard, the elite bodyguards of the Byzantine Emperor.
Episode 6
The Viking Berserkers
Wed, Oct 15, 2014 48 mins
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.
Episode 7
Aztec Eagle Warriors
Wed, Oct 29, 2014 48 mins
A look at the story of what happened when 2 planes ended up on a collision course above Brazil.
Episode 8
Hawaiian Koa Warriors
Wed, Nov 5, 2014 48 mins
History's elite fighters. The Hawaiian Koa were deadly martial arts experts who defeated and killed the legendary Captain Cook and his British marines in 1779.
Episode 9
Ninja
Wed, Nov 12, 2014 48 mins
The inside track on the world's oldest - and deadliest - hit squads. How ninjas became the stealth troops of Japan's greatest shogun, wiping out an army in a cunning ambush.
Episode 10
The 47 Ronin
Wed, Nov 19, 2014 48 mins
A look at the group of 47 Ronin - dishonoured Samurais who had lost their status.