Arms in Action

Discover how the stick and the stone were probably prehistoric man's earliest weapon and soon became the spear and the slingshot. This programme reveals how simple weapons were deadly in trained hands.

From the Iron Age to the modern day, sieges have played an enormous part in military life. This programme focuses on the changing structure of castles from the oldest English castle, 4,000-year-old Maiden Castle, to present day fortifications.

This episode investigates how, since the forging of iron, the sword has remained a mythical, symbolic, spiritual and commanding weapon, despite having been replaced by automatic arms.

Taking a look at armour throughout the ages, from around the world. From the complex production of chain mail to the leather armour worn by Asian civilisations, discover how light, flexible and yet hardy protection was made.

Field-testing weapons used throughout the ages. This episode: how early, crude firearms fared against efficient bowed weapons.