Epic Warrior Women (2018)
Join us as we tell the tales of history's most iconic female fighters, from the legendary Amazons of Central Asia to the gladiators of the Roman Empire to the all-female fighting force of West Africa.
Seasons & Episode
Greek travelers and writers from the ancient world mythologized the Amazons, but these legendary female warriors were very real. They hailed from the ferocious nomadic Scythian tribes that controlled a huge swath of Central Asia and kept the great powers of Greece, Persia, and China at bay. With the help of recent archaeological findings, uncover the lives of these Amazons through the tale of a Scythian who grows up to become a horse warrior and leader of her tribe in a defining battle against the Persians in 6th century BC.
The Roman Empire is known for its powerful rulers, mighty armies, and gladiatorial games. But there is one last great untold story that has fought its way back into history - that of the female gladiator. Historians and archaeologists have uncovered evidence that many brave women fought and died in the arena. Based on these findings, follow the tale of a gladiatrix called Ardala, a Celtic warrior captured and traded into a Mediterranean gladiator school in 2nd century AD.
The Agooji of West Africa were the terrifying all-female fighting force of the kingdom of Dahomey in the 19th century. Up to 6,000 strong, the Agooji battled to protect one of the continent's last independent kingdoms, fighting as elite regiments against colonial male armies in the Franco-Dahomean Wars. Witness the fascinating history of these women warriors through the story of Sukeoun, a young girl who is taken as a tribute to the king, rises to become an Agooji officer, and valiantly fights to defend her kingdom.
DNA tests of skeletons in Sweden challenge the idea that all Viking warriors were men; recreating the life of a young Viking woman who becomes the garrison commander in Birka.