AllMovie

The history of warfare is brought to life in this five-part series from the History Channel. Experts from the Royal Armories in London share their knowledge on the construction and use of the weapons that were used in battle from ancient times in Rome, Greece, and Northern Europe, through the development of modern warfare. This episode examines the use of castles and sieges in medieval warfare. The castle served as a fortress of protection as well as a home to its inhabitants. But when an enemy laid siege to a castle, there were dangers on both sides. Offensive and defensive strategies are considered, and the relationship between modern warfare methods and the battle strategies of the Middle Ages are discussed. Archival weapons, illustrations, reenactments, and commentary by historians are used to tell the story.