The pilum, which played a vital role in the rise of the Roman Empire. The longbow, which made England a medieval superpower. The Minié ball, which revolutionized 19th century firearm capabilities. Three ranged weapons that transformed combat over the course of thousands of years. What was the secret to their lethal success? Through unique experiments with weapons experts, we reveal how they worked and how, over the centuries, ranged weapons evolved in accuracy and in the distances they can travel.

For thousands of years, humans have rained fire from the skies upon their enemies. Aerial attacks have been key to waging successful military campaigns, but which ones over the history of warfare have been the most effective? Through spectacular experiments, weapons experts detail how army commanders launched air strikes against their enemies long before airplanes were invented, how incendiary arrows stay ablaze while soaring through the air, and how rockets were invented. See how the aerial bomb has become the standard—and most devastating—form of attack from above.

Hand-to-hand combat is warfare at its most visceral. Since ancient times, soldiers on the battlefield have relied on specialized weapons to survive this most immediate form of fighting. Military experts explore some of history’s most effective weapons, from the Gladius, the short sword Roman legionaries relied on for centuries, to the war hammer, the medieval era’s most efficient yet little-known weapon, to the bayonet, a firearm still being used today thanks to its ability to inflict both physical and psychological damage.

Some weapons have changed the course of wars through their accuracy, their speed, or their power. Others have made their mark simply because of their ease-of-use, allowing ordinary people to take the fight to empires and nations, and sometimes even win. Join an international team of experts as they look at three key weapons—the pike, the crossbow, and the AK-47 rifle—used by civilians, rebels, and terrorists against seemingly invincible foes.

Since humans began fighting one another, quickness and mobility have been key factors in determining victory or defeat. Experts take a hands-on look at three weapons that were built for speed. Discover the history of the two-wheeled chariot, a weapons system developed by the Hyksos before the Egyptians and Romans perfected it. Examine and test how a simple range weapon—the sling—rocked its enemy at speeds of 116. And see how small handguns like the revolver changed warfare forever.

New weapons with devastating force shaped the wars of the 20th century. Weapons experts test the Maxim machine gun, explain its impact on modern warfare, and explore the psychological effects experienced by soldiers who faced them in battle. See how grenades were used to counteract trench warfare in World War I, and how the horrible injuries they caused led to one of the world’s most important medications. And examine a war machine that is considered a symbol of power: the tank.