Watch with free trial
Sign in
Ancient Discoveries
Ancient Discoveries

Ancient Discoveries

—Historians reveal and discuss evidence of centuries-old theories and prototypes for many contemporary procedures and technologies, like brain surgery and computers.
Documentary, ScienceTV-PG
Essential planBundle+ plan
Watch with free trial
Compare plans
Military History Channel channel logo
7-day free trial (new users only), then $25 + tax per month.
Cancel anytime. See terms.

Watch Ancient Discoveries on Military History Channel

Record to watch 5 episodes in the next two weeks

    Live
    Death Weapons of the East

  • Exploring how modern military innovations stem from ancient Chinese inventions like gunpowder and automated crossbows.

  • Early methods of airborne attack; medieval kite bomb; bouncing bombs terrorize shipping in Turkey in 1453; Chinese commanders use whistling arrows to direct battles; Chinese rockets; the earliest known successful parachute.

  • The amazing successes and stunning failures of ancient military engineers influence today's weapons and tactics; an ancient Greek weapon is still used on aircraft carriers; rapid-firing Chinese catapult; Hannibal crosses the Alps.

  • Ancient secret agents; fire beacons, horses and pigeons are used to transmit messages over thousands of miles; ancient spies use invisible ink made from human sperm and write messages inside raw eggs; Japanese ninjas use explosives.
  • Death Weapons of the East

    Comparison test between a shotgun and a staff, the oldest known weapon; the deadly Chinese "ermei" underwater attack weapon; examining whether Chi warriors can really kill a man with a single touch; ancient Chinese crossbows.
    Upcoming

Enjoy Military History Channel and 70+ other channels

Watch and record live TV with a Philo subscription

One Subscription.
Endless Entertainment.
Unlock live TV, binge-worthy shows, hit movies, and more. Starting at $25/month.
View plans
Ancient Discoveries

More about Ancient Discoveries

Historians reveal and discuss evidence of centuries-old theories and prototypes for many contemporary procedures and technologies, like brain surgery and computers.

Starring

Sean Barrett, Phil Crowley, Steve Truglia, Ephraim Mirvis, Adam Wojcik, Harry Sidebottom

More like Ancient Discoveries

  • Ancient Unexplained Files
  • Ancient Aliens
  • The Universe: Ancient Mysteries Solved
  • Ancient Aliens Special Presentation
  • Ancient Aliens: Origins
  • Egypt's Unexplained Files
  • King Tut's Final Mystery
  • Tomb Hunters
  • Mummy Unexplained Files
  • Ancient Unexplained Files: Egypt

Popular on Philo

  • SpongeBob SquarePants
  • Caught in the Act: Unfaithful
  • Tyler Perry's Sistas
  • Love and Marriage: Huntsville
  • Fatal Attraction
  • Tyler Perry's House of Payne
  • The First 48
  • 1000-lb Sisters
  • The Golden Girls
  • Love After Lockup: Relationship Rehab

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Philo is a live TV streaming service that offers two plans to fit your entertainment needs:

    Essential ($25/month): 70+ live channels and over 75,000 movies and shows on-demand. New users get a 7-day free trial!

    Bundle+ ($33/month): Includes all the channels and entire streaming library available in the Essential plan, the entire AMC+ library, and access to HBO Max Basic with Ads plan and discovery+ included.

    Both plans: offer 1-year unlimited cloud DVR, let you stream on up to 3 devices at once, create up to 10 profiles, and cancel anytime with no contract.

    Free Channels: Not ready to subscribe? You can also enjoy Free Channels with no credit card required—simply create your account and start watching.

  • Yes! New users that sign up for the Essential plan can try it free for 7 days. You can explore our channels, features, and content before your subscription begins. No contract required—cancel anytime before your trial ends with no charges.

    • An email address
    • A future payment method
    • A broadband internet connection
    • A supported device
    Philo devices
    Web, iPhone & iPad, Android phones & tablets, Roku, Fire TV, Samsung TV, VIZIO TV, LG TV, Apple TV, Android TV, and Chromecast via Android
  • Yes! You can record an unlimited amount of live or upcoming content to your cloud DVR and save them for up to a year. No equipment needed!
    Save
  • Nope! No hardware is required, ever. Philo's DVR is already built into the app, so there's nothing to plug in, set up, or pay extra for.

    With an Essential or Bundle+ subscription, you get unlimited DVR storage included, and your recordings are saved for a full year. If you're watching with the Free Channels, recordings are saved for 30 days.

  • Yes! You can enjoy tons of premium television and movies by upgrading your Philo subscription plan with add-ons.

    Here is a list of our available add-ons:

    • HBO Max Standard (ad-free): Watch HBO Originals and hit movies ad-free for $13 more per month. Live sports included (in HBO Max app).
    • discovery+ (ad-free): Stream hit reality shows, documentaries, and more without the ads - all for $8 more per month.
    • Movies & More: Watch award-winning films, cult classics, celebrity stories, documentaries, and more - for $3 more per month.
    • AMC+ (ad-free): Enjoy ad-free access to the entire AMC+ library for $4 more per month.
    • MGM+ (ad-free): Stream thousands of the latest hits, fan favorites, original series, documentaries, and comedy specials for an additional $8/month.
    • ALLBLK (ad-free): Stream original series, independent films, nostalgic Black cinema, reality, and lively stage plays for $7 more per month.
    • Hallmark+ (ad-free): Watch exclusive originals, reality shows, rom-coms, cozy mysteries, heartfelt dramas, and beloved holiday movies for an additional $9/month.
    • STARZ (ad-free): Enjoy today’s hits, classic movies, and bold original series for an additional $12/month.
  • HBO Max:
    • Sign up for the Bundle+ ($33/month) plan.
    • Go to your Philo account page and follow the steps to activate your HBO Max Basic with Ads plan account.

    discovery+: Sign up for the Bundle+ ($33/month) plan.