Parents need to know that this educational show may appear to be a simple look at warriors and combat, but it actually goes much deeper, delving into many aspects of the different ancient cultures it spotlights, including technological capabilities, economics, religion, and the social hierarchy. Young viewers may be intrigued by the focus on fighting, but they'll receive a surprisingly rich history lesson in the process. The only real content of concern is violence, which is inescapable, as the series does focus on warfare and fighting. Really graphic scenes are rare, but there is some colorful language around the topic ("blood sprays out, bones shatter," etc.).
Positive messages:The series explains in detail the role of warriors and warfare in ancient cultures, including the weapons that were commonly used and why they chose to fight. It's a very effective framework to examine the political and social structure of these societies and provides many interesting insights.
Violence:Plenty of staged brawls as the host and other combat experts demonstrate the use of various ancient weapons. Some sequences feature recreated battles and hand-to-hand fights and can include a few graphic images.
Language:No swearing, but the host often uses violent phrases as he describes how ancient warriors fought, often to the death. For example, after being struck by a Mayan club, he says "blood sprays out, bones shatter, instant death!"
Consumerism:Historians and researchers appear regularly, and the series mentions by name the schools where they work.