Warriors

The History Channel has an extensive roster of similar series and has developed a nearly foolproof recipe that blends live-action, insightful narration, and computer graphics. This show is one of the better entries in the genre. Schappert uses weapons and combat only as an entry point, expanding far beyond that narrow focus to explain an entire culture. Describing a tribe's weapons, for example, opens the door to talking about the natural resources that were available to them and the technological capabilities that enabled them to develop lethal tools.

Schappert goes deeper still by examining when and why these warriors chose to fight. Whether it was for personal gain, political power, to gain control over valuable resources, or for religious rituals, each motive shines a revealing light on the complex social structures at work in these long-dead cultures. The battles -- albeit an effective way to grab viewers' attention, especially tweens and teens who will be fascinated by the ancient weapons -- are just the start. By the end of each episode, Schappert has used the warrior lens to deliver a surprisingly comprehensive and engaging lesson.