Surviving History

Surviving History
Starring David Fachman
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 9
Production
Executive producer(s) Travis Gray, Nicholas Panagopulos
Location(s) Columbus, Ohio
Running time 44 minutes (without commercials)
Broadcast
Original channel History Channel
Original run June 15, 2008 – July 20, 2008
External links
Website

Surviving History was a series that aired on the History Channel. In the show, ancient weapons, devices, and execution methods are recreated and tested.[1]

Description

On Surviving History, the founder and employees of the ScareFactory attempt to recreate ancient devices. The main team consists of Dave Fachman (Boss), Eric Conrath (Art Director), Josh Craig (Floor Manager), Brian Shoaf (Historian), Chad Reynolds (Fabricator), and DJ Weatherby (Welder/Designer). The show also features three history professors who are experts on ancient technologies, Dr. Keith Pepperell (6 episodes) Dr. Meg Mateer (2 episodes) and Dr. Tim Davis (1 episode).[2] The devices created are not always built of period materials or methods, but are functional. Dangerous devices are tested with purpose-build dummies. Many are also tested on ScareFactory employees, with appropriate protection and emergency services.

Broadcast history

Surviving History aired on Sunday nights in June, then moved to Thursday nights. 4 episodes aired in a marathon during the afternoon of July 12, 2008. The final episode aired in the early morning of July 20, 2008.

The series began airing on History International at 8PM ET on Tuesdays, beginning September 2, 2008.

Individual episodes are available through VOD services, iTunes, and DVDs in the History Channel store.

All 9 episodes were released on DVD on November 18, 2008.[3]

Episode list

This table lists the episodes in the order they were aired. The episode numbers on iTunes and similar may be different.

The official web page on the History web site was never updated after the first few episodes and only has descriptions of the first three, with the wrong air date for the 3rd.

Episode # Title Production Code Original airdate
1June 15, 2008
Halifax Gibbet, Chinese water torture, Iron Boot, Iron Maiden, Chinese Fire Arrow
2June 22, 2008
Liar's rack, Branks, Atlatl, Brazen bull, Pillory
3June 29, 2008
Breaking wheel, Firewalking, Bastinado, Treadwheel, Tar and Feathers
4
Pressed to Death, Cat o' nine tails, Pretzel, Scorpio, Heron's vending machine
5July 12, 2008
Judas Cradle, Pear of Anguish, Heretic's fork, The Pit and the Pendulum, Ball and chain
6July 12, 2008
Garrote, Isolation Chamber, Rope torture, Gallows, Firing squad
7July 12, 2008
Strappado, Shame flute, Chinese repeating crossbow, Joust, Chastity belt
8July 12, 2008
Battering ram, Baghdad Battery, Morning Star, Whirligig, Hero's Steam Engine
9July 20, 2008
Archimedes' Death ray, Barrel Roll, Ducking stool, Rack, Scavenger's daughter

References

External links