Ancient breeds

Question
Hi, Joyce. Nice to meet you.
I have some questions about ancient dog breeds:
1)I know many mastiff-like breeds come from Epir moloss; I recently heard that this breed(Epir dog)is still alive in some rural region of Albania and Greece. Is that true?
2)What is the modern breed closer to the epir moloss and more similar? I heard four breeds can be: Mastiff, Spanish mastiff, central asia Ovcharka and Anatolian Shepherd dog...
3)I heard that spanish mastiff(or an ancient breed very similar to it)was used in ancient Greece for the war: is that true?
4)I heard that the chow chow was used in China for the war: honestly it doen't seem to be an agile dog, not aggressive and not very large...so I have to suppose that the ancient Chow chow were very different from the modern ones: can you tell me what could be the main differences between ancien and modern chow?
I hope you can answer to me. if not, can you gave me any contact to clear my doubts? Thanks a lot.
Tommaso

Answer
Hi Tommaso

I wasn't breeding or whelping back in Ancient times (although some days it feels like it), and I don't live in Albania or Greece. So all I have to go on is the word of others.  

However I do have some excellent books and resources that have information and sketches of those breeds during that time.  Some books and articles that I have in my personal collection and would recommend for any history buff, breeder or someone wanting to learn about the older breeds.

Edward Ash wrote some excellent articles and books including How Dogs Were Used In Mediaeval Sport in 1938.

Of Englifhe Dogges was penned in 1576 by Johannes Caius.  

A Complete History of Fighting Dogs, by Mike Homan.  I own a number of Mike Homan's books and he has lots of information and I believe, very accurate and someone who I would consider a expert.

Vero Shaw's, 1913 The Encyclopaedia of the Kennel touches on the breed, as does R.H. Voss 1933, Our Dogs.

The American Kennel Gazette has had a numerous articles published over the years. In 1937 E.G. Oliver published, The Mastiff was Popular in the 18th Century,  in 1942, Arthur Frederick Jones wrote  Mastiff Glory Comes to Life at Altnacraig. And in 1924 The Oldest Dog in the World was penned by John H. Matthews.

This is just to name a few. Hope this helps.