The Empire of Mali - An Empire of Trade and Faith - Extra History - Part 2

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  • Опубліковано 20 кві 2018
  • 📜 History of the Empire of Mali: Seeking a meeting with the emperor of the Mali Empire, a man named Ibn Battutah journeyed across the perilous Sahara sands to discover Mali's gold... instead, he found out how Mali blended its Islamic and African cultures.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,3 тис.

  • @extrahistory
    @extrahistory  6 років тому +833

    Ibn Battutah wrote a book called "The Travels," producing the only eyewitness account of the Mali Empire. So today we’re going to follow him, letting his journey teach us about how trade built the realm.
    Support us on Patreon! We're actually running a poll this weekend (through 4/23) to determine one of our upcoming Extra History series! patreon.com/extracredits

    • @en4431
      @en4431 6 років тому +5

      Extra Credits Your channel is the reason I've gone to Nationals at the history b. Thanks.

    • @boman.
      @boman. 6 років тому +8

      can you do ajuuraan empire
      or adal

    • @deadcat6212
      @deadcat6212 6 років тому +3

      Extra Credits PLEASE, DO NOT SKIP MANSA MUSA'S STORY!!!!!11

    • @Neoplasie1900
      @Neoplasie1900 6 років тому +4

      @Ξ SAWIRRO Ξ
      @Tym the Man
      They take suggestions for upcoming series from their patreon supporters. So, if you really want to see these events covered by Extra History, consider Patreon.

    • @daepicadam7358
      @daepicadam7358 6 років тому +4

      Condensing huge history sources into one understandable video is really remarkable. I thank you for your efforts and for making the fascinating History of mankind easier to learn.

  • @Radiodragonofdoom
    @Radiodragonofdoom 6 років тому +2948

    I love that rude tourists are a universal constant.

    • @Leivve
      @Leivve 6 років тому +84

      Ben, there is a third certainty in life.

    • @Matthew-Anthony
      @Matthew-Anthony 5 років тому +51

      @@Leivve The three certainties are: death, taxes, and gravity.

    • @azelfdaboi5265
      @azelfdaboi5265 5 років тому +80

      @@Matthew-Anthony there's a 4th certainty, there will always rude tourists

    • @b3rz3rk3r9
      @b3rz3rk3r9 5 років тому +35

      Yep. Death, Taxes, Empires and assholes mocking your country's culture while visiting.

    • @MrSuperman957
      @MrSuperman957 4 роки тому +32

      Rude, yes. But not entirely.
      You see, he didn't have a BIG problem with non-muslims but rather with the muslims who were not practicing right. I mean, they were supposed to be Muslims so he was, as a muslim, obviously shocked.
      But the thing about his rank and yoghurt or whatever, extremely rude. He was the guest so he should be grateful for whatever he receives according to Islam

  • @swampfox1007
    @swampfox1007 6 років тому +1453

    If I have learned anything from extra credits is it that all people are born with a tag with the initials that they wear on their clothes.

    • @haroldlolz7964
      @haroldlolz7964 6 років тому +9

      lol

    • @mdaburayhan9101
      @mdaburayhan9101 6 років тому +8

      Swamp Fox. Actually it's very funny and true

    • @jacobdunkin1180
      @jacobdunkin1180 6 років тому +49

      not everybody, just everybody important.

    • @nathanschmitz2302
      @nathanschmitz2302 6 років тому +10

      Just think how easy it is to kill a important leader. Just look for thier name tag and shoot them in the head.

    • @fighterck6241
      @fighterck6241 6 років тому +10

      Jacob Dunkin ... ahhh, so that's why I was born with a birthmark shaped like my initials on my chest...

  • @muixc
    @muixc 6 років тому +508

    "The king of Mali is so rich, he's going on tour to let everyone know. 'Wow. That guy is rich.' Everyone said." -Bill Wurtz

  • @Nuinwing
    @Nuinwing 6 років тому +875

    So.... he laughed at the emperors face and lived to tell about it...thats one merciful ruler for sure(for the time period).

    • @TheFiresloth
      @TheFiresloth 6 років тому +178

      Well, he was an important guy. Ambassador are not supposed to be dicks, but if they, are, better not cut their heads before being sure you can defeat the country they came from.

    • @ajjack2322
      @ajjack2322 6 років тому +158

      Ibn Battuta was a lone wolf for the most part. Mansa probably would not kill him so as not to look barbaric to the general islamic world.

    • @tesseract2144
      @tesseract2144 5 років тому +53

      @@TheFiresloth Yeah, good luck raising a huge army a make them crossing the desert without supply line and with the possibility of neighbors attacking you during the time

    • @coolbule1238
      @coolbule1238 5 років тому +4

      @@tesseract2144 but when the army gets cannons and one does not the former only needs 200 men

    • @jdb9318
      @jdb9318 5 років тому +3

      @@TheFiresloth *Laughs in Leonidas*

  • @DragoniteSpam
    @DragoniteSpam 6 років тому +2651

    Can we just appreciate for a minute how brave some of these explorers who crossed the desert must have been? Five hundred miles with just one oasis, sending a scout ahead who might not even make it to arrange for water to be brought out to meet the caravan, oof .-.

    • @DragoniteSpam
      @DragoniteSpam 6 років тому +9

      I know, right?

    • @imverygerby
      @imverygerby 6 років тому +52

      Gstrangeman96 Idk seeing someone get blown up is fucked soilders never really change there are always those ones in the front lines and those who are behind them. I'd say the civilian populace was more accustomed to violence back in the day tho

    • @Zerpderp0
      @Zerpderp0 6 років тому +8

      DragoniteSpam These merchants are hard core

    • @Wreckonning
      @Wreckonning 6 років тому +82

      Remember that he was following a path that had been traveled many times before by merchants and travellers, and the systems were already in place for him to be able to make the journey. Let's not completely forget that for the people in the area, this was a way of life and not some grand adventure.

    • @hi_mom_im_on_youtube
      @hi_mom_im_on_youtube 6 років тому +15

      Gstrangeman96 Peasants were never expected to fight, medieval armies consisted of mercenearies and feudal lords.

  • @KendrixTermina
    @KendrixTermina 6 років тому +1181

    Mali sounds like a pretty cool place to live actually, at least by medieval standards.

    • @KendrixTermina
      @KendrixTermina 6 років тому +300

      Hence, "BY MEDIEVAL STANDARDS".

    • @unknowndane4754
      @unknowndane4754 6 років тому +145

      Honestly I think it depended on your standings, for the lower classes I don't think there was that great a difference, for the middle classes I think Mali had it better because of it its lack of external dangerous enemies that threatened their way of living, for the high class... hard to judge because I think it was like most of the medieval world, maybe better if you were involved in the gold trade. They had tons of gold yes, but for them that was a product only really good for export and not that important to them.

    • @TheFiresloth
      @TheFiresloth 6 років тому +144

      Well, in the 14th century, it was certainly better to be a malian, mughal or italian subject than, a say, french, english or syrian one.

    • @MisterOrange1
      @MisterOrange1 6 років тому +81

      Yaldabaoth Honestly, even if you were a slave. A slave became a Mansa (his name was Sakura) years before Mansa Musa

    • @Skadi609
      @Skadi609 6 років тому +5

      Gabriel Sakura? Doesn't it mean "cherry blossom" in Japanese?

  • @twiinapocalyp2e2
    @twiinapocalyp2e2 6 років тому +1373

    the mental image of an islamic scholar expecting veiled women only to find them walking around the palace topless is kinda hilarious

    • @DaJalster28
      @DaJalster28 6 років тому +328

      twiinapocalyp2e2 imagine him trying to report the "harlot" just to be told by the guards that she is the Emperor's daughter.

    • @RayMKlll
      @RayMKlll 5 років тому +30

      DaJalster28 And that meant she could dress as she pleased? Or am I seeing this wrong?

    • @theghostofspookwagen4715
      @theghostofspookwagen4715 5 років тому +160

      Yup. Going around topless just wasn't an issue with them, for Battutah and his ilk on the other hand he would've fainted at the horror (and arousal).

    • @hisexcellencypresidentofre4118
      @hisexcellencypresidentofre4118 5 років тому +8

      Gosh u guys funny. Lol

    • @nathanielclaw2841
      @nathanielclaw2841 5 років тому +92

      @@RayMKlll differences in what each culture finds to be moral and respectable. Same goes for native americans in south america, they dressed even less

  • @nicholasnelson8641
    @nicholasnelson8641 6 років тому +1059

    Ibn Battutah. Makes Marco Polo look like Dora the explorer.

  • @Wolf6119
    @Wolf6119 6 років тому +362

    RIP Sulking Caravan Dude

  • @Udontkno7
    @Udontkno7 6 років тому +202

    I'm so glad there's finally some more mainstream channels that talk about African history. Africa has tons of assumptions that are negative, and I'm glad it's history is shown in a positive light.

    • @semereabraham6639
      @semereabraham6639 6 років тому +21

      aromantic Yes, thank you, finally some people interested in actual history, not racial supremacy...

    • @kayzsosa1414
      @kayzsosa1414 6 років тому

      Semere Abraham word

  • @srvaudiau
    @srvaudiau 6 років тому +626

    Ibn Battuta deserves his own series!

    • @ArkadiBolschek
      @ArkadiBolschek 6 років тому +10

      Seconded!

    • @adnanilyas6368
      @adnanilyas6368 6 років тому +1

      +

    • @alsyrriad
      @alsyrriad 6 років тому +33

      I don't like him honestly. Kind of stuck up if you ask me.

    • @srvaudiau
      @srvaudiau 6 років тому +90

      Dylan Sepasyar he was. But Ibn Battuta had one of the most epic road trips ever.

    • @mxsdrago
      @mxsdrago 6 років тому +46

      Ibn Battuta’s Bizarre Adventure: Gold Dust Crusader

  • @asiboe
    @asiboe 6 років тому +824

    shipwrecked, kidnapped, and detained... why does it sound like now he's going to die of something very stupid after surviving all the previous?

    • @edatercharles5566
      @edatercharles5566 6 років тому +212

      he died of old age in his city Tangiers, now he has a mausoleum in there

    • @timothymclean
      @timothymclean 6 років тому +120

      He lived long enough to publish a book, so...if it wasn't death by falling manuscript, it would be outside the scope of this series.

    • @Healermain15
      @Healermain15 6 років тому +70

      Upon completing his manuscript, he had a heart attack, tripped over his chair, and accidentally pierced his own heart with his writing quill. With his last breath, he managed to send his manuscript to the printers.

    • @nomkir
      @nomkir 6 років тому +35

      No that's also dramatic. He died a natural death.

    • @agenthurricane4839
      @agenthurricane4839 6 років тому +37

      Upon visiting home, he accidentally forgot how to breathe.

  • @brianngoma9873
    @brianngoma9873 6 років тому +132

    As much as I really want to hear about Mansa Musa, I'm glad that you're stalling that episode to focus on the lesser known parts of an already underappreciated empire. Keep up the good work EC!

  • @mestre12
    @mestre12 6 років тому +283

    There are many stories about Masamusa, but, the one i like the most is: He gave so much gold in he travels, that, in some places, gold got major inflation.

    • @chrispo7610
      @chrispo7610 6 років тому +55

      gold was basically useless for a short period there. richest person ever

    • @andrewlentner
      @andrewlentner 6 років тому +42

      In some areas it was so bad that the city's economy crashed

    • @nakenmil
      @nakenmil 6 років тому +42

      That's why they used cowry shells back home. Much rarer and easier to control the circulation of.

    • @LuccianoBartolini
      @LuccianoBartolini 6 років тому +5

      Basically, he was the Muslim equivalent of Salomon.

    • @BigHenFor
      @BigHenFor 6 років тому +1

      When supply exceeds demand prices fall, so the price of gold would have deflated if Musamansa flooded the market with his generosity.

  • @rickard7031
    @rickard7031 4 роки тому +241

    Does this entire episode count as a SIDE TRIP?

  • @duchessnoor
    @duchessnoor 6 років тому +829

    BUT I WOULD WALK 500 MILES AND I WOULD WALK 500 MORE...

    • @mykomatos5445
      @mykomatos5445 6 років тому +76

      JUST TO BE THE MAN WHO WALKED A THOUSAND MILES TO GO OFF 'BOUT YOUR MORES

    • @weldonwin
      @weldonwin 6 років тому +47

      Dada Da Da, Dada Da Da, Dadala Dadala Dadala Dadala dada...

    • @Achillez098
      @Achillez098 6 років тому +31

      DA DA DA DA! DA DA DA DA! LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!!!!

    • @sarabe2130
      @sarabe2130 6 років тому +19

      O sheet whaddup it GUNTHRUM *bew bew bew beeeww*

    • @myohmy9000
      @myohmy9000 6 років тому +16

      Oh look, it's *Æthelstan*

  • @FromNothing
    @FromNothing 6 років тому +258

    This was amazing. I honestly didn't expect as much detail or elegance as people never usually offer it when talking about African history but you did it justice. Looking forward to the next episode!

    • @joelgottfried5849
      @joelgottfried5849 5 років тому +9

      Hey i'm also a fan of your channel are you willing to do dome focus of the kush empire

    • @abthedragon4921
      @abthedragon4921 3 роки тому +6

      Wow, didn't expect to find you here. Then again I probably should have, given the premise of your channel.

    • @shockhouser3171
      @shockhouser3171 3 роки тому +1

      Hey Jabari

  • @sircoloniser5454
    @sircoloniser5454 Рік тому +13

    This is a side trip to the Ibn battuta series

  • @CitanulsPumpkin
    @CitanulsPumpkin 6 років тому +56

    Surprisingly, Mali culture turns out remarkably similar to Viking culture in this one area. "Just the one god? Sure, right. I'll have just the one ale too while I'm at it."

  • @threaruscamuwundra7417
    @threaruscamuwundra7417 6 років тому +148

    Awh man, this is a great episode but Ibn Battutah could have gotten an entire serie based on his travels. Would have been an awesome topic

    • @sarasamaletdin4574
      @sarasamaletdin4574 6 років тому +10

      He could get maybe some one off episode for the rest of his travels some day.

    • @atsekaleb7
      @atsekaleb7 4 роки тому +19

      Well good news for you

    • @gabemobley3851
      @gabemobley3851 4 роки тому +3

      Yep he got a full series

    • @WeaselLikeMan
      @WeaselLikeMan 4 роки тому +1

      good news

    • @kingsumca4370
      @kingsumca4370 4 роки тому +1

      @@gabemobley3851 where can I find the series?

  • @dr.zoidberg8666
    @dr.zoidberg8666 6 років тому +47

    In the final exam of our History of the Middle East class, a friend of mine accidentally called Ibn Battuta "Ibn Batooty" & I will never forget him because of that.
    Ibn Batooty: Truly a great man.

  • @Vitalis94
    @Vitalis94 6 років тому +651

    As for religious syncretism, most of converting societies took the same path as Mali did. We date Christianization of many European states at the moment their kings did it. But in reality, most of population would remain pagan for few more centuries. First to convert were the rulers and traders. Later on, the capital. Then various towns and cities. Last to convert were the peasants in the villages, and that's why folk traditions come from rural places.
    The process of conversion to another religion went amongst the same lines as described in this video. To convince people, some of the local, pagan celebrations were disguised as Christian. The origins of the date we celebrate Christmas and Easter are winter and solar solaces, while annual celebrations of polytheistic gods were turned into the celebration of various Catholic Saints. It took many centuries for pagan belives to be entirely purged, and even then, many originally pagan traditions are celebrated to this day.

    • @redwallzyl
      @redwallzyl 6 років тому +61

      Thank you.! The amount of ignorance shown by people is awful. They tend to know nothing about the actull processes involved and so project their own biases on it.

    • @mustipunyaemail
      @mustipunyaemail 6 років тому +23

      Christmas is from pagan.

    • @theghosthero6173
      @theghosthero6173 6 років тому +8

      mpye yeah it's the Scandinavian Yule

    • @deangelourqhart7614
      @deangelourqhart7614 6 років тому +9

      And Yule is Babylonian for little child.

    • @Vitalis94
      @Vitalis94 6 років тому +47

      To say that Christmas is a direct "descendant" of Yule only would be an understatement - while Yule had influenced the outlook of Christmas in Germanic countries, other Europeans had their own pagan traditions related to winter solace. For example, Romans had Saturnalia, not to mention that the festival of Sol Invictus took place exactly on December 25th. Also, Slavs had their Koleda/Gody, Iranians had Yalda, etc...

  • @FeyTheBin
    @FeyTheBin 4 роки тому +35

    Ah yes, that lad Battuta, finally with his own series. Just gonna watch this one again as I wait for more episodes.

    • @virginiansupremacy
      @virginiansupremacy 4 роки тому

      Fey that’s why I went back here.

    • @josesphaturaya488
      @josesphaturaya488 4 роки тому +2

      It's the son of Battuta, not Battuta himself.

    • @JcoleMc
      @JcoleMc 2 роки тому

      They should do an video of Ibn battuta's trip to Swalhi coast

  • @BobHerzog1962
    @BobHerzog1962 6 років тому +268

    Let's take a guess. Gifting gold was considered bad form in a country that had so much in abudance and didn't even use it as currency.

    • @dcbanacek2
      @dcbanacek2 6 років тому +134

      Good point. So you've just come out of the desert and are being received by the local government, what would be more important to that person? Food and water or some shiny metal you can't eat?

    • @gameboyhotline3712
      @gameboyhotline3712 6 років тому +95

      dcbanacek2 and good food at that pudding and honey sounds like it was expensive in those times and when your traveling 2 months through sands and sun all you’ve been eating is tried and salted meat and idk like some old fruit. Mali showed him kindness, education and great wealth but to him he saw it as laziness and rudeness.

    • @ArkadiBolschek
      @ArkadiBolschek 6 років тому +7

      Y'know, I wouldn't be surprised. You probably nailed it on the head.

    • @hiddenhist
      @hiddenhist 6 років тому +10

      BobHerzog1962 the hell should they just give away their gold for no reason? Should America just start gifting away money to visitors now?

    • @BobHerzog1962
      @BobHerzog1962 6 років тому +16

      Well actually you do gift certain visitors either money or stuff that is a lot of money. In return certain officials from the US recieve the same courtesey when they visit other countries. It's diplomatic ettiquette. Also notice that travelers were not quiet as common as today in western society. And even those you don't want to give money you spend a lot of money on to get them out again or to hinder them comeing in.
      Ibn Battutah also wasn't just anyone. He was a well known scholar, friend of Kings and basically had somewhat the status of an ambassador.
      And lastley one has to accept that other cultures and other times had different custdoms. And it usually works when it is a thing everyone does. Because if every scholar of certain esteem is gifted valueables then yes you have to give out some money but your scholars will also recieve money when they travel and thus you don't have to support their travels as much. It would like, if the US and other nations agree that instead of their home University paying travel costs for scientific conferences the nation it is held in would do so. As long as everyone does so and noone has an relative to their size overly large amount of conferences it works. Back in those times it meant scholars had to carry less valuables with them and thus were less likely to be robbed of them.

  • @nahheio
    @nahheio 4 роки тому +61

    I’m here on a side trip

  • @zacharysnyder2520
    @zacharysnyder2520 6 років тому +28

    Ibn Battutah probbably lived one of the most interesting lives in history.

  • @FnKtelevision
    @FnKtelevision 6 років тому +120

    Fun Fact: there is a mall in Dubai named after and themed around this man

    • @Abd121
      @Abd121 6 років тому +7

      been there, almost everything from imported/made in China. was very disappointed!...

    • @omarbell4579
      @omarbell4579 6 років тому +33

      FnKDeadBeat He's as iconic in the Islamic world as Marco Polo in the west.

    • @nakenmil
      @nakenmil 6 років тому +12

      +Abd So like how Las Vegas puts up random replicas of European and Egyptian landmarks, then.

    • @FnKtelevision
      @FnKtelevision 6 років тому +3

      +Abd yeah it's not the most impressive mall in dubai. mostly went there for the IMax screen when I lived there

    • @mxsdrago
      @mxsdrago 6 років тому +6

      Only just realized that the different countries in the mall represent his travels. Holy shit.

  • @SlimTony
    @SlimTony 6 років тому +26

    Man, the mali empire sounds like a really nice place.

  • @frederickkeeslar1761
    @frederickkeeslar1761 6 років тому +33

    I'm so glad that you guys have been covering African history. I studied some African history during college, and it never gets as much attention as it should. Just as a suggestion, you guys should look at the city-states along the east coast of Africa and the kingdom of Madagascar. Unfortunately, most of the city-states were destroyed by the Portuguese, but they still have a very interesting history. There's also Great Zimbabwe and the kingdoms of Kush, which are also very fascinating empires.

  • @HaloLibrarian
    @HaloLibrarian 6 років тому +185

    My EU4 Mali campaign is because of these videos

    • @Nihilvidz
      @Nihilvidz 6 років тому +4

      Are you going for the achievement?

    • @melfice999
      @melfice999 6 років тому +14

      Considering the time frame, shouldn't you rather go for a Crusader Kings 2?

    • @davidking6242
      @davidking6242 6 років тому +10

      Crusader kings 2 would be more appropriate. I'm doing a series right now and I just conquered morroco and Iberia as the malians

    • @manelgf1
      @manelgf1 6 років тому +10

      I recommend colonising Brazil one you've got a hold of the western coast. It's actually at a stone's throw! (Watch out for those Spanish and Portuguese though...)

    • @Carewolf
      @Carewolf 6 років тому +7

      Did that in EU3.. Fun times. Only annoying thing is that to get better tech progression I had to westernize, there was no option to have closer ties to the muslim world to get their tech speed.
      But yes pre-scambling Africa, and getting a head start on overseas colonies is key to victory.

  • @GeneralLuigiTBC
    @GeneralLuigiTBC 6 років тому +864

    Ibn Battutah's reaction to the syncretic form of Islam practiced in the Mali Empire touches on a conundrum in religion that I've seen come up time and again as far as spreading Abrahamic religions is concerned: If the religion you seek to spread forbids something that is an integral part of the culture you seek to spread it to, how do you approach spreading your religion? Do you insist that the locals abandon the parts of their culture that your religion forbids, or do you leave those parts of their culture alone? On the one hand, trying to put an end to practices that have endured for centuries will almost certainly make it harder to attract converts--and will likely make the locals hostile toward you. On the other hand, if you allow the locals to keep their sinful customs, can you truly say that your proselytizing is helping them rather than hurting them?

    • @Mechabang
      @Mechabang 6 років тому +26

      General Luigi Well put.

    • @sarasamaletdin4574
      @sarasamaletdin4574 6 років тому +58

      The ideal is to explain why the new practices are impotant and if you can’t maybe they are not.

    • @jowiemonster
      @jowiemonster 6 років тому +63

      I would say you leave the old traditions alone and i most cases they will slowly die out on there own als de new religion expands and becomes more and more of daily life.

    • @johnmccarron7066
      @johnmccarron7066 6 років тому +131

      Speaking as a Christian...yes, it does. The Ten Commandments still apply, a lot of the Abrahamic Code technically still applies (Christ said he wasn't there to overthrow the law, but to fulfill it), and Jesus left a list of dos and don'ts. And, depending on which sect of Christianity you follow, you may find a simple or fairly stringent code of living that can be quite 'arbitrary' to some folks.

    • @KnuxTube
      @KnuxTube 6 років тому +88

      As an Abrahamic believer, I may try to take a stab at this well put question. Islam, for example, can often adapt to a culture without losing its religious foundation. Take a look at the Moors in Spain. When the North Africans invaded Moorish Spain, originally to help the Muslims against the Catholics, they were shocked. They deemed what they saw as heresy and blasphemy, all the art and intermingling, sexual freedom and high ranks of Jews and Christians.Though they were not only of the same faith but the same ethnic heritage, Moorish and Berber, the cultural gap within the same religion was staggering. So it's certainly possible for culture and religion not to *bend* to each other but complement each other in a way that adds to both without taking away the good in both.

  • @isadoracostahamsi163
    @isadoracostahamsi163 6 років тому +92

    I LOVE African history. Please do more of them. We get enough Europe in school.

  • @auliafajar9346
    @auliafajar9346 4 роки тому +53

    Who came back here after the newest Ibn Battuta series?

    • @TrueZero2
      @TrueZero2 4 роки тому

      You know that moment where you think 'THAT'S where I heard the name from'? That was what I had with Ibn Battuta.

  • @mattzhang4854
    @mattzhang4854 6 років тому +62

    ok but yogurt and honey is awesome

  • @abdur1996
    @abdur1996 4 роки тому +23

    This is soo much cooler to watch after the Ibn Batuta series! You guys are a treasure!

  • @degenerate3288
    @degenerate3288 6 років тому +187

    Anyone else think that Ibn might have some plot armour

    • @Loremaster85
      @Loremaster85 6 років тому +83

      It's easy to have plot armour when you're the one writing the story about your own travels.

    • @nomad20122
      @nomad20122 6 років тому +8

      Osiris ibn is not his first name, ibn means son and this was his nickname son of batuta not actual name

    • @sarasamaletdin4574
      @sarasamaletdin4574 6 років тому +1

      Is he reliable? I recall one traveler who was not and tried to google if this was him but apparently only his account of going to Bulgaria was unreliable?

    • @Abd121
      @Abd121 6 років тому +38

      he was a religious scholar, His way of seeing and documenting his surroundings would've probably been very different from that of a real historian!

    • @8xMorladumx8
      @8xMorladumx8 6 років тому

      + 1 to you Loremaster xD

  • @TheNekoGentleman
    @TheNekoGentleman 6 років тому +79

    ... You managed to make me love the history of my country and my religion. Me, a man that used to despise both. Kudos.

    • @antoniolewis1016
      @antoniolewis1016 6 років тому +1

      Hooray!

    • @thepbg8453
      @thepbg8453 6 років тому +5

      Out of curiosity why would you despise it?

    • @assalane
      @assalane 6 років тому +11

      I am also Malian in origin. I apreciate the highlight too, but there are still aspects of the religions I despise, be it Islamic or pagan

    • @echoambiance4470
      @echoambiance4470 6 років тому +1

      Which country might i ask?

    • @assalane
      @assalane 6 років тому +1

      Echo Ambiance
      Mali

  • @zaaimi
    @zaaimi 6 років тому +12

    Moroccan here, I am simply happy you mention morocco and Ibn Battuta. Great explorer, and his writing still stands today as an open window to the islamic world during that period.

  • @mostafabellabiad3030
    @mostafabellabiad3030 6 років тому +13

    This is a wonderful day. Finally I can see a icon of Moroccan history in Extra Credits, and it's Ibn Battuta, the famous traveller ! I'm so glad and I hope you will cover more about this man who saw so much things in the world. Great work as always guys !

  • @MisterOrange1
    @MisterOrange1 6 років тому +4

    Love how everyone is respectful in the comment section.

  • @isitokaytoeatquick-wittedb2953
    @isitokaytoeatquick-wittedb2953 4 роки тому +10

    I came back again to watch this after finishing the Ibn Battuta series, and after seeing his numerous other travels, the Battuta here in Mali that I previously thought obnoxious, is actually really just expectant. During his other trips, the rulers always give him big welcoming and parting gifts, always riches, gold, slaves, houses, horses, so he probably expect the emperor of Mali who has so many gold will be even more extravagant in gift giving, moreso that Battuta is coming to Mali by the order of the Moroccan sultan, hence making him some sort of ambassador.

  • @benzur3503
    @benzur3503 6 років тому +6

    i love the way you acknowledge and embrace the unreliability of the narrator and explain it from multipile angles so much

  • @beknown63
    @beknown63 4 роки тому +26

    Did someone say SIDE TRIP?

  • @JunkPhuJP
    @JunkPhuJP 6 років тому +34

    It will be interesting to see how the region Mali inhabits converted to a majority Islamic populace over the centuries, and slowly left some of the traditional African beliefs.
    Also, the gold security reminds me a lot about the Chinese and Mongolian iron grip on silk and silk worms.
    Also, friendly reminder to everyone that we need to keep discussing what happened to the 2000+ ship expedition that disappeared without a trace haha.

    • @mustipunyaemail
      @mustipunyaemail 6 років тому +2

      Most likely those 2000 ships had landed in carribian.

    • @braniacc
      @braniacc 6 років тому

      It was Walpole.

    • @JubioHDX
      @JubioHDX 11 місяців тому +1

      @@mustipunyaemail more likely than that is that they died in a storm at sea or got lost. I feel like there would be at least slight evidence of 2000+ ships full of west africans landing in the new world when columbus and the rest of the europeans actually arrived in the carribbean less than 2 centuries later, even genetic evidence would make it obvious if they truly did make landfall, since the natives of the americas are closest in relation to asians due to how their ancentors arrived from the land bridge in the north rather than being so close to africans due to such a substantial influx of them at such a recent date.

  • @fbaez7132
    @fbaez7132 6 років тому +13

    Man, an Ibn Battutah EH series would be perfect

  • @PavarottiAardvark
    @PavarottiAardvark 6 років тому +20

    Bread, beef, and sour curds....the gift was a Cheeseburger!

    • @talknight2
      @talknight2 6 років тому +2

      I can haz cheezburger?

  • @tg10tg
    @tg10tg Рік тому +5

    It actually sounds like a nice place to live in that century at least

  • @duderzguy1236
    @duderzguy1236 6 років тому +71

    This channel needs more subs

    • @eventyraren
      @eventyraren 6 років тому +1

      DuderzGuy 123 I also think they shold change there name sens extra credit is no longer the only show here.

    • @whatareyougay2826
      @whatareyougay2826 6 років тому +1

      DuderzGuy 123 I need more sub's.

  • @davidheitzenrater9027
    @davidheitzenrater9027 6 років тому +10

    You guys should really do a series on Ibn Battutah's travels. He honestly puts Marco Polo to shame.

  • @PelegdolevWackyycool
    @PelegdolevWackyycool 4 роки тому +27

    Who else is here in 2020 after the bin bahtutah series

  • @xenos12500
    @xenos12500 6 років тому +14

    Mali sounds like a fairly good place to live compared to other empires and kingdoms at the time.

  • @GarthTheMighty
    @GarthTheMighty 6 років тому +22

    That camel is adorable. And may or may not be Billy Batson.

  • @egully6755
    @egully6755 6 років тому +22

    I would love to see one of these exclusively on Ibn Battutah

  • @a.a.6789
    @a.a.6789 6 років тому +15

    oh man! ibn batuta was badass and freaking hilarious I love it!! he'd make a great protag in a movie! he probably became wiser with age,but I can't blame him for his reactions,cultural shock is too real!😂😂 this channel is amasing keep up the good work❤❤

  • @connerymilne6466
    @connerymilne6466 6 років тому +162

    The Mali Empire, aka real world Wakanda

    • @Argantys
      @Argantys 6 років тому +19

      Wakanda forever!

    • @tonytruong861
      @tonytruong861 6 років тому +20

      MALI FOREVER =D

    • @AnasDaif
      @AnasDaif 6 років тому +3

      Minus everything and I sjust a piece of buildings in middle of desert .

  • @C.O.R.E_Supermacy
    @C.O.R.E_Supermacy 6 років тому +12

    The Mali culture seems so intriguing! I'd love to learn more about their history.

  • @iamseamonkey6688
    @iamseamonkey6688 4 роки тому +6

    At least we finally get an ibn battuta series now

  • @chowyee5049
    @chowyee5049 6 років тому +69

    Will you ever do a series on the Ethiopian Empire?

    • @davidking6242
      @davidking6242 6 років тому +11

      Chow Yee Lee definatley should. Focus it on the medieval Christian abbysinian empire specifically that's my favourite with aksum as second fav in Ethiopia

    • @Jan-rq8mo
      @Jan-rq8mo 6 років тому +1

      depends on the patrions

    • @JohnnyLodge2
      @JohnnyLodge2 6 років тому

      At least a stand alone on lalibella

    • @gameboyhotline3712
      @gameboyhotline3712 6 років тому

      JohnnyLodge2 I’d rather see one on Halie or a series on the era of princes

    • @mxsdrago
      @mxsdrago 6 років тому +6

      t h e y n e v e r g o t E t h i o p i a

  • @YourTypicalMental
    @YourTypicalMental 6 років тому +7

    Man, the Empire of Mali sounds so cool.

  • @unklemoose
    @unklemoose 6 років тому +5

    Mansa Musa is one of my favorite historic figures. A man so wealthy that just his VISITING Egypt on his pilgrimage almost caused the Egyptian economy to collapse. Amazing. Would also be interested in seeing if you cover the "drum" style of trading they practiced at that time.

  • @AS-jy6pf
    @AS-jy6pf 4 роки тому +8

    Last part of ibn battuta episode brought me here

  • @tomuch4u969
    @tomuch4u969 4 роки тому +23

    Who’s here after the ibn battuta series?

  • @nmnmbj
    @nmnmbj 6 років тому +18

    Its nice to hear about the Berber for once a lot of the time you see the written off just as Arabs not their own ethnic group.

  • @Captainflake99
    @Captainflake99 6 років тому +4

    I have seen a video about a prince from west Africa making a pilgrimage to Mecca and he had billions in gold. On his travels he brought and spent so much in Egypt that gold was devalued nearly overnight and it would take a century before it returned to its value before he turned up

  • @Leivve
    @Leivve 6 років тому +59

    And there are still some people that think Africans didn't have nations or cultures.

    • @unknowndane4754
      @unknowndane4754 6 років тому +30

      Even worse there are the people that think of Africa as some sort of unified thing

    • @Leivve
      @Leivve 6 років тому +22

      Well yeah, they're all black right? That means they're all the same right, cause that's totally how it works.

    • @kayzsosa1414
      @kayzsosa1414 6 років тому

      Leivve word

    • @supermanboy1255
      @supermanboy1255 6 років тому +4

      Leivve Race and culture are separate and Ethiopian is not a South African

    • @Leivve
      @Leivve 6 років тому

      Wrong comment dude.

  • @shawnheatherly
    @shawnheatherly 6 років тому +164

    Battutah sounds like the worst sort of guest, and yet we've got to be thankful for his account letting us know all this.

    • @TheFiresloth
      @TheFiresloth 6 років тому +31

      He sounds like the jerks who posts their holidays adventures on facebook.
      "I went to this place, and I was a total dick to the hotel staff. Wazaaaah !"

    • @ozmantheterrible9837
      @ozmantheterrible9837 5 років тому +20

      he's more important than most Kings. a fucking jere, but also a hero

    • @robthebob4586
      @robthebob4586 Рік тому

      Not exactly, sure is was a bit ungrateful at times but he brought a lot more good than bad.

  • @olamideolanrewaju4005
    @olamideolanrewaju4005 6 років тому +9

    Wow. You have history videos of African Empires. You're awesome. Thanks a lot.

  • @underwoodessays6936
    @underwoodessays6936 4 роки тому +23

    Anyone watching this after the end of the Ibn Battutah seris?

  • @musicaldoge9412
    @musicaldoge9412 6 років тому +8

    I just wanna say two things. First this is spectacular what you guys do by teaching people history throw such simple drawings, and second how it helps me in an ApWH class to study easier by just simply watching one of your guys is videos. I would also like to ask for a recommendation, if okay, that you can make an episode on the Olmec empire, after this one of course. Once again thanks, and I hope the team at Extra Credits is doing well. Have a good day!

  • @kirbyjaeger2506
    @kirbyjaeger2506 6 років тому +2

    I like how they take music from the cultures that they're looking at and play it as their outro. It really shows an attention to detail.

  • @everfree4175
    @everfree4175 6 років тому +25

    In my honest opinion Mali Empire was the best Muslim nation of its time.

    • @gameboyhotline3712
      @gameboyhotline3712 6 років тому +1

      I just wish it wasn’t so isolated from the world by the Sahara

    • @Jarethenator
      @Jarethenator 5 років тому +6

      @@gameboyhotline3712 If it wasn't as isolated it probably wouldn't have flourished the way that it did. Hence why the other empires had to deal with so much 𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣
      I mean, even if a place is so full of gold and all a big, sandy, army-killing desert really puts one off from going and messing with them in any major way...
      Not to mention if you're in closer proximity to other cultures, you're more likely to adopt them rather than develop and maintain your own unique one...

    • @pongers5895
      @pongers5895 3 роки тому

      I mean ibn batuta was a judge he judged

  • @Cometstarlight
    @Cometstarlight 6 років тому +331

    Le gasp, a married woman talking to another man in friendship?! The scandal!

    • @PongoXBongo
      @PongoXBongo 6 років тому +66

      Maybe she was discussing sandwich recipes?

    • @Cometstarlight
      @Cometstarlight 6 років тому +18

      You never know~

    • @merrittanimation7721
      @merrittanimation7721 6 років тому +66

      PongoXBongo The horror! Next she'll tell him her secret sauce!

    • @waleedalam7927
      @waleedalam7927 6 років тому +69

      19th century England was this uptight too you know.

    • @Cometstarlight
      @Cometstarlight 6 років тому +43

      Not even close to this extent. Nice try though.

  • @cosmicwatermelon3927
    @cosmicwatermelon3927 6 років тому +3

    This is my favourite series so far, trade is so fascinating! I wish I could see the journey of all my consumer products in full.

  • @dialaskisel5929
    @dialaskisel5929 6 років тому +2

    Awesome episode, I love the format. Telling the story of an empire and it's practices from the written accounts of an outsider traveling through their land has an unmistakable air of adventure

  • @badhombre7247
    @badhombre7247 6 років тому +6

    This channel is getting better and better after each episode.

  • @kayzsosa1414
    @kayzsosa1414 6 років тому +72

    A African history video not saturated with racism and afrocentrism I thought these were only myths

    • @coolbule1238
      @coolbule1238 5 років тому +1

      dark ambience

    • @blakemoore122
      @blakemoore122 5 років тому +16

      The comments seem fairly civil as well!!! Its so nice!!!

    • @Palestine4Ever169
      @Palestine4Ever169 4 роки тому +10

      kayz sosa
      Afrocentric don’t want their west African history
      They want North Africans and others history

    • @jamestodd1104
      @jamestodd1104 4 роки тому

      There’s just no real records. A lot is speculation.

  • @Crimson_07
    @Crimson_07 4 роки тому +7

    And a year later we'll be learning Ibn Battutah's story...

  • @3ipolarBear
    @3ipolarBear 6 років тому +10

    though you were gonna mention the berbers were battuttas compatriots, given he was also a berber

  • @benrennella5335
    @benrennella5335 6 років тому +2

    This series is excellently timed I have just started studying the history of west African kingdoms in my history class, thank you for making this I love your work.

  • @Sondrebol
    @Sondrebol 6 років тому +4

    I had hoped Timbucktu would come up. What little i know of the Songhai empire (and to some extent, Mali) is because of that city.

  • @leavemealoneplease583
    @leavemealoneplease583 2 роки тому +4

    Mali sounds like a lovely place to live

  • @javierrozasgomez2060
    @javierrozasgomez2060 5 років тому +1

    Congratulations for your work. I'm a Spanish English student and I find your videos very interesting and out of the stereotype we figure out when we think of African History apart from Egyptians. Very instructive also to learn common and not so common words to improve my Englisj vocabulary. Thank you for your your work and I hope you post more historical videos soon. Saludos desde Madrid

  • @Westkane11
    @Westkane11 6 років тому +1

    Thank you for making these excellent history videos, they are very informative and entertaining at the same time :)

  • @gooberingo
    @gooberingo 3 роки тому +3

    Damn, for 13th century standarts mali seems like paradise

  • @aliabbasnaqvi347
    @aliabbasnaqvi347 4 роки тому +6

    Well this was a fun side trip

  • @taylorhancock5834
    @taylorhancock5834 6 років тому +2

    In World History, we just recently learned about Ibn Battutah, but only acknowledged his existence. I'm glad that I actually do know his importance now. Thanks for your videos guys, they make history extremely interesting!

  • @oumardiallo7701
    @oumardiallo7701 5 років тому +2

    i'm from the current Republic of Mali , really thank you

  • @humo89
    @humo89 6 років тому +3

    Love it! Awesome work Habibi!

  • @buddyltd
    @buddyltd 6 років тому +3

    Wow, I thought this was going to be interesting, but this is waaay more interesting than I imagined it would be! Awesome topic!

  • @WildBillCox13
    @WildBillCox13 6 років тому +2

    Your team does a great job bringing history alive.

  • @drowningindanile7184
    @drowningindanile7184 2 роки тому +2

    the fact at 8:14 is hilarious the Emperor's just like: is this dude fr?

  • @ghostbrain198
    @ghostbrain198 5 років тому +3

    This video inspired me to get In Batuttah's book. I can't wait to see how much of a tourist this guy acts like across the world.

  • @TrixAreForKicks
    @TrixAreForKicks 6 років тому +6

    Mali seemse like a beautufull place. Would have ben amazing to witness with my own eyes.

  • @aperson5135
    @aperson5135 6 років тому +2

    You know... I was looking at your first videos and I just realized its been over 3 years apparently since I started watching since I started watching during the warring states videos... damn I have to say I have honestly really enjoyed theise videos and I look forward to them every week I cant wait for the next video

  • @TheCreepypro
    @TheCreepypro 6 років тому

    how utterly fascinating I don't think I have ever heard this discussed in any great detail anywhere nor do I hold any knowledge of it I am really going to enjoy this

  • @joinmarch76
    @joinmarch76 6 років тому +4

    You know, it's times like this that make me glad I subscribed to this channel. I would have likely never heard of the Mali Empire hadn't it been for you guys; and it's a damn good thing I did. This empire was amazing for many things; perhaps my favorite aspects include its progressiveness for its time, and its religious freedom. You ask me, America could learn a thing or two from this...
    But let's not turn this into a diatribe on my grievances with Westboro Baptists roaming free; no, this is about the Mali Empire. And while this may be a roundabout way of saying it, I'm happy I learned of its majesty.

  • @guyinreallife6035
    @guyinreallife6035 6 років тому +4

    see, now, damn it, i say this about literally every Extra Credits series: why isnt this a movie?

  • @nqinadlamini
    @nqinadlamini 6 років тому +2

    This episode was really hilarious.
    I especially like the spirit ghost being measured.
    LOL

  • @Haydn8oR
    @Haydn8oR 6 років тому

    I've just recently (if a moth or two is recent) found this channle, and really like it. But the extra history is what really brought me here, and i have to say, its really opened my mind to more than jist world war one or two, more than just the wars in our history, and more on individual people like Ned Kelly, Mary Secole, or John Snow, and I have to say. Good job, few channels, movies, and tv shows get my interested in diffrent things that went on in our history on earth, really can't wait for more to come, either it be an episode on Anne Frank, or the events leading up to the American revolution I'll be happy to watch it, and I'm going to recommend this to my history teacher, and anyone else who is interested in history, heck even my uncle. So thank you, and keep the videos up.