A day in the life of a teenager in medieval Baghdad - Birte Kristiansen and Petra Sijpesteijn

Join siblings Hisham and Asma in medieval Baghdad as they prepare and gather supplies for the hajj, a holy pilgrimage to Mecca.
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It’s 791 CE. As the morning sun shines on the Golden Gate Palace, brother and sister Hisham and Asma prepare for the journey of a lifetime: the hajj, a holy pilgrimage to Mecca. They intend to travel with the big hajj caravan- but a last-minute mishap threatens to undo months of careful planning. Birte Kristiansen and Petra Sijpesteijn detail a day in the life of siblings in medieval Baghdad.
Lesson by Birte Kristiansen and Petra Sijpesteijn, directed by Mohammad Babakoohi.
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View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/a-day-in-t...
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Animator's website: / mohammadbabakoohi
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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Conder Shou, ntiger, Noname, Hansan Hu, David D, Mac Hyney, Keith Ellison, robin valero walters, Lynne Truesdale, Gatsby Dkdc, Matthew Neal, Denis Chon, Julian Oberhofer, Monte Carroll, Eddy, Jay M, Constantino Victor Delgado, Andrea Galvagni, Andrew Tweddle, Laurel-Ann Rice, Fernando A. Endo, Helen Lee, pam morgan, sarim haq, Gerardo Castro, Michel-Ange Hortegat, Enes Kirimi, Amaury BISIAUX, ND, Samyogita Hardikar, Vanessa Graulich, Vandana Gunwani, Abdulmohsin Almadi, AJ Lyon, Geoffrey Bultitude, Mi Mi, Thomas Rothert, Brian Elieson, Oge O, Weronika Falkowska, Nevin Spoljaric, Sid Chanpuriya, Anoop Varghese, David Yastremski, Noah Webb, Roberto Chena, Oliver Koo, Luke Pisano, Andrea Gordon and Aleksandar Donev.

[@potatomatop9326]

Props to the cameraman for time traveling back in 791 CE for this.

[@TEDEd]

It's hard work, but someone's got to do it

[@mr.fishmanman]

​@@TEDEd Keeping up the grind huh Also Can i Give a Shoutout To Lil Saladin

[@winzyl9546]

It's animated.

[@mackerelmafia2898]

@@winzyl9546 whoosh

[@berdwatcher5125]

@@winzyl9546 no its not

[@hb.raafay]

Islamic and Indian history is one of the most underrated history subjects in popular media. African history is totally overlooked. But just a window in these subjects show how much is lost and how much is hidden.

[@zenmkultra]

How are they "overlooked"? Just because white people don't read them? Maybe you should stop centering your world around them and seeking approval from them

[@kolwaski8235]

Because that history is written by Western people and outsiders

[@zenmkultra]

@@kolwaski8235 Why are you people so incompetent to write your own history then?

[@nodermark8922]

I remember seeing a video that showed some of African history was lost due to the system they used to record it. Basically, Some Africans used to record history using plaques that depicted images of major events in their history. The plaques were hung in chronological order to show the time. Unfortunately, a lot of the plaques were made up of gold so colonial soldiers took them. Of course, the soldiers never bother to record the order of the plates before removing them so now even if all the plaques were returned to Africa, the order is lost.

[@sir_albaxious1909]

​@@kolwaski8235 Correct

[@haileymclaughlin3961]

3:18 Hasham, through his tears: p-please I just need a camel 😭 Scholar: nah son you need to know how to make a poultice. Hasham, sobbing: please…just a single camel. Scholar: hmm but have you ever considered Greek philosophy.

[@samrevlej9331]

So basically, people in 8th century Baghdad also had to deal with last-minute complications for an important trip and had to run through a whole chain of people being unhelpful to fix their issue as time runs out? Good to know we're not the only one this happens to.

[@PtitPoup]

I would gladly watch a 2 hour long movie about this story with this animation, it was simply stunning ☺️✨

[@WHY-xd5zk]

any movie set on that age would interest me as well

[@harshitahelani2770]

Nice to see that the A day in... series is still under production. It is one of the best series on the channel. Love your work guys. ♥️♥️

[@harshitahelani2770]

This is my first video with so many likes and a heart from Ted Ed. Thanks guys

[@noysam3570]

Idk if youtube or ted ed did this, but the title translated the names into European names that clearly weren't used in Mid East

[@nickolas.h]

I really like these historical animated videos. ❤

[@user-gm5zt1dr8s]

As an Iranian it was really nice to see some Persian script in good old style of artistic writing.

[@johnsonsmith3421]

We love the Iranians!

[@ssa3101]

​@@johnsonsmith3421 yeah that's why you sanction them to death. That's some love you have for them

[@johnsonsmith3421]

@@ssa3101 lmao

[@masood4341]

​@@ssa3101 it's all beacase of our brutal regime I hope we get rid of it as soon as possible and replace it with a democratic one instead

[@kraijom319]

Loving iranians aint mean loving the government​@@ssa3101

[@theresak5906]

It's such a shame we in Europe only get to study the European history, starting from the Greeks. As if Arabic, Persian, Indian, African history didint exist at all. Thank you TedEd for letting us fill those educational gaps with your insightful videos

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

If you think that's a Euro problem, go to Asia. We really don't study anything about your continent...

[@hamfahimkabir]

Result of colonialism and superior race mentality. From the words of Dan Brown,"History is written by the victor."

[@shohan5772]

we from outside of Europe also get to study your history extensively.

[@HerMi.T]

did you not have world history lesson?

[@theresak5906]

@H. A. M. Fahim Kabir That's unfortunately so true..I've got a friend who lives in Mexico and she says they only study Mexican history from the moment when it was conquered by Spaniards- and from their point of view. That's heartbreaking....

[@mon_moi]

can we talk about how cute Hisham and Asma are in this animation though

[@Lavender_Chan]

As an African, I love learning the history of different countries and their cultures. Thank you for uploading a history of an Islamic era, hoping for another in the future.

[@mustafaercumen3187]

İf you loved learning this search for Sokowo caliphate and Mali Empire of Mansa Musa. Those are small portion of Islamic history of Africa

[@samaich5545]

lol whats the point of writing "As an African?"

[@Lavender_Chan]

@@samaich5545 OMG, did I wrote that? haha. By the way I'm Tanzanian

[@samaich5545]

@@Lavender_Chan might as well specify your hometown and neighborhood and give your address

[@jackiecozzie4803]

@@samaich5545 Jesus who pissed in your breakfast cereal

[@KnightsofGaming2016]

I love these "a day in..." types of videos. I get a wholesome vibe from it and a sense of adventure.

[@yellowstarproductions6743]

Me too

[@z.khatibi7858]

The fact that I can read the script in the animation makes me happy to my core :) beautiful Persian language.

[@user-nl7gt4zx5p]

As An Indonesian (Muslim) WHAT DOES IT SAY?!

[@yuzan3607]

yea it's weird they used Persian script when Baghdad was an Arab city

[@matina4552]

@@yuzan3607 This is a modern children's story, not a medieval text.

[@theboujieproletariat]

The illustrator may be persian ​@@yuzan3607

[@lerneanlion]

One my most favorite periods in history, the Islamic Golden Age. Missing the days when the Caliphs surrounded himself with poets, philosophers, physicians and scholars of "ancient science" while the ulama studied religious science. And then, the Mongols arrived and while Baghdad eventually became functionable again, the House of Wisdom is gone forever along with the knowledge that was thrown into the Tigris River.

[@nathan-and-upam]

And the final nail in the coffin was the advent of the Ashariites who eventually turned Arab from a forward thinking progressive realm to a land of regressive fundamentalists.

[@lerneanlion]

@@nathan-and-upam You do realized that Ibn Khaldun is a follower of Ash'ari school of thought too, right?

[@nathan-and-upam]

@@lerneanlion No I didn't. I am just a history enthusiast with a good internet connection 😛. As I understand Ash'aris did have the scientific temper at the beginning and they tried to prove Quran through science. But as inevitable when science progressed enough to challenge Quran they became Quran apologists and started condemning science. To quote famed historian Eduardo Sachhau 'Ashari and Ghazali were the reason that the Arab world didn't have Galileo, Newton or Keppler'. Whatever Ibn-Khaldun or any other person believes in is completely their personal matter but I am just talking about the big picture. Again I am no historian so if anything I said is wrong then please correct me. Curiosity above everything ✌️

[@lerneanlion]

@@nathan-and-upam Ghazali was not responsible for the fall of the "ancient science" in the Muslim world. He supported math and other scientific ventures. He simply viewed metaphysics as making no sense.

[@schorpioen7466]

​​@@nathan-and-upam it might have been the sack of Bagdhad and the Nizamiyyah schooling system instead of Al Ghazali

[@ZR3009]

To all Islamic people reading this, have a wonderful fasting. Untuk hadirin yang beragama Islam, Selamat menunaikan Ibadah Puasa.

[@Pfyzer]

Monkey mode activated

[@ENTERTAININGVIDEOS1]

Assalamwalaikum!!!

[@ENTERTAININGVIDEOS1]

​@@Pfyzer He expects from u more than a monke!!!

[@DuhaMohammad]

Actually, women did join learning circles back then. There were many female students and scholars, of course their number doesn't compare at all to that of males, but they had a chance too. Even some of our greatest male scholars have female names in the list of their teachers.

[@marcomarco7750]

Source ?

[@DuhaMohammad]

@@marcomarco7750 In the Wikipedia page of Ibn Taymiyyah you'll find: "The number of scholars under which he studied hadith is said to number more than two hundred, *four of whom were women* ". Al-Suyuti is another example I can think of right now. Unfortunately his Wikipedia page in English doesn't mention female teachers, but the Arabic one does, check it if you can read Arabic. These are 2 examples, and there are many more.

[@mint8648]

Cool

[@matina4552]

Exactly! It's just mind-blowing how even as far back as the middle ages, women in the Islamic empire could get such high quality education comparable to modern day Muslim women in Afghanistan in the 21st century! Four students taught by Ibn Taymiyyah alone! If all the other teachers were documented as well, perhaps we could count up to ten women across the empire who could read Quran! The empowering influence of the Islamic culture can still be witnessed in the privileges that women hold all across the Islamic world, when compared to the non-Muslim nations! The video is obviously biased in saying that a life of formal scholarship was not likely for Asma.

[@bunjijumper5345]

Islam is false.

[@eleanorahmed]

A beautifully presented video. I'd only like to bring up one point, that scholarship was not reserved only for men; rather, in Islamic culture, men and women have been learning from each other throughout history. Happy to provide examples if anyone wants them.

[@salmaizzatii3798]

Please do! ❤

[@allseeingirene]

That's why the video shows the female character also learning :)

[@annoyingisheep574]

🤡

[@Gilamath.]

Indeed, this is quite true, however the particular scholarly culture of Baghdad during the time of Harun Ar-Rashid was one from which women were excluded. This was not true in other parts of the Abbasid caliphate at the time, and was not true of Baghdad in all times, but I think the writers here were very specifically focused on one particular time and place when telling their story But indeed, one of the major factors of Islamic history in general, going back to its earliest years, is the general openness to having women in positions of scholarly mastery. This, alongside the diversity of cultures and peoples that quickly became invested in the Islamic project, likely contributed greatly to the rapid ascent of academic progress during the Islamic Golden Age

[@urmomishotngl]

I watch these videos everyday, and I'm so happy and feel very represented now that you've animated a story from the islamic age. Thank you

[@daforkgaming3320]

As a Muslim, me too

[@badis1169]

We don’t need woke videos from the west with music and souls representations to feel « represented ». Get up from your knees.

[@cherie..cherry]

I love the sound immersion in this! Great way to include those with poor vision who can’t see the beautiful animation story.

[@Maria-ik2vf]

I hope that they see this comment so they can add it into their other animations!

[@reem3266]

These are stories I grew up hearing, thank you for illustrating this beautifully and sharing it with us!

[@AquaEclipse324]

I'm very interested in learning about the Islamic Golden Age and adore the A Day in the Life series! Thank you for making this video and temporarily satiating my curiosity. Can you please make a video based on Chinese history for the series?

[@shaksiyat]

Animation reminds me of old arabic books. Ted-ed animators are so creative.

[@satviksajan8805]

The amount of work you put into these videos are amazing. These videos truly make my day.

[@Umirua]

Poor Hisham literally just went into the library for directions to the nearest camel vendor only to be read and lectured by people. Sure knowledge is fun but none of it exactly helped him at the moment

[@hoel9327]

I still see your 9 year old comments, really puts into perspective a change of time

[@Umirua]

@@hoel9327 I'm surprised youtube hasn't imploded on itself through all this time

[@dariusbacuieti7314]

We definitely need a part two to this video that talks about the rest of their journey

[@whatsup3519]

What a incredible animation you are making . Proud to be a ted ed fan. I really appreciate your hard work keep on going. Love your work

[@saykojitube]

poetry and stories has been an essential element throughout history😍

[@hirokazemistral]

OMG. Saykoji the rapper? Wow!

[@amarullahanam5825]

much respect to Saykoji. One of the sickest Indonesian rappers. His raps are supersick and a big part of my childhood. Well versed lyrics must come from a learned man such as Saykoji.

[@luyandzabavukiledlamini4693]

I love these "A Day In....Series " makes me feel as if I'm actually there!Also as an African I appreciate learning the history of Africa and other cultures,refreshing from European

[@natesworldyt9450]

This looks like a game that is ancient themed fantasy where you try to find a artifact

[@DudewithaGoodMood]

Assassin's Creed Mirage

[@graciliraptor3990]

Its actually referencing old muslim style books/illustrations from that era, super cool choice

[@NathanRafaelLouisBesas]

I hope they make a game like that!

[@dhanvi-shah]

These A day in... videos showing life back in time is extremely well illustrated/spoken.

[@mdashrafulalam3469]

In today's world, we are the least developed race. I can't believe we are the successor of people who literally had knowledge of seven skies. By the way, you guys are the best, you cover almost all race, culture and traditions of the world in your videos. That's really great.

[@graciliraptor3990]

Every civilisation has its peak and fall

[@redeemededward]

The byzantines were more advanced than the muslims though.

[@anisa2273]

@@redeemededward not in the middle ages, the Islamic Civilization was the best in the world!

[@redeemededward]

@@anisa2273 No, they were not. The Byzantines had better technology in pretty much every area. Better ships, better weapons and better architecture.

[@harharharharharharharharha240]

@@redeemededward is that why they lost Constantinople to the Ottomans?

[@RGMyers24]

In addition to the accessible and fascinating narration, the animation is beautiful and perfect for shaping the story. Thank you for allowing us to get to know a culture that is unknown to us, sometimes strange but always fascinating. Greetings from Venezuela🇻🇪

[@devalsinhsindha8626]

All I could do to appreciate is . thank you

[@user-pe1jh9uf3g]

You mean you are speechless?

[@rahileshanbi5551]

Totally loved the storytelling, Arabic pronunciation of our cities, and the details made for everything mentioned . It really made me -a person raised in Makkah in the 21st century - feel like I was in Baghdad at that time!

[@user-jk8vh3cw2x]

its cool to see the history of other people and there different view points hopefully baghdad my beloved home will be back to its glory days

[@harharharharharharharharha240]

Inshallah the glory days will come back brother

[@dqan7372]

A fascinating glimpse! I hope there are more of these.

[@30secondsflat]

Thank you for showing the sheer vibrancy and diversity of the Islamic Golden Age

[@Kerajay]

I’ve always been obsessed with this subject I’m from a European family and since I was 10 I was studying Arabic history.

[@thelocalgoose]

I really *NEED* the audio (or background music) of this video! The music is so traditional and calm imo... Great vid and amazing animation Ted-Ed ! I really love these 'a day in...' kinds of videos

[@lelimlost]

The attention to detail in this animated video is so cool... you guys even made, the flipping of pages and sequence of characters from right to left like how most middle eastern country write and read... that is so cool.

[@introvertedgirl4891]

Thanks for bringing back a day in the life! My favorite series here 😊

[@ismailamir6684]

Wow! What detailed animations! Loved the inclusion of traditional styles!

[@hanikazuha]

I love the animation, it's really amazing. "A day in life.." series are one of my favourite of this channel other than "myths around the world". It's nice to see you covered a history of Islam, in Ramadhan too.

[@bubbles9729]

I love how they made this video so close to Ramadan

[@Manowar458]

Love the art style and narrator

[@technojunkie123]

Absolutely in love with this art style ❤

[@farnazsayyed641]

This is so informative. Thank you for making videos on topics people don't talk about 💖😊

[@nasupanda]

I love how this video introduce cultual aspects of their daily lives while telling us a story. It felt like as if I was watching them as one of the citizens.

[@violet-yh5kt]

watched this video two days before i ran away a year ago. it was what made me finally take the leap to do what i’ve wanted for so long.

[@saadmuajjam7808]

the beauty of farsi literature is of another level, there are so many literature and poetry works done by many wise and knowledgeable scholars. if anyone is interested then they could checkout the following books, (if you can't read farsi then no problem because they are all translated into various languages!) 1- gulista/the rose garden by sheikh sa'di (my personal favorite, it has both stories and poetry on very intresting topics, highly recomended!) 2- the masnavi by jalal uddin rumi 3- busta by sheikh sadi

[@abdirahmanmahdi9458]

Bagdad before the invasion of the mongols was considered the library of the world! The islamic world were technologically, economically and intellectually more advanced then the west

[@deepti3154]

The animation is simply wonderful! Kudos to the animators.

[@MASSIF101]

This is honestly one of the most charming Ted-Ed vids I have ever seen! really deeply enjoyed the story and the animation is aesthetically brilliant, I love how it feels like a children's book but references an illuminated manuscript style. Excellent work on this.

[@avestas4684]

I was reading the Farsi writings in the video. It always feels so good to see my language

[@lakshmimohan6467]

The animation 😍 ❤️ the narration is very calming 😌

[@rachman.syahril]

Happy Ramadan to All Muslims 🎉😊

[@_samaa]

This was so good! Makes me want to learn more about the Islamic Golden Age.

[@helldome5426]

Dont search for any molana and mufti written history They hate baghdad

[@leanpitt8807]

👍🏻 thanks for this amazing video

[@n76543]

I recommend the books ''Seal of the Prophet" to anyone who's interested

[@amirsabri9990]

The Arabic pronunciation is spot on.

[@midloran]

Love these animations, always creative (:

[@lahmerali7652]

It's absolutly divine ♥️🌷

[@rinjinnoko]

Love the art style & animation concept!

[@NC-ij9rb]

I love the animation. So beautiful ❤

[@hafsabatool8895]

I wish just like them me and my sis can make a pilgrimage to Makkah .

[@mustafaercumen3187]

That's not true. Scholarship was open to women too. İn fact people like Maryam İjliyya and Fatma Madridi was prominent scholars

[@rickastleyrule3497]

Amazing that the script used perfectly describes the happening on screen

[@mrtrollnator123]

Great video as usual TED-ED!!!

[@MsDoan-fu6tx]

As a 7th grade world history teacher with medieval Islam as one of my California standards, the students and I love this video!

[@LeBigMeme]

Beautifully well done

[@iluvheechuu3916]

The art style is so cute!!

[@vierizona5772]

It's really a happy and challanging Journey pilgrims back then.... Everyone that has power to do it with mentally, or/and physically or/and financially can do Pilgrim But now Visa, and Quota of person that want to go Hajj existed. Not everyone can do it, and each country has Quota that if it's filled, you must wait another years. Here in Indonesia, if you set your journey now, you can go to Mecca 10 or more years later. But the positive side of this is now it's more a Safe journey than back then

[@lakshmimohan6467]

Loved him kindly refusing poetry 🤣

[@dalia853]

I Can’t Even Begin To Describe How Beautifully Made This Video Is , Its Probably One Of The Best Animated Pieces I’ve Ever Seen , The Design Of The Small Details Like The Costumes , The Lanterns , The Houses , Its Just So Artistic & Beautiful To Watch , Hats Off To All Of You The Animation & Illustration Teams For Your Creativity & For Highlighting Such A Unique Historical Era 🤍🤍

[@imimran924]

wow.. we want more from Baghdad

[@joed7547]

God I love this style!

[@user-bp4nv3qp4d]

Loving of the pattern and design🤍

[@vugiabaonguyen4660]

Thanks for bringing this topic to me. I have always dreamed of knowing and living in the Medieval bcs the information of those places r so interesting yet underrated. This vid is what I truly need. P/s: so these two children can go to anywhere without curfew? I am jealous

[@felineboy1586]

The fact there is actually Persian translation of script is written on the scroll is so awesome

[@javadian]

It is not in Arabic

[@FF-ch9nr]

It’s Farsi I think

[@ioioii]

It's actually persian

[@ioioii]

@The scarlet king it's different than arabic, it has more letters. It's nothing like Greek or roman

[@ioioii]

@The scarlet king and Persians do not write in Aramaic, they write using an extended arabic script (with 4 more letters)

[@salma-amlas]

Ramadan Mubarak everybody!

[@Hallows4]

Glad that the doctor’s flag actually got the symbol correct: The caduceus and the rod of Asclepius get confused WAY too often.

[@katherineknapp4370]

This was epic to learn about 😊😊

[@kemomoh9484]

What amazing video I learnt a lot of useful vocabulary because I watching Ted to improve my English and also to be intellectual person ❤

[@amrallahhurricane4891]

Great effort, thank you. Just as a matter of perspectives. I don't like the word Medieval, maybe some parts of Europe lived In the midst of evils at that time, but I would use "Middle Ages".

[@shchidakashamatnasha853]

Divine animation I say. Reminds me of going to the library in my childhood

[@edwardcrocker4015]

this is one of my favourite Ted talk videos

[@mecahhannah]

Awesome as always thanks ❤

[@kshumon2000]

This can easily be made into a feature length movie, "Asma and Hisham's Journey to Makkah".

[@Hallows4]

Or a beautifully illustrated children’s book :-)

[@SunniDae333]

this is beautiful

[@user-fayzawww]

This is so cute😭

[@civilengineer3349]

I love this art and sound

[@fatiahnm]

Ramadan mubarak ❤

[@notfunny3397]

Genuine question, no harm intended. Why the use of "enslaved people", instead of slaves?

[@crankyturtle9704]

Love this animation style! Reminds me of cartoons from the 60s-70s!

[@frozenX_Tr]

2:10 Proud that my Country’s paper is famous

[@jenniferbreaux7385]

Love ur channel.

[@mindexpandingknowledge409]

Very very beautifully done.

[@krdnawdar7573]

Well done buddy keep it up

[@TheThinker-jv3me]

Definitely hope you people get more views

[@haydeahmadi8273]

The text in the book (the scenes that were telling the story) is written in Persian. It's weird that Persian language was as same as nowadays.

[@Slapdatknee]

و اخيرا نزلوا فدشي عن العراق🥹

[@mohammedkh4321]

وللأسف ذكروا كلشي عدا العراق! الشعر صار فارسي وكلشي صيني وهندي ومصري وحتى حاطين نسخة فارسية من مقامات الحريري! بالمناسبة موجودة فيديوات غير هذا من هاي المنصة عن العراق هواية

[@captaind4982]

@@mohammedkh4321 المشكلة أن النسخة الأصلية من مقامات الحريري باللغة العربية

[@mohammedkh4321]

@@captaind4982 اصلا الحريري عربي مولود ومدفون بالبصرة! وكل النسخ الاصلية مكتوبة بلغة عربية قمة بالبلاغة! والادهى من هذا انو هاي الرسومات رسمها الرسام العربي الواسطي العربي بزمن العباسيين! ماعرف وين الربط بينها وبين الفرس؟؟

[@captaind4982]

@@mohammedkh4321 صح بس الغريب أنهم أستخدموا كتابات فارسية مادري هل هم متعمدين أو ما يعرفون يفرقون

[@mohammedkh4321]

@@captaind4982 يعرفون كلش زين بس يحرفون تقليلا من العرب ولغرض حصد اكبر عدد من المشاهدات كل ما نذكرت قومية معينة كلما زاد عدد المعجبين بالفيديو