Ancient China and Rome: 1000 Years of Contact // DOCUMENTARY

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00:00 Introduction
07:25 China
35:54 Rome
1:13:01 The Fall
Written and Researched by Dr Raoul McLaughlin: / @drraoulmclaughlin7423
Edited and Narrated by David Kelly
Music from Epidemic Sound and Artlist
Art by Alex Stoica and Bilerlannga
References:
McLaughlin, R. Rome and the Distant East (2010)
McLaughlin, R. The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean (2014)
McLaughlin, R. The Roman Empire and the Silk Routes (2016)
McLaughlin, Kim & Lieu, Rome and China: Points of Contact (2021)
Hill, J. Through the Jade Gate: China to Rome (2015)
Hansen, V, The Silk Road (2011)
Boulnois, Silk Road: Monks, Warriors & Merchants (2008)
Sampson, G. The Defeat of Rome: Crassus, Carrhae and the Invasion of the East (2008)
Sheldon, R. Rome’s Wars in Parthia (2010)
Image Credits:
Warring States Map By SY - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Qin Chariot By Jmhullot - Own work, CC BY 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Mausoleum of Qin By Aaron Zhu, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Book of former Han By Gisling - Own work, CC BY 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Shangyrak By Man77 - Own work, CC BY 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Ger By Francisco Anzola - Gher (Yurt) settlement, CC BY 2.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Yurt camp By Benjamin Goetzinger - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Han Dynasty Tower By The Real Bear - Summer Vacation 2007, 263 - Watchtower In The Morning Light, Dunhuang, Gansu Province, CC BY 2.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Pottery Figurine By Zcm11 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Fergana Horse By G41rn8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Shielbearers By Shizhao - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Ancient Rome model photo by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra
Marcus Crassus By Following Hadrian - www.flickr.com/photos/4152398..., CC BY-SA 2.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Statue of Tiberius By I, Sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Upchurch horde Ahala, CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
vima coin By Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. www.cngcoins.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Homer H. Dubs by Bassano Ltd half-plate film negative, 5 July 1960
Testudo Trajan Column By CristianChirita (talk · contribs) (Own work), CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Roman inscription By Kritzolina - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Castrum at Masada By David Shankbone - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Legio VI Ferrata By אור פ - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Emperor Trajan By Hartmann Linge - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Trajan and Dacia By Joe Mabel - photo by Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Ancient Roman glassware By Sailko - Own work, CC BY 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Whu Zhu Coins By 三猎 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Nero Coin By Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. www.cngcoins.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Vespasian By Originally uploaded by user:shakko - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...

[@VoicesofthePast]

Huge thanks to the absolute expert on this topic Dr Raoul McLaughlin - so lucky he agreed to write this for the channel. He has a youtube channel but he also has incredible books on this subject, this one in particular: www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/152677108X/ref=dbs_a_w_dp_152677108x there is an audio book version too. Check it out! Go go go.

[@marrz8244]

Those times long ago cause less global warming then now🤔.......just a thought✌🤘

[@iLLeag7e]

I just finished watching the documentary. That was a really well narrated journey through very interesting subject matter indeed. The graphics were excellent. Very nice way to spend the evening. Cheers

[@VidarrKerr]

@@marrz8244 Humans don't cause "global warming", just like humans did Not cause the last ice ages. The climate of the earth is a tremendously powerful force that humans can only dream to manipulate. We Can control Pollution and Weather though ----but Not the Climate.

[@VidarrKerr]

Thanks for the link to that book.

[@gelisgeo1309]

29:20 his real greek name was Alexandros not Alexander. Alexander is latin version . 😂 ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ from Greek words Alex + andros = "keep the mens in distance"

[@ethans6539]

This is literally just a whole top class documentary made from primary sources for free incredible work

[@manleynelson9419]

I too love the primary source material. I only wish he would add qualifiers such as Heroditus didn't write his history till 200 years after the events. Im not sure about that but think I've remembered it correctly

[@vancemiller4611]

@@manleynelson9419 herodotus wouldve been a child at the time of the greco-persian wars, i think

[@intello8953]

@@manleynelson9419 plus many historians and scholars take Herodotus with a grain of salt when it comes to *what the people actually said* especially since the Byzantines Christians where the ones that collected and wrote about herodotus works

[@sampuatisamuel9785]

@@manleynelson9419 We all know that about Herodotus.

[@BrettonFerguson]

I like that this channel quotes direct ancient sources and doesn't speculate or interpret "What really happened". So much history can't be known with 100% certainty. Best guesses based on interpretations of archeological finds are okay as long as the historian states it is only an interpretation. As long as they state "we think this is what happened" instead of stating it as 100% fact. We can't even get modern history 100% accurate due to biases and propaganda.

[@kensingcd]

This is incredible.. We are living in a golden age for historical documentaries.. Videos like this should have millions of views. Truly amazing.

[@gimprovement6087]

says the white man

[@kensingcd]

@@gimprovement6087 wtf is your problem?

[@gimprovement6087]

@@kensingcd I'm trolling lol

[@gimprovement6087]

@@kensingcd Are you really a white man btw?

[@kensingcd]

@@gimprovement6087 go troll somewhere else

[@titot2370]

Just rewatched a year later and I’m again blown away by the sheer volume of research and production value that we have the benefit of receiving at zero cost.

[@thelearnedindividual5765]

I mean, I pay 17.00 per month to watch it for "free". Everyone else has to watch Ads during the course of the video, for which revenue is shared, or the video sponsor helps to pay... but we get what you mean. Very high quality. A great deal for the level you're getting.

[@Hunter_Nebid]

​@@thelearnedindividual5765 Worth every dime - unlike most universities these days!

[@ernestolombardo5811]

And where does one even start to research the names and dates and narrative threads for all of this? It's astonishing.

[@fabiovezzari2895]

Trajan stepping on the same land where just a few decades earlier a chinese subject was. They both wondered and watched the infinite Ocean before deciding that their own journey was at its end. This parts gave me chills

[@Meritania]

That tiny parcel of land where the Tigris and Euphrates meet the sea has a lot of history. The British have led amphibious landings there in both the 20th and 21st centuries.

[@terfel9476]

Oh baby, 94 minutes of Voices of the Past? Christmas came early.

[@butterball_]

Christmas came early indeed. Ancient Rome and ancient China knowing of each other is so so fascinating

[@giuseppelogiurato5718]

These videos are so well-made, they do feel like Christmas presents... The infrequency adds to the relish; it's not everyday we get fine gifts like this.

[@kw8831]

@Giuseppe LoGiurato I know right! I’d actually love it if he started focussing on this style of longer documentaries full time - ala Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History. I love all his videos but especially these ones & the wait’s worth it because they’re so god damn good! I just wish there was more of them 😁

[@manleynelson9419]

I feel the same way. Now I can listen to this over and over

[@aussief5016]

@@butterball_ ..j

[@charl_lee]

i just randomly searched up “interactions between ancient civilizations” out of sheer curiosity and stumbled upon this gem lol. time travelling is dope

[@rens4329]

Yeah this channel is great, you should also check out: fall of civilizations. That's also one of my favorite channels about ancient civilizations

[@matildamarmaduke1096]

Shiiiit it's better than Dope

[@_S0urR0ses_]

@@matildamarmaduke1096 Maybe 🤔 we could setup some new recovery programs transitioning addicts into truth seeking explorers! It’s kept me from falling off the wagon for 14 years!! Seriously, I know part of my issues started out of curiosity and never being satisfied w the information presented to me that explained where we’d been or came from.

[@matildamarmaduke1096]

@@_S0urR0ses_ Sounds like a winner but I was told today they gotta want it but I said we can not just leave her like that and not even try to help and heard she will climb on your back drowning you for a 20 hit I said hell you say ,but after seeing & hearing such pain I have to atleast try.just ain't come up with a life preserver built to withstand such a tsunami

[@taxikalaty5115]

Your milk and cookies on the table go get your reward😂

[@tali.k57]

I recently started my degree in East Asian Studies (double major w/ Linguistics), and one of my classes this semester is an examination of the Roman Empire by studying the provinces and how the people governed by the Empire viewed it. I never thought I’d get something so tailor-made on KZbin and it’s so high-quality too! Thank you for this amazing content ❤️

[@mawa2150]

你学习中文吗？🎉

[@tali.k57]

@@mawa2150 对，我在大学学中文，我真喜欢！

[@mawa2150]

@@tali.k57 哪个大学？

[@noon3d]

What sort of job can you get with that?

[@alexisturnning]

@@noon3d historian, diplomat are the ones i can come up with

[@jay2aussie]

Wonderful, just wonderful. I hate most modern documentaries, they’re drawn out, repetitive, droning and melodramatic to stretch a topic. This is beautiful storytelling, densely packed with wonder and poetry.

[@VoicesofthePast]

thanks so much!

[@reillyflaherty9234]

Agreed. The average Netflix documentary pans between 6 different people who don't know what they're talking about, all paraphrasing the same sentence

[@Diane988]

@@VoicesofthePast 0à

[@bazwilli]

and usually support some kind if narrative.. This is an incredible, unbiased factual journey through that time

[@1112viggo]

Oh yeah, especially if made for TV and you get that constant recap every 10 minutes when there would normally have been an equally long bout of commercials.

[@RikudoMadaraUchiha]

The Romans and Chinese at least knew the other existed and were too far away from each other. The Persians at least had contact with both no doubt

[@sodadrinker89]

Some Persian Royalty would end up in Tang China after the Arab conquest of Persia.

[@giannis_toupolemou]

@@sodadrinker89 Persia is Arabia

[@culturedmonkey6395]

Ofcourse the central asians and persians knew about both sides overland, and south east asians and indians knew about both through ocean routes. The ancient world was far more connected then most think.

[@manleynelson9419]

And the Greeks too

[@manleynelson9419]

@@giannis_toupolemou Persians aren't Arab

[@matt-marque]

This is a quantum leap forward. It's dynamic, interspersed with commentary and context and just really brings things alive. I like the older videos too of course, but this feels like a seismic improvement. Also the script and editing in this is really nice. Everything feels thoughtful, calm and constantly moving. I'm just really impressed on a number of levels. I know how hard this was to pull off.

[@TWN-nw4jd]

Quantum means small fam

[@SomeoneFarted]

@@TWN-nw4jd look up the definition of “quantum leap”

[@TWN-nw4jd]

@@SomeoneFarted pretty sure that's a TV show and not real fam

[@SomeoneFarted]

@@TWN-nw4jd Once again, look up the definition of quantum leap.

[@TWN-nw4jd]

@@SomeoneFarted how about you describe what you think it means colloquially Vs what it actually means etymologically

[@HauntedXXXPancake]

On both sides: "We've found a totally different Civilization !" "Yeah, yeah, great - Do they have cool stuff ?"

[@windywendi]

29:12 The person that figured out the connection between a 2,000-year-old Chinese name and Alexander is absolutely genius.

[@thefreshvince879]

Al- Exander

[@generalconsensus2518]

Also in proto Indo.european Sekander meant warrior..it was a name.dor.grwat fighters. Sekander's. So a name popular was Alsekander. Or Alexander. :)

[@DanteDecimusValerius]

@@generalconsensus2518 Totally right. To this day in Turkey the name Iskendar is popular, and the further east you go you get Sikander in Pakistan and India. Super interesting

[@Mr0rris0]

Kinda looked like a legionnaire a bit, a gathered body of soldiers in aries; a disease of seize

[@rijiriju]

you pulled that out of your ass. sekander doesnt mean warrior in pie.

[@jonjohns8145]

"Hey China .. You just found out about another great empire to the west of you .. what do you want to call it? ".... Other .. China?" "That works!"

[@hx5525]

They called them Big Qin,so *Big China

[@MotivateMoments2023]

@@hx5525 They called da Qin Mening other China And claimed they are chinese

[@chrisrosenkreuz23]

Doesn't qin 秦 also denote something though? Not just like a proper name of a dynasty. That would make sense, they called themselves after something they did well and so just assumed a similarly advanced culture would also excel in that particular area (which makes me think it was like a prerequisite, perchance having to do with advances in warfare, agriculture, commerce). Also, this served as propaganda, bringing the rivalry down to individual identity: now there was someone out there, not just some other great nation, but one allegedly claiming to be the better you. I know it doesn't make that much sense rationally but that's the message the subconscious part operates with, thus making it personal.

[@senecavermeulen8110]

@Commieblin reminds me of an account I've read (possibly false) that Moctezuma had considered the Tarascan Empire to be the only state in the world worthy of his respect.

[@st4r444]

Would be easy slaughter for Rome. China got beat by Mongols with ease. The Roman's will then take those tight Chinese vjj with their bwc

[@JackY-pu5nh]

The Chinese part of that period of history can mostly be found in Shi Ji (史记, written by SiMa Qian) and History of Former Han (汉书), which is pretty well known by most of educated Chinese people these days, but the history of Macedonia, ancient Greece or eastern Roman Empire, not so much. It is amazing that this documentary has provided a different perspective for eastern audience like me, I have spent a couple of years on studying Chinese history records such as 史记(Shi Ji)，汉书(History of Former Han)，后汉书(History of Later Han), specially the parts where content foreign events. Recently I’m trying to find connections between the two by comparing geographic informations on 汉书 and Ptolemy’s map, I do have some interesting finds.

[@MeiinUK]

But he jumped from Sima (Which was Qin dynasty) to Hans China....and Da Ching (Qing dynasty? Eh?).... And also he said Da Yuan (Yuan Dynasty?).... Eh ?... That is around 1500 years !!!..... lol..... Cos what he stated... then was... it means that... even Japan is European. lol.... Ceras ?? Seras ??? NOOOOoooooo.......lol.... So "Qin dynasty" was actually the Roman City inside China ? Lol.... Noooo........ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daqin And so the people died.. were because.. they got the small pox ? Or boils ? So then they burnt everything ?....

[@truthaboveall7988]

Agreed. Typically u find the western version which lacks truthful details

[@sackettfamily4685]

​@@MeiinUKI don't think anyone has a high opinion on getting solid facts from Wikipedia..... especially on history.

[@MeiinUK]

​@@jannguerrero : lol. Thank you.. I take that as a compliment... Lol.... I actually have never heard of the Western side to the East... So I quite like this video ... :)

[@ohshesmiles]

@@MeiinUKit’s a no-no to cite wikipedia. It isn’t a primary source. I’ll take the word of the KZbinr whose citations are academically researched.

[@Gameinger16]

I feel like a criminal for viewing this for free... This is incredibly high quality.

[@youvebeengreeked]

“That one time the Greeks were in Afghanistan…” “Wait wot?” “and met the Chinese…” “Sorry WOT?” “… and fought a 3 year war…” “ExcUSE ME?!” “… over some horses.” “U WOT M8?!” “Good times.”

[@jonjohns8145]

Yeah .. the world is a lot smaller then we think it was.

[@christaylor6654]

I didn’t even know that eastern Greece and China went to war over horses until last week, now the romans went to war with china. Maybe next week I’ll hear that the Aztecs or Myans fought china

[@astrobullivant5908]

@@christaylor6654 Well...most of the people in Bactria/Afghanistan were "Dayuan" or "Greekish" or "Hellenic", but the ruling government wasn't by the time of The War of Heavenly Horses. That war had a MASSIVE impact on China though, as it spread Buddhism in China. Yeah, you forgot to mention that most of those Greeks in Afghanistan were Buddhists.

[@RasPutintheGreat]

Spoiler alert!

[@julius43461]

We didn't start the fire...

[@ray101892]

I could not sit through some movies shorter than this but the topic combined with your voice made the hour breeze by. Nice work.

[@gaslitworldf.melissab2897]

I think it's how he breaks the units up and keeps interest with visuals. His has the effect of a rocking chair and an easy breeze.

[@laring9590]

As a Roman Chinese I find this video absolutely incredible

[@kittengurl220]

I always think about if I had 3 wishes, it’d be to know fluently every language ever, to be able to time travel, and to shape shift. So I could go back and interact with and record ancient people and cultures in truth. So much has been lost or could never be recorded. I’m so amazed how documentaries like this exist because it’s like actually being able to travel back in time. Some think history isn’t that important or learning about it when it’s not your career, is useless, but there’s always something new to learn and it’s just incredible.

[@RoniDream]

You will be able to access these memories in heaven, 3d, feels real.

[@ZephLodwick]

Rome and the China are my two favourite civilisations, so this video is like a dream come true.

[@SIGNOR-G]

You have good Civilization taste

[@albertfcb6654]

​@@SIGNOR-G yes indeed. but dont forget about india. its a battle of 3 titans, just like it might be the case in another maybe 70 years. then hopefully again a peaceful coexistence and technology exchange

[@albertfcb6654]

and the Achaemenid Empire wasnt that bad either, for their time

[@SIGNOR-G]

@@albertfcb6654 and the best part is that all 3 (or 4 if you include thepersians) were very much different from eachother. This is some good story material

[@booaks2980]

Me too, the Roman empire and ancient China dynasties are the most interesting for sure, and both are famous for studying as well

[@HistoryDose]

Love the tone and presentation of this!

[@nathanielhinz4946]

Superpowers then: "You are A great Empire." "You too." Superpowers now: "Screaming."

[@MrGanbat84]

For me too. If you visit a lot of ancient village and cities in China , it will be mind blowing. I am from latin America

[@cudanmang_theog]

In both northern, central and southern Vietnam, Roman artefacts dated between 1st to 3rd century were found. Glasswares in Lao Cai, Roman vases in Danang, Roman coins in Bac Ninh and An Giang, but only coins of Antonius and his adopted son.

[@maolo76]

Dont lie.. Vietnam had no means to sail the ocean and Rome never sail to Asia.

[@vincegalila7211]

@@maolo76 you do realize that it could have been brought from Romans in China and sold in Veitnam right?

[@maolo76]

@@vincegalila7211 Roman and China never traded

[@vincegalila7211]

@@maolo76 yes they did. The merchants just had to be determined enough.

[@st4r444]

@@maolo76 he wants to have some.roman blood and not those boring rice small snubby nose weak jawline who go to school all time nerd can't get laid small wee wee. Romans are big strong and muscular

[@eded9157]

Damn this was amazing. For me the most astonishing part is to know that a roman ship reached vietman... imagine that.

[@eded9157]

@Zeus Christos thanks

[@st4r444]

West and North China is different from Indo china South East Asians. They are consist of central Asian gene and are grass herders and horse riders. When we think of Rome entering China its not like Vietnam looking in lush forrest jungle mountains but more of Tibetan plains and wasteland

[@hardgay7537]

@@st4r444 Right? That'd be like landing a ship in Brazil and being like "hey, we found Mexico!" Like, dude, they don't even speak the same language.

[@user-bl9br3ry5k]

@@st4r444 You don’t gotta call us Indo Chinese now we are only South East Asian

[@st4r444]

@@user-bl9br3ry5k ok rice eater. Yall short and have small wee wee

[@allocater2]

I love how the events are interwoven through space and time. It's like Lost, where someone finds something amazing and then it flashbacks how that amazing thing happened. And then the story continues, forming a vast tapestry, but this time it actually all comes together and makes sense.

[@Tentaculat]

"and makes sense" so nothing like Lost then

[@johnr797]

*oof*

[@LordVader1094]

@@Tentaculat That's why he said "this time"

[@myparceltape1169]

Bring the trade up to date with the New silk road and Covid-19.

[@zabity]

you've just compared the universe to a tv series

[@bin.s.s.]

I am a Chinese in Beijing, and I resonate with one particular point of this great documentary: What does 'China' mean in the ancient west world. For millennia, the Chinese people have been puzzled by the origin of this word. Why did they call it China? In the early 1990s, a theory was presented by an insignificant researcher: the word originated from a Persian word and then the Latin word for 'the country of silk'. This video reinforces this argument.

[@booaks2980]

Your English is good

[@yuufeternal5837]

I thought it was an English bastardization of "Qin".

[@Averyofthemain]

The bible mentions the chinese people as 'sinnite', their land: Sino--this, I believe, is the origin--the word for 'Asia' comes from, if memory serves, the persian word 'Hsia' or 'Most East'

[@Kantoman]

China came from the translation of western world from Qin Dynasty. As pronunciation was pronounce in western world as Qin Na. Then it turned to China instead and it stuck there since

[@je-freenorman7787]

China is still Roman

[@kesorangutan6170]

Well done documentary! While you mentioned in the video that merchants sail around Sri Lanka, the map you used does not show why they did it. It's a small mistake but I should explain it. Sri Lanka used to be a Peninsula. There was a land bridge between India and Sri Lanka. It's called Rama Setu/Adam's Bridge. Then a cyclone sinks this land bridge in 15th century or something. That's why they sailed around Sri Lanka. Even if there was a no land bridge, the waters between india and Sri Lanka are pretty shallow so it'll be very hard to navigate anyway.

[@dowhatiwantc7637]

I think I’ve heard of this, honestly crazy how the world would have looked.

[@gp8189]

Elder Romans bemoaning the provocative fashions of the youth. The more things change...

[@moritamikamikara3879]

Damn thots, not even wearing their togas! What the fvck is Roma coming to?

[@talisikid1618]

And they were right.

[@TheSwedishHistorian]

Immorality is timeless

[@henriashurst-pitkanen8735]

@@thetruthchannel349 Bath salts are NOT for human consumption.

[@texajp1946]

The Truth Channel CPC are enemies of woke culture and western capitalists like Soros

[@dizzytheday5586]

This was for free. Sir, thank you. It took no small effort to give us this, but it was education freely given. I can do little else than sincerely express my gratitude. You sir, are a saint and a scholar.

[@xxxxxxxx183]

Did you not see the advertisements in the video? 🤦‍♂️

[@dizzytheday5586]

@@xxxxxxxx183 Education freely given. As in, he gave it to US for FREE. Not that he didn't make any money off of it. Please learn how to read effectively, sir.

[@perrylee5867]

@@xxxxxxxx183u not very smart are u

[@ragemydream]

That was beautifully written and narrated. I'm so pleased you have taken the time in your research and explained these important historic moments long forgotten.

[@joehodgson2815]

Just brilliant stuff, this. So well written and read. Can't believe I just watch a 90 minute documentary like this out of the blue. Very well done.

[@pridefulobserver3807]

Another Masterpiece documentary, and to think I saw this channel with less than 5000 suscribers, but its gonna a reach a million for sure

[@charlesrosenbauer3135]

Had the Spanish not burned all the writings of the Aztecs, Maya, and Inca, it would have been fascinating to hear the precolumbian American equivalent to this story. There clearly had been enough trade for corn to make its way around.

[@tvrulz46]

That would be interesting. While corn diffused from mexico to peru llamas, writing, quipu and mettalurgy didn't cross the barrier so any thoroughfare through the north-south barrier would have been nascent

[@kennethflores93]

I think that’s proven by the funeral mask of teotihuacan, it’s in the form of an Egyptian pharaoh. And coupled that with construction techniques it’s a safe bet that they knew more or less that civilizations did exist way beyond their borders after their exploring ceased.

[@tvrulz46]

@@kennethflores93 He was talking about trade between the Incas of Peru and the Mayans/Aztecs of Central America. Not sure what you are talking about

[@parhhesia]

@@tvrulz46 The Darien Gap is still near-impassable.

[@joestrummer4106]

@@parhhesia u can go around it in canoes. Polynesian colonized the whole pacific with outrigger canoes

[@jbos5107]

I have become addicted to your channel. I really can't express how much I enjoy hearing your voice giving voice to so many of the witnesses of history. It's fascinating and I don't think I ever would have been able to find these stories on my own. It's especially important for me because while I love to read my eyesight is not what it used to be. Thank you so much for these videos.

[@toddtrojek6521]

Watching this beautifully done documentary on Rome and China has really gave me a new passion for learning history. Thanks!

[@serumcell7216]

It's not just informative, but the way this is written to present history with such beautiful storytelling is amazing. I've heard countless times of Ganying and his ventures to find Rome -but never realized he missed the very Emperor he sought, by a mere 20 years.

[@MrGanbat84]

For me too. If you visit a lot of ancient village and cities in China , it will be mind blowing. I am from latin America

[@galloe8933]

So, I don't have words, however, "Stunning" comes to mind. Dr.Raoul McLaughlin writes like an absolute expert, as stated, the video is on topic and high quality, and the narration was out of this world. I have seen documentaries that can't hold a candle to this. The fact that I watched the video for free makes me feel a little guilty, but that's only because people don't share their masterclass works this way. Thank you Voices of the Past and all involved.

[@Sarcaman]

What a brilliant video on something I've never even considered in all the time reading/watching videos on Rome and China. Super interesting how close those two worlds came and so well done. Thank you!

[@jekylthorn8969]

One of the most incredible pieces of work I have listened to, and I am a seasoned historical veteran. It isn't often I am confronted by a topic as huge as this for the first time. Magnificent.

[@cidadao.romano]

This documentary its a gift to humanity.🤝

[@madisonbrown8851]

on god 🙏

[@Ulexcool]

A bit dramatic dude.

[@DP-ic2lz]

@@Ulexcool yeah I agree. It's a great documentary but it's not like a miracle

[@froggystyle642]

My favorite thing about history is that often you hear the name of a place as it was known a thousand, two thousand years ago etc, it sounds like a fantastical place, and a fantasy story. I see history as great stories first, and a record second. I wish more people did, because it's so much more than who did what, when they did it and why.

[@froggystyle642]

My point is that a good story gets you interested. You get hooked on the glory of Rome or the majesty of the pyramids. Then you're in, and if you're hooked, you learn about how it all happened. History is important

[@TheIdealisticRealist]

Sometimes the grandeur of a narrative leads us to blind ourselves to facts, and encourages us to construct lineages on sinking soil.

[@mrb.8389]

Absolutely brilliant!!! Incredible research of historical facts and documents from East and West! A great and informative documentary. Thoroughly enjoyed and learned a lot. Well done!

[@teeheeteeheeish]

This is probably my favorite documentary yet, I wish the History channel had this type of production quality

[@sallybasi2689]

Same

[@feedtherich11]

History channel is no longer . they want to dumb you down with Baby BOBO . sickening how America has become so unhinged and uneducated. . in so many ways.

[@saichung6246]

This is way beyond History channel. I'd be shocked to see this type of quality on there.

[@stysner4580]

The History Channel barely has any historical content...

[@wildancrazy159]

Slowly but surely, this channel will defeat all interlopers. Great documentary well done. Jeez the level of this was mind blowing. Thank you....

[@gaslitworldf.melissab2897]

Excellent as usual. Hard to imagine how much courage it took to travel centuries ago. Of course, some travelers didn't know the dangers the faced until it was too late. Sadly, today people think an open-minded traveler is necessarily a safe one - that good will begets good will and so many a would be Marco Polo goes off and is never seen again.

[@sarahoshea9603]

Gabby Petito 😔☠️🖤

[@johnr797]

@@sarahoshea9603 yeah pretty sure her fiancé killed her though

[@MikhalisBramouell]

As I understand, this is a largely american notion, which is why people in foreign countries catering to tourists are far more exploitive towards americans...

[@serumcell7216]

Traveling across the Taklamakan on foot is nuts, even today. The courage of the soldiers willing to cross mustve been immense, as they set off with 60,000 people, and got to Alexandria Eschatae with only 30,000....half of their army died marching alone....

[@briancavanaugh7604]

As was then, is now, and will be forever: An ignorant fool cannot be saved from themselves and their "ideas."

[@0leandr1]

It's one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. History shown as it should be - plot of interlacing actions instead of miscellanous points in time

[@audioworks4597]

This is incredible. Thank you for the hard work put into this video. You snapped!!!

[@williamapple7705]

I often daydream about what I, with modern knowledge would do if I could go back in time to the medieval or ancient era. After watching the beginning part, I kinda just want to travel along the silk road with a small but well-equipped group, see the world, and know that I've lived a life more vast and full of knowledge and insight from that time than anyone else ever could. Damn that would be a journey.

[@KneelBeforeBlue]

Nothing. Changing time is wrong

[@lescobrandon8045]

@@KneelBeforeBlue Everybody Wang Chung tonight.

[@brewsterthegreat4737]

We think they’d be blown away by our iPhones and Bluetooth, but really they’d be much more amazed by our spice cabinets and $1 bottles of Arizona.

[@bobveinne2439]

@@brewsterthegreat4737 Ikr? The fact that we can have ICED tea for dirt cheap is mind blowing in historic context.

[@feldgraufox4927]

I'd probably die after a day or two because I'm type 1 diabetic lol

[@juliahenriques210]

The very fact that you're working with Dr. McLaughlin is in itself historic for KZbin purposes.

[@TitaniumAlloyz]

I'm honestly amazed it took so long for this to pop up in my feed. Fantastic documentary, you've got another subscriber in me.

[@allanchurm]

so love the way this is presented and the voice of the presenter is almost hypnotic in his way of presenting the facts and story ..thank you

[@allonzehe9135]

So much detail! I loved this video. I hope you do thorough deep dives like this into ancient topics. Your channel is amazing!

[@herpaderpdurp]

A movie or series on this would be great. One can only hope...

[@Likexner]

Why? Whats wrong with this format?

[@x_mau9355]

I fully agree.... it would extremely nice to see.

[@_Wai_Wai_]

Han Wudi of the Han Dynasty, battled the Xiongnu for decades, eventually won, and gained Control of the HeXi Corridor. The Corridor was essential for the establishment of the Ancient Silk Road. The four Commanderies of the Hexi are Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan and Dunhuang, literal fort cities at the edge of the Han Empire.

[@kevinkevinkevin1909]

Silk Road became worthy when Mongolians controlled much of east Asia. Before it was just any other path...

[@qiushiliang4844]

@@kevinkevinkevin1909 silk road became worthy for Europe after Mongel conqured most of euroasia continent. However, for western Asia, silk road is always showed strong presence...idk where your source is...

[@kevinkevinkevin1909]

@@qiushiliang4844 ... common sense Genghis Khan is Mongolian and Yuan is Mongolian Dynasty. I don’t need source for common sense. Like you don’t need evidence that Song people were murdered and sold off as slaves as well as Yuan married the Song women. Strong for locals, but Mongolian Empire made the Silk Road for Global Economy. Don’t compare Model T with BMW vehicles.

[@qiushiliang4844]

@@kevinkevinkevin1909 common sense? You are not answering my question. It is only valuable to Europe after Yuan dynasty but silk road has always showed a strong presence in western Asia. Who says it is only "worthy" when it is present to Europe? Such arrogance is laughable.

[@LyuChen94]

@@kevinkevinkevin1909 I live in Huhehate😂

[@mdkooter]

The best documentary content on history....in the world. I'd literally listen to every single event that ever happened for many hours every day if it was made by you guys. Just wow.

[@patriciapalmer1377]

The War For Celestial Horses. The Chinese at their florid best !!. Thank you for your time and effort, Voices.

[@jmiquelmb]

I'm starting to think that "celestial" is probably the way we translate a chinese word that it's far less florid. Celestial kingdom, celestial horses, celestial whatever. Maybe it's like closer to saying: the great horses.

[@yuufeternal5837]

@@jmiquelmb the Chinese are know for giving florid names. Also "great" is not even the same as "celestial".

[@The_Art_of_AI_888]

@@jmiquelmb the Heavenly Horses

[@PicklePickle7]

there is a minor mistake at 58:55. Nabatea was in northwest of Arabia not the southwest. I think you meant to say that it was south to the Roman empire but in the north of the Arabian peninsula

[@sami3566]

They have settlements, trade posts and presence all over Levant, Arabia and Mesopotamia

[@tsuikagura]

Fantastic video, thank you for the great time and informative storytelling :D

[@DJoOFa]

Excellent documentary.. The storytelling is outstanding.. The return of Caesar, the city blanketed in the Imperial colours with silk, so compelling, I felt childlike again, as I closed my eyes and imagined the splendour of the occasion.. Thank you all for your endeavours in putting this together, words cannot suffice, salute 🥃

[@valmarsiglia]

One of the most absorbing presentations I've ever seen on KZbin. Great job.

[@LuiWallentinGttler]

This was so great. Thank you and Dr Raoul McLaughlin for this epic tale of Roman and Chinese history.

[@debjordan4399]

Huge thank you for making these videos available. So glad I have found your videos.

[@srinivasperi2287]

This is an amazing documentary. Thanks a ton folks. I have read Dr Raoul's book and loved it. But this was just bringing so many of those things to life :-) Just brilliant and keep up the great work

[@amadeusasimov1364]

This was a magnificent and fascinating work. Thank you Voices of the Past.

[@bigsarge2085]

Fascinating! The best yet in a line of extraordinary productions.

[@Psykoged]

And just like that, stumbling over a free video here, I was reminded of the wonder I had of the world as a child. Thank you for reminding me that there is still so much rich and colorful history in the world. This is a masterpiece.

[@johngibson2884]

One of the best episodes you've ever produced this turns the narrative that China was closed to the West for those years completely upside down

[@TheSaneHatter]

You and the good Dr. McLaughlin have done a superb job (if this was indeed your intention) of making this new presentation sound exactly like the historical texts you've always read from. In fact, I think there are about a dozen points where you could have inserted links to stories you'd read before, like China's reports of Rome and vice versa, accounts of the plague of Justinian, and so on: this presentation could serve as a wonderful introduction to the full scale of your previous work.

[@bartolomeestebanmurillo4459]

I remember reading about Roman merchants complaining that China was taking away their traditional customers in the Near and Middle East! A sort of ancient trade war.

[@st4r444]

Would be easy slaughter for Rome. China got beat by Mongols with ease. The Roman's will then take those tight Chinese vjj with their bwc

[@Matthy63]

"They're bringing silk, they're bringing steel, they're bringing plague, and some of them I assume are good people."

[@toastytoast9800]

@@st4r444 rome was also defeated by the huns, nomads from central Asia

[@user-fo5tr8ro4t]

Romans were defeated by Huns but not China... Huns and Mongolians are two different era people

[@user-fo5tr8ro4t]

@@st4r444 talking rocks without brains and mixing facts and history

[@deadlycucumber9020]

Absolutely adored this video! Keep up the amazing work!

[@sonyatheys5665]

Thankyou for taking the time to put together such an important and incredible story of our combined histories

[@MrZooop]

great video. i rarely branch out in what history based channels i watch because some have an ability to take something interesting and make it boring. but watched this whole video. very well done.

[@kripler3001]

Never got bored watching this video. Not even 1 second. There's a lot if what if's running inside my head now. Thank you for this very interesting video.

[@stevenmqcueen7576]

A truly excellent video. One of the best of the thousands that I've seen on KZbin.

[@emperorofpluto]

Bravo. A superlative production. Thank you for an experience as captivating as it was informative.

[@SpilltheTae]

Stuff like this and the amount of knowledge people like you give to the public for free-- it makes me so grateful to be born in the era that I am. Thank you so much!

[@julians7268]

Awesome video! Such an intriguing history of mysterious close encounters and secret meetings.

[@inkmothstudios]

awesome doco, excellent pacing and minimal repetition. thank you!

[@jalcobo]

This is such an awesome channel! I hope y’all do more long videos. I always feel your other videos end way too soon.

[@jonwarland272]

What an excellent documentary. I love hearing history told by the people who lived it woven together using the hindsight we now posess.

[@LudosErgoSum]

This is the best documentary I've seen on YT!!!

[@worganfreeman2694]

Top notch narrative and knowledge. And those visuals and artwork. So beautiful. Liked and subbed.

[@TriviRocks]

I had always wondered if there had been any contact between these two civilizations in the past - and if the Romans had really known silk. You've answered me sooo well... Lots of gratitude from my history-loving heart!

[@folio2068]

This is the most positive and encouraging comment section I've seen in a KZbin documentary yet. Well deserved. Congratulations sir.

[@andrewshepherd7504]

Absolutely incredible one of the best history vids Ive watched in a long time

[@jasoncastle4818]

The best thing I've seen since the last VOP , outstanding!!!

[@rogueraven1333]

I freaking love how if you consider that many people at the time would have a basic knowledge of all these myths together (dwarves Hobbits griffins Cyclops the illiad the odyssey the sagas etc) they basically thought they lived in the irl Tolkien or Warhammer or elder scrolls

[@dowhatiwantc7637]

Not really but I get what you saying, legitimately you just had to go off of stories passed down or people who went places. No fact check back then, honestly would be wild to just live in it for a week.

[@steven2212]

Well done, a beautiful narrative woven together from many sources, producing a very entertaining vid. Thank you

[@KILLHACAY]

Wow! An amazing documentary! I would never have known about this historical event has I not watched this video.. thanks keep up the great work!

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

Thank you so much for making this sort of knowledge readily available in audio-video documentary form. Not everyone has the time and/or energy to plow through countless volumes, however fascinating they may be. For example, I do woodworking as a hobby, and I was able to work on a piece while listening to this fascinating documentary. I am truly grateful that you guys made this possible!

[@rightlyso8507]

Awesome - I was transfixed throughout this entire documentary.

[@adrianglamorgan2571]

Excellent scholarship. Thank you. Fascinating, well told, well evidenced research. Bravo.

[@edmurks236]

Excellent presentation very informative and well researched. Thank you for this enlightenment.

[@kwd3109]

Really enjoyed this documentary. The historical narration and maps, so essential to telling this story well is all here. When something is well written and well researched it holds the attention of the viewer right through to the end.

[@elvenkind6072]

Thank you for the history of the Silk Road, it was a pleasure to listen to, just like all the other productions of Voices of the Past.

[@areagh13]

Since finding this cannel it has quickly become my favorite, so interesting hearing primary sources from so long ago!!

[@luisdj-intecnogy407]

Awesome documentary! It cautivated me and enjoyed it a lot. Thank you for a Great work

[@trajanfidelis1532]

Thanks so much for the amazing content!

[@luiscastro-my3iw]

This great work deserves recognition. Thank you for making great history knowledge more accessible. Doing a wonderful thing.