David Grann - The Lost City of Z

[@amrtvideo]

What a revealing presentation. Bless the Internet. Thanks for your perfection in following the bread crumbs of the Lost City Z.

[@paulie2140]

One of my favorite books of all time, the best narrative nonfiction author around. Great video, great presentation David Grann.

[@anthonybowers7571]

Me too ! a fabulous book

[@notgadot]

*favoUrite

[@acfredricks]

Thanks for posting this!!! Excellent subject!

[@terryblack2844]

Thank you from Dallas Texas. Can’t wait to read his book

[@Carlo1629-b3e]

I found this book interesting in many ways. It was easy to read since it touched many subjects that are familiar to me. The book covers historic facts of the Victorian age and its influence in the world but specially South America and the countries of Bolivia and Brazil whose Amazonian region was and is difficult to explore or study. It is well balanced since the book covers many areas that help understand different points of view of previous times compared to present times. I found answers to questions that come up as you read this book. For instance, to refer to the tribes that populate the Amazonian forests as savages, made me question who is anyone to judge, specially after the atrocities of WWI, described in the book as well as all the inhuman spectacle of WW2. Also, it explains what was happening in the areas related to the fields he got to be involved in like archeology and the discovery of Machu Pichu which may have influenced him. Fawcett’s motivations could have been banal if they were glory or becoming famous but he showed an ethical position not usual in his time which was to approach the indigenous people in a non violent way, trying not to use arms and ordering to drop arms even if danger was felt. He would raise his hands and confront the Indians which gave him good results since he got to be treated as a sort of friend. This respectful behavior, considering the times, was something positive to take in account when trying to define Fawcett's personality which could show his humanity, something to learn from him. Now, consider that Indiana Jones is partly based in the real life of Percy Fawcett and P.F. is one of the characters of one of his movies; however, Indiana Jones had no problem in shooting for entertainment. Having lived in Bolivia and having done some exploration myself I may have a different take to this adventure. To start, one of Fawcett's motivation was as normal as to answer why people climb mountains, the answer is,” because it's there". I have done hiking going from La Paz at 12000 ft. above sea level to about 15000 ft. and then down to the tropics of Yungas which is the start of the Amazonian jungle all along an Inca road which was partly well preserved considering hundreds of years of use. After getting familiar with this subtropical region, it happened that I read The mines of King Salomon and this book, cited in Grann's book as well, inspired me to go farther. My plan was to go to an uncharted area in the forest called Madidi, which is a national park now, inspiration for a book and a movie, “Jungle”, about someone who gets lost for 21 days or so. My motivation was just to see what no one else has seen. I was able to enlist two university friends who seemed interested but who back down at the last minute. Next year I tried again but I had a sudden back ache problem. Going back to the book, Fawcett's intentions may have been to attain fame by finding not El Dorado but something like Machu Pichu which was “found” in 1911. He visited Cusco and Tiahuanacu and was able to marvel at the achievements of these civilizations. But destiny put him in the Bolivian jungle with the aid of the British government, it wasn't something that he was looking for but that opened his eyes and his innate explorer spirit. Before I even finished reading this book I was compelled to read about the original source, Percy Fawcett's own words, compiled in a book “Lost trail, lost cities” by Brian Fawcett, his son. By reading it, I found out that in his first trip he was hired by the Bolivian government, P. Fawcett does not mention Brazil in the first expedition which was actually work. Now, there are historical details that are not clear. The border problem between Bolivia and Brazil was already established in 1903 after a short war between these two countries and the result was the annexation of the Acre, an area of 190,000 square Kilometers (75,000 sq mls), more than ¾ the size of UK. By the way, something that this book could have in next edition is a better map, the map of Bolivia is not clear. There are details in the Fawcett's book that could have been part of Grann's book or even the movie, like the moment when, after departing La Paz, one of many mules P.F. had, runs away and that was the mule that had the $£1000 in gold he received as part of the payment from the Bolivian government, an interesting historical detail, a “jingling treasure” in the saddle bags. However, Fawcett explains that the mule was brought back by local people who he rewarded. P .F. describes foreigners by name but there is no mention of Bolivian dignitaries with the exception of the president of Bolivia who was taking matters with his own hands and who knew these lands very well. The region next to the Brazilian border bears his name, Pando. “All who have lived in these lands and learned to know them fell captive to their irresistible charm”, Fawcett writes as part of his reflexions. Is this one of the motives he kept coming back? It may be part of a whole. Grann's book also covers an ongoing investigation of the Amazonian region and, as Fawcett thought, these are not pristine lands since it is being proven now that the land was inhabited extensively in previous times by people who may have been decimated by the ills brought by Europeans. These people changed the shape of its lands by creating mounds and ditches and one example is the area of Moxos in Bolivia which is described in this book whose author tried to be up to date. Another detail of recent discoveries is that there were people here almost 10,000 years ago, the complete picture is not entirely painted, it seems that there is more to come. The conclusion was, and most people would agree, that there were “cities” but not the way we are used to think of them, and that this book is worth reading as it will open the mind of anyone who has an “explorer's mind”.

[@brucemckenziefraser139]

A great talk about my home town, Torquay's, famous son 👍 Just a passing note, though, you mention meeting a lady in Cardiff, England. Cardiff is actually in Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 😉👍

[@josephrobinson2711]

stellar work.

[@flappy7373]

he didn't emerge from the forest, but his legend did have the effect he wanted it to have. it changed the world. it changed human history. he didn't find the city itself, but he showed the world it was there.

[@MsJuffff]

Cardiff , Wales just saying 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 ✌🏽 Enjoyed the video going to check the books.

[@miguelgonzales8879]

About the question of why do the natives walk naked while it seems that insects don' bother them. i don't have an answer but some experience since I'm from the highlands of Bolivia where there are almost no insects, but I have visited the lowlands (tropics) many times and what I experienced is that insects will atack you the first and second days, and after that the atack will be less frequent as if the only would like newcomers. Wihin this thinking, natives may have developed a resistance or immunity since they are like part of this ecosystem, this is something to be studied,

[@zabdas83]

Miguel Gonzales very interesting analysis, I never noticed how they weren't affected by the midges etc... It should be studied or at least googled.

[@richar.8073]

1. they have no fabric to make cloth, maybe they used animal skin just to covering "something" 2. the natives used such colored thing made by nature to covering their body. Maybe it's not usefull, but it will use enough.

[@che4568]

Come to Scotland try that with midgies 😆

[@margaretkilian9977]

Thank you! So interesting

[@james6495]

Out of the seven expeditions, how many were in search for Z and how many were just to map the areas?

[@dillonrobertson6372]

Awesome 👌

[@james6495]

Great talk!

[@ASivan-wo8wn]

George Constanza is a brilliant author! Wow!

[@michelleahern-crane4570]

I thought the same thing, Brilliant talk.; )

[@ryandavies6609]

You would think a journalist would know that Cardiff is in Wales, not England.

[@afterburner94]

I found the movie didn't do David Grann's book and assertions justice, and it clearly shows here. Fawcett was a multilayered man and his expeditions and his knowledge was much more than what was described in the movie. This book is a must read for any non-fiction aficionado.

[@ameliegart]

what is the movie?

[@afterburner94]

@@ameliegart same title as the book, directed by James Gray

[@mayoacan777]

Good Lecture, I wander what happen about the theory of Faucet's guidance by theosophical concerns???

[@shakerHeightsChannel]

Just read Exploration Fawcett 1953 by Brian Fawcett

[@marcelogonzalez6105]

Very educational 👍🏼

[@nebulanz8232]

Awesome book.

[@motorizedmisfit-artist8535]

Wow! Amazing.

[@ronniehdable]

Great video 👍

[@johnadams-wp2yb]

Makes me even MORE proud to be British.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Why ??

[@johnadams-wp2yb]

Why? It's obvious.@@2msvalkyrie529

[@sojourner_truth]

David Grann: the Lost City of Z February 25, 2009

[@BobLoblaw23]

Lol she said silence your 'pagers'

[@warplanner8852]

10 years ago.

[@JosephDeLosSantos-t3m]

@@warplanner8852 1 million years ago, biyatch

[@AdventureTime18]

Cardiff is in Wales. You will likely struggle to discover a lost city if you cant locate a well known one.

[@MaroonLoto]

Maybe it simply doesn't matter.

[@seasidesmilertj1182]

Hello from Cardiff

[@che4568]

Thats funny 🙏

[@mortisnoctu]

Wowwww someone is a prick (you)

[@margaretkilian9977]

I think if we had to cultivate ourselves and not ruin our world....we have actually gone backwards:(

[@jamesmcbeth4463]

Roads but no wheels?

[@hychap]

FOUND!! I found this city. currently organizing an expedition for next year. Please do get in touch if you have an interest, advice or would like to join.

[@lindamat2001]

Sure! And is your name really Kyle Fawcett?

[@EntryLevelLuxury]

Good luck with those flesh-eating gnat clouds.

[@j-jah4005]

Has you expedition begun yet?

[@thebrocialist8300]

And they were never heard from again...

[@yamato0965]

This is it. This is where Kyle Chapman cashed in. He was good. He was very very good.

[@shuttergirl63]

its Zed, the Lost city of Zed...not Zee

[@notgadot]

City of Zed not zeee

[@robertafierro5592]

And it's all true, too!

[@HVLLOW99]

Would y'all believe me if I told you I will find Z? The same city Joao De Silva Guimaraes found in 1,743 AD greek-like architecture and temples with hieroglyphs etc. edit: 1753

[@Lifestyle8durty1]

Emperor Krayt make me a believer

[@jokerbejoking]

no z just corona virus g

[@HVLLOW99]

@@jokerbejoking Manuscript 512 is clear on the region. The interior of Bahia Province, Brazil Somewhere around the Para-oacu(Paraguaçu) River and the Una River. There are two Una Rivers in Bahia Province one is in the south running down from Arataca to Pedras. The other is in central Bahia and runs closer to the Para-oacu river. So i think its that one however. The Una River is dried out now (at least on google maps and it may have been a dry season when the satellite captured the pics) Also that region of central Bahia by the Para-oacu and northern Una river is largely covered in farm land although not entirely. The southern Una river runs close to the Parque Nacional de Serra das Lontras a national park wilderness reserve where a ancient city could be hiding however no Rio Para-oacu so I don’t think its there. Another thing mentioned in Manuscript 512 is that after you pass the ruins the river that runs near it opens up into a large “ocean” with many jutting peninsulas. Something the Rio Paraguaçu does twice in its trek to the coast, essentially lakes. The first by a town called Bandeira de Mello further inland and the second by a town called a Cabaceiras do Paraguaçu closer to the coast. Manuscript 512 does also state that the ruins are in a vally surrounded by mountains the reminded the Portuguese of the Pyrenees in northern eastern Spain. Which central Bahia does have mountains where the Rio Paraguaçu and Una run out of so there’s that. By the way the Manuscript 512 called the it the Rio Para-oacu but it is called Rio Paraguaçu today. Anyways I hope someone finds it someday, I sure wouldn’t mind.

[@CristianoCaiado]

I think the Lost City of Z is near -12.241988 -53.267568 , I'm 100% sure I have seen a symbol or some sort of statue just like Lagoa Curumim at Xingu Reserve!!! I'm not kidding. by the way at these coordinates you can see half a square, -12.130947 -53.448922 . I don't have any doubt that there is vestiges of an ancient civilization at Xingu, and it is not a coincidence that is a reserve now. A very yellow unique tree, maybe it is a glitch -12.087061-53.426015, another glitch? -12.126589 -53.414263 ? very annoying glitch far distant at another reserve, -14.005864 -47.676868 known by its mysterious ufo sights and supposed mythical powers.

[@uniquerebel385]

1:01:19

[@miguelguerrero7944]

0:01:52

[@nyjets2020]

so awesome

[@getreal9148]

Some of these people asking questions at the end are demeaning and want to sound smart. Ancient Egypt and etc. Are not deep inside the unexplored amazon jungle. So dumb. We wouldnt make it a month in there

[@miguelmarques4583]

Living in harmony is so idiotic. As the once famous indigenous acitivst Villa Bôas not mentioned it seems in this lecture, " do you think indians like the forest? they hate it".

[@dvsdawl]

Zed not Zee. He was British. Why do Americans always do that..?

[@Mcmccart]

Because of 1776

[@dvsdawl]

@@Mcmccart Yes but he’s talking about someone who was British and Fawcett was the one that called it the Lost City of Zed... so.. I understand Americans don’t ever think about any country or culture other than their own, but they should try to be more aware and more accurate.

[@mcmac1185]

@@dvsdawl well I guess since you can’t take a joke ... I guess you are correct ... Brits love “ looking into” other cultures . Quite a history 😳

[@davidchurch3472]

THERE IS NO CARDIFF IN ENGLAND. show some respect to the British.

[@imemyself2820]

Book is pure fiction. Film is based on pure fiction. How the fuck is this a scientific speech?

[@pauldavies9360]

Oh jesus!! Cardiff is the capital city of WALES! Different country to England.

[@greenlawnaugusta3100]

this lecucture was garbage... this man is a horrible speaker and he copied the story from a journal written in the 80s.. this isnt a authentic presentation

[@InsideBilderberg]

Agree, and Fawcett was not a great man at all. In fact, he was a racist incompetent who achieved very little. www.spectator.co.uk/2017/04/the-lost-city-of-z-is-a-very-long-way-from-a-true-story-and-i-should-know/

[@ZackNuse]

If I had to some up this video in one word? Uh.

[@BenjaminDHarrison]

Zachary Nuse thats the worst sum up word you could have picked. how about: wow.

[@MaroonLoto]

It rather sums up your comment, but nevermind... some people get inspired, some don't.

[@CaptainMyCaptain33]

Zachary Nuse When i was a teenager I saw the Specials. I skanked. It was rad.

[@lyndapoysor5573]

not my cup of tea