How did the Fire Nation let the Air Nomad Genocide Happen? | Avatar: The Last Airbender

Remember! 24 hour Charity Livestream for the Child Rescue Coalition on December 4th - SHARE THIS IMAGE wherever you can imgur.com/gallery/nXOqE5B Hope you join me!
Thank you so much to my patrons, truly. If you want to support this kind of educational content, please consider doing so at / hellofutureme (+Discord community access!)
INSTAGRAM: / tim_hickson_hfm
TWITTER / timhickson1
BUY MY BOOK tinyurl.com/y5mwpyyj (It contains all my educational writing/worldbuilding content up to a point + extras, super easy to reference and use compared to videos.)
EMAIL [e-mail]
FACEBOOK / hellofutureme
SECOND CHANNEL tinyurl.com/ybhtz42g where I put extra notes for videos, vlogs, board game reviews, and other stuff from my life
POSTAL ADDRESS (if you're kind enough to send me a letter or something!)
Tim Hickson
PO Box 69062
Lincoln, 7608
Canterbury, New Zealand
Script by meeeeeeeee
Video edited by Cuenin (99% of the time) over at / @cueninscove
The artist that designed my display pic! serem01.deviantart.com/
The artist who design my cover photo:
- raidesart.deviantart.com/
- / raidesart
- / raidesart
Music by Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.com/creator
Stay nerdy!
Tim

[@HelloFutureMe]

24 hour Charity Livestream for the Child Rescue Coalition on December 4th - sharing this image wherever you can would mean the world imgur.com/gallery/nXOqE5B I hope we do even better than last year when we raised over $22,000! Stay nerdy and vigilant! ~ Tim

[@mizcaesar1804]

Love your vids

[@DATA-qt3nb]

Much respect to you man! Love the channel!

[@toymationstudios8613]

MY BIRTHDAY IS DEC 5 WHY DIDN'T YOU DO IT THEN

[@ll6256]

This was soooooooo cool plase do this again

[@xylonpesquera8605]

Wow. Really want to watch that.

[@napolien1310]

"I'm professor Wang fire" Me: the legend is still alive * teary eye *

[@julianne6241]

I will firmly believe that as an adult, Sokka became a professor at a fire nation university

[@miriamrosemary9110]

It made me so happy XD

[@ashhinman1919]

What are you all going on about? Private Wang Fire died in combat.

[@julianne6241]

@@ashhinman1919 This Wangg Fire is private Wang Fire's twin brother. They are identical twins and the only difference is professor Wangg Fire's first name is spelt with two Gs

[@julianne6241]

@Rusty Shackleford nah cause it's still Sokka in disguise

[@LM-1378]

That awkward moment when a KZbinr's "lecture" on a fantasy world's made up history is more informative and easier to watch than half the online university lectures I've attended this semester...

[@jonathany1240]

well there are no censors or otherwise powerful/important people wanting to control how history is taught. I mean, that’s one of the major issues with how highschool grade history is taught with the more detailed and nuanced content being only taught at the university level.

[@BigTylt]

@@jonathany1240 "We would dive into socialist theory, but we all know that everyone making equal salaries for unequal labor wouldn't ever work, amirite? Ok, class, now let's move on to vaguely retelling a random civil war in a way that we can minimize the United States' destructive role in it."

[@rat_mikey]

I realized at a particularly boring orientation for my current job the speaking is a skill in and of itself. there was a man that made some really boring aspect of my job seem interesting just by the way he spoke. also, there's little to no agenda to be had in the telling of fake history.

[@jonathany1240]

@@rat_mikey I know this might be quite the ask do you know what the other two are on about? I'm no American so I'm feeling like I'm missing some very specific and non-universal context here.

[@rat_mikey]

@@jonathany1240 the American school system omits some major atrocities and paints the United States as a paragon of peace and justice. some say it's nationalism, some say it's because they don't want kids growing up to hate their country. it's probably both. propaganda from the Red Scare still has people thinking that any system other than capitalism must be evil. it's one of many major flaws we have with education. I hope I answered the right question

[@snuffles504]

"Don't groan, it's only 60 pages" *college flashback triggered*

[@prince_nocturne]

I had that with medical books. It's basically a foreign language mixed with periodic English.

[@SamaritanPrime]

Me: Challenge accepted.

[@RyanStorey1231]

I got major Mr. Ratburn from Arthur vibes with that line

[@patrickramseyart]

@@RyanStorey1231 🎶"Just a little homework tonight"🎶

[@Lazarus1095]

I am OUTRAGED that the truth of the Fire Nation Genocide was not taught in my high school curriculum. This was one of the greatest history lectures I've ever witnessed.

[@EJAG_art]

Underrated comment!

[@appleslover]

And I hate my stupid firenation nationalist fellows who wave the flag celebrating a genocide whenever this topic is brought up by activists

[@sunscreen193]

Unfortunately they did not teach it while I was in school either. It really is such a shame considering what a beautiful peaceful people they were. I hope they at least rebuild the Northern Air Temple...

[@singletona082]

See, this is why in addition to teaching some fundimental, schools should give an education in how to find knowledge on your own. Then again I'm the bookworm who... Well... Let's not not sugarcoat the matter, would poke the proverbial badgermole when told not to and has an interest in the hundred years war period. Sure most of the more distributed texts are avatar focused, and let's make no bones of it, Avatar Aang was a critical factor in the reversal of earth nation policy and as a spiritual leader after the warz but even the Avatar is only one person and can only be in one place at one time (no no air bending asterisk projection hadn't been discovered yet, that came about during avatar korra's time after the reformation of the sir nation.) Also, and I just stress this, Avatar Aang sparring Fire Lord Oozai's life was critical as it allowed firelord zuko to largely focus on reformation and restitution efforts instead of continually answering for the prior fire lord's crimes. Yes I am saying fire Lord zuko got off easy in spite of how difficult his tenure was.) And please, for the love of your own sanity, don't even bother looking into anything 'based in history' by ember island productions. Come to think of it don't even bother with anything ember island productions period. It goes past 'so bad it's good' straight into 'make it stop' no matter how goodvyhei effects department.

[@antihackerbg]

@@singletona082 you say Firelord zuko got off easy but I would disagree. Especially his early years as Firelord were tough, what with going out to find his mother and the people trying to overthrow and replace him with his father, which was caused precisely by avatar aang sparing Ozai.

[@joannasthings]

I love that red and blue’s names are just their Japanese equivalents

[@jondw]

My lack of knowing Japanese didn't catch that, neat. Thanks for sharing that

[@thefandomguy4202]

@@jondw yep! Aka (赤) - red, Ao (青) - blue

[@nikki607]

I knew there was SOMETHING xd curse my inability to decipher accents in a casual setting

[@Krlytz]

I thought he said "Misaka" xD

[@en4833]

@@Krlytz I think he said Ms. Aka, as in Ms. red

[@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606]

"I am Professor Wang Fire" And an avid fan of the early-life exploits of General Sokka, apparently.

[@arandomqueerfanpeep7655]

Who isn't?

[@spencersholden]

His parents probably named him after the “great hero” not knowing his true identity.

[@tspopstar512]

I hope his wife is Sapphire Fire

[@loturzelrestaurant]

How could Afghanisten happen? ...No, seriously, i didnt knew and no one 'could' tell me 'WITHOUT SCREAMING', so i was so glad i finally found a channel that doesnt scream and just objectively informs: 'VICE'... I'm glad i can now really inform myself.

[@goroakechi6126]

@@loturzelrestaurant Two words. Guerrilla warfare.

[@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770]

I can't believe that people still deny the Air Nomad Genocide.

[@francogiobbimontesanti3826]

It never happened, the air nomads just died from loosing all of the battles they started against poor fire nation civilians.

[@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770]

@@francogiobbimontesanti3826 oh, shut up you insane neo-Ozaist conspiracy theorist! There are literally no records of the Air Nomads ever attacking anyone or even having a military aside from outdated blatant Fire Nation propaganda that was exposed and admitted as lies forever ago! Grow up and admit there’s bad parts of your nation’s history!

[@commiemeth]

@@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770 show me dead air nomads

[@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770]

@@commiemeth I can’t. I’d have to dig up all their graves at the Air Nomad memorial to do so, and that would be disrespectful and get me arrested.

[@dionadair8195]

Behold: the best comment.

[@wherearethecrayons6533]

I just took an entire history lesson on a place that doesn't exist...

[@isdrakon9802]

You probably remembered more from it then any history class

[@rurikaunimoto]

@@isdrakon9802 sadly true in my case...

[@loturzelrestaurant]

@@isdrakon9802 How could Afghanisten happen? ...No, seriously, i didnt knew and no one 'could' tell me 'WITHOUT SCREAMING', so i was so glad i finally found a channel that doesnt scream and just objectively informs: 'VICE'... I'm glad i can now really inform myself.

[@trikitrikitriki]

"And no laptops. The information doesn't stick." Try telling that to my accommodation notice and the disability office

[@geraldgrenier8132]

As a dysgraphic who had deal the eviscerating pain of hand writing, the cause me to develop a chronic homework issue, typing puts me on an equal footing for noting take without the the distraction of constant pain

[@festethephule7553]

Exactly what I was thinking, yeah.

[@singletona082]

Had an English teacher like that. Ended up complying, but only in the most narow sense and made sure to dance just on the side of being able to wave off follow-up proddings. All while making it very apparent to me that he was singling me out for making him have to give any ground.

[@darkraysofsunshine3113]

@Mullerornis Cancel culture has gone too far 😩😩😩 i had professor Wang and he was the best!!1!1

[@guitar19971]

@@geraldgrenier8132 As a dyspraxic I can relate. I simply cannot write quickly enough to keep up with a lecture.

[@FairRarity]

Page three hundred and ninety four... lmao XD

[@theanti-christ2842]

*Turn to page tHreE hUnDrEd aNd NiNetTy fOur*

[@Goblinoiddoof]

I had a 600 page school history book so it's not that inaccurate

[@jackprey2355]

@@Goblinoiddoof seen Harry Potter ? xD

[@SuperGoose42]

Don't forget his name is Professor Wang Fire 😂

[@marshmallowvampire8503]

How it be

[@nitfens6863]

I love that every "great individual" narrative gets taken down a peg with historical materialism, but Toph is still 'Toph The Great'...

[@singletona082]

Considering she single handedly invented an entirely new bending style that would then grealy ease and accelerate industrialization in ways that aren't damaging to the ecosystem at large? it is a deserved supelitive.

[@marcussabom2696]

And don't you dunderheads forget it

[@mokasaam1819]

​@@pmy643 agree💯

[@mokasaam1819]

​@@singletona082 agree 💯

[@dyent]

That is taking Toph The Invincible down a peg.

[@PastaCouch]

This classroom setting along with the controversial topic is very interesting. Kinda makes me think if this is how a German classroom is when they look back on Hitler in their history class.

[@NibiXD]

PastaCouch I’m german and believe me: it really is. This whole video felt like history class on the topic of the holocaust and the third reich. Especially the part about possible ancestors sitting there. Also what the teacher said about the premise to understand the past in order to prevent similar things to happen in the future

[@alexsch2514]

Austrian here. We teach it similarly to the Germans. It kind of is.

[@steve8610]

@@alexsch2514 That's interesting. I'm from America, we're taught that Austria was basically annexed under threat of force and a puppet state was installed, similar to what happened in places like Norway and France (except with France, it happened _with_ force). They're seen as distinct from Germans (or at least the German identity that had been forged under the Prussian hegemony). I guess I hadn't supposed they'd teach it quite as viscerally.

[@alexsch2514]

@@steve8610 the government was forced to annexation, but the people widely embraced it. Many older Austrians still have that victim mindset, but in schools we are taught that Austria was a victimizer, not a victim

[@davidkraus5195]

@Steve Austria was annexed, but it doesn´t change that lot of Austrian were nazis. I am from Czechia and most of the country found out, that there was also a concentration camp run by Czechs mostly for Romani only when couple of years back it was discovered, that on the place of the concentration camp there was a pig farm. Still a lot of people refuse to acknowledge that even though having a resistance movement against nazis, there were a lot of people here who were surprisingly okay with the whole concentration camp thingy

[@KatherinaBathory]

I like the idea of the classroom setting, especially making it a fire nation classroom. It's very interesting and important tackling the idea of how a nation teaches it's "uncomfortable" history and does it straight forwardly and not fearing to tell it.

[@mathies3598]

The firenation is now equivalent to Germany, rather than Japan.

[@MrTheWaterbear]

@@mathies3598 Indeed. Japan is sorely lacking in repentance and honesty.

[@zwetschge9669]

As a German I straight up got flashbacks to the history lessons i had in school.

[@zwetschge9669]

@Bob Bobbertson Don't you even dare to compare the fascist scum that enslaved millions of people and betrayed my entire people with their deranged and sociopathic ideology, that let to nothing but death, torture and terror, even in the slightest way to my modern republic. There might still be flaws in the system, but nobody can be imprisoned in the Federal Republic, simply for expressing their free thoghts. And that you even think, that this is possible is proves, that you have been poisend by the lies of the fascist, that are still trying to relativize the immense horror, that have reigned in my country for far too long. I saw the camps, and the prisons. I had relatives that lived through this time, and I have studied this period of my nations history for far to long, too read such uninformed statements, such as yours.

[@Faxeable]

@Bob Bobbertson That is straight away wrong. The only things illegal on this topic is denying the holocaust and the use of a few symbols in a non-educational way.

[@arg3824]

I liked the format of this video, given that you're discussing a topic that doesn't have show content, it does feel a bit like a history lesson with secondary sources and accounts. Also, I eagerly await Blue's term paper: Fire Lord Zoryu's Sibling Rivalry - History Hijinks.

[@vaughnjohnson8767]

And don’t forget Red’s: How To Murder An Entire Population Of Pacifists-Fire Nation Time Baby!

[@TheBc99]

Such a shame the Avatar world doesn't have Pope Fights...

[@vaughnjohnson8767]

@@TheBc99 true.

[@vorschlaghammer9888]

Reminds me of Doctor Oobleck from RWBY.

[@dittervancrook1735]

@@TheBc99 “Avatar” Yun and Avatar Kyoshi would like to have a word with you

[@BlizzardofKnives]

Toph The Great, a title I'm sure would make the lady herself smirk XD .

[@Ironbanner12]

Noooo she is Melon Lord!!!!

[@FigureOnAStick]

A minor point, but one worth making: I appreciate how there is a subtle nod to an entirely seperate stream of historical discussion regarding an Avatar focused Great Man narrative and a trends-and-forces revisionist narrative, in the comment about "those who still use avatar time" and the sidlining of Kiyoshi. Makes the lecture feel so much more alive, since not every detail is abour the subject at hand

[@tuumef1799]

This presentation style was incredible. It felt like a real, live class. I enjoyed how you paid respect and sensitivity to each nation without sugarcoating historical facts.

[@geraldgrenier8132]

Expect for the anti avatar bias

[@superbeltman6197]

@@geraldgrenier8132 That makes it just feel so much more real though

[@j2dragon109]

@@geraldgrenier8132 It's arguably more an anti-'avatar bias' then an 'anti-avatar' bias.

[@tobistein6639]

@@j2dragon109 The associative property strikes again!

[@Ddddddddddd381]

I really like that you took the ideas from Korra of "the world doesn't need the avatar" anymore and expanded on those to a subconscious level

[@doopdoop9258]

Honestly same! When he got to the part about Yangchen I was confused, like-who would benefit politically from mythicizing her? But when you consider it as an extension of anti-avatar sentiments from LoK it makes sense-of course people would want to minimize the impact of the Avatar and attribute stuff to the regular people (unless it’s something negative like Szeto consolidating power, which is taught as a root for the war). If intentional that feels like some brilliant 4D chess. I could go on about the meta-narrative of this video being presented as a history lecture but I doubt anyone would read it haha. Tim did a great job!

[@cutegixie]

@@doopdoop9258 There is also evidence in the comics that Yangchen did not divulge her efforts to suppress the Spirits trying to prevent human progress, something that Kuruk took up more openly. This could have damaged Yangchen's legacy of being a peaceful avatar and could have political consequences to any treaties created in that day (especially treaties that actively ignored the spirits in the area now that spirits are part of the world again).

[@raiorai2]

It's kind of a reinterpretation of the text so it makes more sociological sense. In real life, no one superpowered person would be responsible foe their whole era. Interpret this as a comprehensive historical bias is very smart!

[@doopdoop9258]

@deceptive_and_grinning Oh that makes a lot of sense! If I recall correctly those issues also came up/were mentioned in the first Kyoshi book but it’s been a while since I read it. Good point👍

[@cutegixie]

@@doopdoop9258 yeah I needed another KZbin video to point it out to me. Forget who did it but it was called something like Why Kuruk is my favorite avatar

[@MacDaleen]

I’m so glad the Kyoshi novels are being talked about, they are literally the BEST

[@ekowasare9458]

Want an adaptation

[@austinsmith538]

Oh god yeah!

[@witchqueen1296]

Totes agree on that one.

[@Bluesonofman]

I don't really consider anything outside of the show plus the first season of Kora canon.

[@xXxZugoldragonxXx]

@@Bluesonofman sadly that's your opinion. Official canon is canon whether you like it or not

[@hayscollins5867]

Wow that was incredible I’m obsessed with the lore of this show and the fact you could make an entire history class with a tiny bit of details made up but mostly true is amazing.

[@Ruminations09]

The only things made are the quotes and the lecturer's tendency to downplay the role of the Avatar. Everything else is canon to the actual series.

[@TheRibottoStudios]

*Professor:* turn to page three hundred and ninety four. *Potterheads in class:* _snickering madly_

[@gamingdemigodxiii5630]

If my assumption of Asian script is correct, the vertical alignment resembles "nine and three quarters?" Like the platform?

[@Raven7444]

Glad to see I wasnt the only one who noticed it lol

[@hussainvirk8598]

As a potter head I am greatly embarrassed to say that I don’t get it

[@gamingdemigodxiii5630]

@@hussainvirk8598 I don’t entirely know myself. But I think it has something to do with a way Alan Rickman read a certain line?

[@scottgrey3337]

I saw “Potheads” at first and was trying to figure out if this was another 420 until I read it correctly

[@EleiyaUmei]

I like that Red and Blue are being called Red and Blue in Japanese (Aka and Ao) in this video. Fits in nicely with the Japan-inspired Fire Nation ^-^

[@SpeedingWheelbarrow]

Crap I did not pick up on that. Thanks for pointing it out I love it even more now!

[@miriamrosemary9110]

+

[@vaughnjohnson8767]

@@SpeedingWheelbarrow same

[@BlizzardofKnives]

I wondered why those names were used, nice :) .

[@xavierwagner3238]

Ao is a history nerd.

[@Wastydest]

Growing up in Germany and being a student at University myself right now, this feels very familiar. I also love how you put all those parallels to real life current politics in there!

[@alexalex-mk9is]

Not a Japanese student though

[@kingace6186]

This video is super realistic. (I am a Tigrayan that grew up in Ethiopia.)

[@darkknightbatman8269]

@@kingace6186with Italy?

[@thatspacepirate]

When a fictional franchise has better history teachers than real life

[@loturzelrestaurant]

How could Afghanisten happen? ...No, seriously, i didnt knew and no one 'could' tell me 'WITHOUT SCREAMING', so i was so glad i finally found a channel that doesnt scream and just objectively informs: 'VICE'...

[@dinowibisono99]

I was trying my hardest to remind myself this isn't an actual lecture but then i saw that graphs at 6:50 i started taking notes

[@superbeltman6197]

Yeah how do you measure political power

[@icetones6706]

@@superbeltman6197 i imagine the purpose of that graph wasnt to fully chart anything- instead, it was a visual aid, used to show the sudden and earthshattering drop in support for the person. It's easy to assume that a decline in political power is a slow, steady drop as people move to fresher faces in politics and as the polticians ideas become more and more antiquated. Instead, this graph shows that this is not the case, and was very much the opposite.

[@nikki607]

Only reason I didn't is I was busy petting my cat and she would've been furious if I stopped for too long xd

[@blazelightshine2311]

Ah yes, the student instinct. Back in high school, I had a teacher who said she would tell us which parts we should be writing down during certain classes, depending on the day, and would jokingly chide us during those lectures when we'd automatically start copying down notes from the slides.

[@loturzelrestaurant]

How could Afghanisten happen? ...No, seriously, i didnt knew and no one 'could' tell me 'WITHOUT SCREAMING', so i was so glad i finally found a channel that doesnt scream and just objectively informs: 'VICE'... I'm glad i can now really inform myself.

[@trikitrikitriki]

"It took a long time for our nation to reconcile with this but it's important that we confront these realities." Someone tell Japan

[@AegixDrakan]

Tell that to my own CANADA. :s It's unacceptable that I only found out about the full on murderous, genocidal stuff that went on at the Residential Schools for the native people...When I was 25 coming across an awareness hashtag on twitter. :(

[@isadoracostahamsi163]

@@AegixDrakan if you are in a country that was an european colony just assume lots of genocide happened and are probably still happening.

[@florbengorben7651]

This has been said so many times now, but so does the United States. Sure, we at least learn about it in school (depending on your school) but education in regards to US-native relations is still pretty poor. :/

[@JayFLopez]

And also tell Mexico and the Central American nations. My own country cant seem to acknowledge it killed 50,000 people a hundred years ago cuz they spoke a different language (El Salvador)

[@TheBc99]

I would contest that Japan has confronted its imperial past pretty well, considering it's now one of the most pacifistic countries on earth. It's definitely done better than many western countries (US, UK, Australia).

[@rocketsurgery950]

Nice to see Red and Blue paying attention, asking and answering questions, and just participating in general. Most teachers would kill for that. Then again, it is easier to have students participate when there's only four of them.

[@rboss5919]

You just know that there's that one kid in the back etching Phoenix Emperor tattoos on his arm with pencil and thinking the teacher is a traitor.

[@dittervancrook1735]

Metal bending was not invented until Toph the Great discovered it in 99 AG

[@vaughnjohnson8767]

Metal bending was not invented until Toph the Great discovered it in 99 AG

[@superbeltman6197]

@@vaughnjohnson8767 Metal bending was not invented until Toph the Great discovered it in 99 AG

[@vaughnjohnson8767]

@@superbeltman6197 Metal bending was not invented until Toph the Great discovered it in 99 AG

[@TAP7a]

Metal bending was not invented until Toph the Great discovered it in 99 AG

[@vaughnjohnson8767]

@@TAP7a Metal bending was not invented until Toph the Great discovered it in 99 AG

[@amberlyveil8856]

Since Sun Warriors are closer to the original way of firebenders... Shouldn't the common equivalent of "good luck" be... Praise the Sun!

[@polinaignatenkova3634]

"Praise the Sun" sounds more like our "Thank God" than "good luck" "May the sun warm you" sounds more like something they'd go with. And like our "good-bye" was shorthanded from "God be with ye" I think it could be shortened to something that rolls off the tongue easier. Not sure what it would be though.

[@noahsalonicchio2221]

I see what you did there

[@LoveMePandas24]

@@polinaignatenkova3634 what about "sun warmth" for shorthand i think it sound v cute like "sun warmth on your performance today" idk i like it lol

[@polinaignatenkova3634]

@@LoveMePandas24 I LOVE IT That is so cute! And now I want to live in a world where that's what people say to each other. That just sounds so warm and wholesome. You just made my day!

[@cristoszachos1888]

Solaire for the win

[@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606]

So avatar Szeto unknowingly doomed his next firebender comrade avatar to death by volcano. Ironic.

[@Condor2481]

Or the genocide of the airbenders. Poor Szeto

[@samiranghosh9535]

Yikes

[@pourna3165]

@Mullerornis lmao

[@Tmanowns]

The majority of the Avatars had some sort of issue that caused violence and imbalance, which they then solved, only to have their solution backfire and become its own imbalance. Aang included.

[@mr.preston1632]

@@Tmanowns one exception is yangchen sort of , she probably had the least significant problem

[@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606]

I believe that a new earth avatar; A seemingly paradoxically quiet, patient metalbender boy, should now be written about. If I do so, I shall include him studying under Professor Wang Fire.

[@reapermaster1233]

I'll do it Probably He'd learn metal lightning blood and flight instead

[@thatoneguy1350]

@@reapermaster1233 Sand? and also maybe we shouldn't teach the avatar blood bending

[@TheRoomforImprovement]

I always thought it would be interesting if the next avatar approached bending from a more scientific angle.

[@littleprowl]

@@reapermaster1233 i thought that in order to fly, an airbender must have no earthly attachments but an avatar can never let go to their earthly attachments due to their duty to the world, so they’d never be able to fly

[@petermills3814]

Sozin's comet passes by the planet. Unknown Fire Nation soldier's journal: What I remember about the rise of the fire nation's empire is, is how quiet it was = during the waning weeks before the arrival of the Sozin's comet, the fire nation's armies were discreetly transferred throughout all four regions of the world at certain areas of importance, we all knew what was about to happen and what we were about to do, did we have any doubts, any private treacherous thoughts, perhaps but no one said a word, not on the way to the air nomad mountains, not when order 66 came down and not when we marched up to the air nomad temples... not a word. Sozin's comet arrives... Sozin by messenger bird: Execute Order 66. Nameless fire nation commander: It will be done my lord. 1 month later, unknown soldier: With the fall of the air nomads and the cycle of the Avatar crippled, Sozin's first stage plans to rise to power was complete, in recognition of our service and loyalty to the fire lord... the fire nation's armies were placed under the direct command of the royal family and their most trusted commanders from the nobility of the capital. Armed with deadly new weapons + blazing new ships and shinning new armour, our presence let the world know that the days of the old world were well and truly over = we were establishing a new era, an era of order and peace.

[@jameswhite153]

ah, a man of culture I see.

[@naisagathefirstdestronmand8559]

Nice reference.

[@onthecreatingofthings5017]

I like the classroom setting, different from what I expect for this kind of video. I remember your previous video on this topic, and I like putting specific year dates on events. That certainly gives a more modern feel. Very nicely crafted and certainly no less than what I expect from my favorite writing KZbinr/Influencer. You are amazing and I LOVE your work. Please never stop.

[@loturzelrestaurant]

How could Afghanisten happen? ...No, seriously, i didnt knew and no one 'could' tell me 'WITHOUT SCREAMING', so i was so glad i finally found a channel that doesnt scream and just objectively informs: 'VICE'... I'm glad i can now really inform myself.

[@vigilantsycamore8750]

The part where the lecturer emphasises the need to confront the dark parts of their own history really speaks to me, given that my country's only just started discussing the fact that yes, a lot of our people *were* complicit in the Holocaust.

[@mrnemo204]

Poland is it?

[@bartoszambroziak1607]

@@mrnemo204 You aren't interesed in history, are you?

[@mrnemo204]

@@bartoszambroziak1607 Why would you say that? Poland was in the news pertaining to this topic

[@bartoszambroziak1607]

@@mrnemo204 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKmxqHt3bc6lftU Here you've got short video with subtitles. Maybe you will learn sth.

[@bartoszambroziak1607]

@@mrnemo204 I'm writing this comment third time. Polish Underground State punished people helping Germans with the biggest possible punishment death. Number of such people is estimated to be around 0.03% to 0.09% ethnic Poles

[@zlatkakardaleva5738]

0:54 "Turn to page 394" That's the same page Snape told the class to turn to in Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban! lol

[@cjg8763]

Just commented on this and had to do a lot of scrolling to find another mention of it (this one lol).

[@mr.dr0bot731]

So, are we Fire nation students at a fire nation university?

[@vaughnjohnson8767]

Apparently

[@superbeltman6197]

I guess

[@wreckitremy]

If u live in the U.S. we basically do

[@hannap.8414]

FNU '21

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

I hope they don't expect me to pay for this course. I've enough debt already.

[@someromaboo]

I like how subtly this video shows that the world of Avatar it depicts grew to be very disillusioned with the Avatar especially the professor. Because of course he is he's a scholar and the Avatar is basically a spiritual guide and political figure that has been "deified".

[@j2dragon109]

I think it's more a refrence to modern historians dislike of the 'Great Person Theory of History', which overfocuses on the acomplisments of single great men and how they shaped history whilst ignoring the economic, cultrual and enviromential forces at play. The impression I got is that the world at large still likes the Avatar, he personaly just thinks that they are focused on too much and given too much importance in history (and possibly outside of history as well). Btw I think he is mostly wrong here as the Avatar is effectively a force of nature with the knowledge and experience of a thousand men and women, that has been in existence since before recorded history. But it dose make him much more interesting as a character.

[@nousername191]

@@j2dragon109 I'm with you and I'd like to add that the Avatar also does a LOT of work to keep balance and peace that would be hard to find in the history books. As the bridge between Spirits and humans, most of their work in that department would go unrecorded unless the Spirits start giving their historical account to humans now that the Sprit gates are left open. Interestingly enough, it seems Avatar Szeto agrees somewhat with the history professor as he chose to ignore the "One man peacekeeping" aspect of being the Avatar and chose to focus on solving bureaucratic and economic issues from the inside.

[@MogofWar]

His favorite Avatar is clearly Aang, followed closely by Korra and Kuruck.. and he thinks all the others to arise before and since ain't been nothin' but bitches.

[@wildfire9280]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@nousername191 Avatar Szeto’s discovery of calculus was an indispensable boon to the Fire Nation’s industrial boom without which the 100 Years War could not have been a logistically capable feat.

[@coldermusic2729]

You actually sound like a real history teacher. Not only that, but your “class” actually feels like it was talking about real events. I believe that in the future of the avatar world this would actually be how they teach it 😆

[@joseserrano5323]

The Fire Nation: They were sooooooo powerful What the Fire Nation actually did: I didn’t just kill the men I killed the women and children they were animals so I slandered them like animals Anakin: *noding and clapping*

[@LaneyStudios5]

Nice little Wang Fire reference you've snuck in there Tim!

[@cjg8763]

I'm watching now hoping to meet a Sapphire Fire later in the video 😆

[@benjdelphi]

I appreciate the historical inaccuracy if we assume Avatar as an objective source, which is fun because history is often a best guess situation where we can gain a lot but miss a lot of context or small details get overlooked.

[@sergeantsonso3490]

if we had a person who has lived since the dawn of humanity, i can guarantee you we'd still be looking to them as a source on all matters regarding details of life in the past.

[@benjdelphi]

@@sergeantsonso3490 I meant the show. But I agree with your point.

[@seandabest4329]

It's similar to how the Bible was often used as a historical reference point. If you're willing to ignore the religious aspects, it was more than willing to include specific dates for specific events. Obviously you would want to corroborate what it says with other sources when you can, but there aren't many European books as old as the bible.

[@Felisquoreda]

@@sergeantsonso3490 I once saw a post somewhere like "I want realistic vampire fiction: Yeah, I was alive during the french revolution, but I had an identity crisis and was drunk the whole time. When I sobered up the world had just changed. Or: 1910s? Great decade! I found the love of my life and we just "had a whole lot of fun. winkwink" what do you mean, tragedies? Your comment just reminded me 😁

[@phieillydinyia]

My mum really walked in while I was watching this and asked "whatcha watching?" and I responded "a history video :)...". She was proud of me for like two whole minutes before she realised it was fake ffs xD

[@balar7]

"That warped belief echoed by our own nationalist parties in the senate in recent years". - Subtle.

[@seandabest4329]

Getting some real Palpatine vibes there

[@thomaswillard6267]

@@seandabest4329 Just Palpatine?

[@seandabest4329]

@@thomaswillard6267 no one does the Senate like Palpatine, but generally nationalist parties having ideas that aren't really fun for those they exclude aren't a recent thing.

[@nixian_zwaylus]

yet true.

[@BigMuskachini]

bias

[@slightlyembittered]

Well that was interesting. It was cool that Blue and Red had speaking parts. Any reason for the classroom style this time?

[@matthewletexier]

I assume it's just a fun medium to make the video more interesting

[@vaughnjohnson8767]

Yes! We need more of this

[@sethkeown5965]

I miss the class room. I cant stand this online learning im doing.

[@chiefcleve1834]

How u commented 2 days ago when the video was posted 10 hours ago

[@matthewletexier]

@@chiefcleve1834 patreon

[@KatherinaBathory]

Wow... The class was so good that I dammed the bell ringing!

[@LancesArmorStriking]

I gotta be honest- In the context of a college classroom, Red and Blue sound like the middle-age adults that are "going back to school" and they're super into every lecture-

[@GlacianChill]

Today i learned that the Unnamed Lavabending Avatar (the one before Yangchen) has a name, Szeto, and was also incredibly important to his home nation. I wonder what he would have thought about the war... knowing that he, unknowingly and unintentionally, helped bring it about.

[@beatthegreat7020]

I'm exited for Tim starting to look like a camp counselor.

[@aylacastolo5843]

Last time I was this early the air nomads were still alive.

[@emilytopham5069]

Couldn't resist responding "And also with you" to Prof. Fire's closing benediction, darn Catholic conditioning! A fascinating look at what a history class in the far future of the Avatar world might look like, and really solid application of the worldbuilding principles you've laid out in previous videos--no conflict has only one cause, and the dominoes start to fall further back than you think.

[@Mysteri0usChannel]

As a German, this really reminded me of how WW1 and WW2 and especially the Holocaust are taught here where they happened.

[@Max3110]

As a fellow German ”where they happened” is technically correct but a real understatement.

[@SpeedingWheelbarrow]

Dang. This was an amazing idea! Lectures have always been my favourite way of learning, video essays are great too but the lecture style really made that much better for me. And I love the perspective of a history class from the future looking back on the events we know so well. If this is gonna be a series I want to be signed up for the class. I enjoyed that you went out of your way to make it a collab just for some minor parts as students voices. The whole thing is genius and you went above and beyond I really hope there are more in the pipeline.

[@naor_cg]

I loved the presentation on this one, didn't expect that, and I loved the OSP collab here! Also, I didn't know / think of how much more there was to the 100 years war... Great video!

[@Figgy5119]

So I am an English teacher in Japan and one of my duties is running my school's English club. Avatar never aired here because the Nickelodeon channel was cancelled three episodes into Avatar's initial airing, so it is totally unknown. It's well known that the Fire Nation is largely based on Japan, but the thing is that Japan also does not teach about its own history from the start of its imperial expansion age on. The first half of the twentieth century is usually a few pages in the history book if anything at all. So I was really curious to see if as we started watching Avatar in English club if they would start catching on to the references. And this video here makes it even more apparent how similar Japan and the Fire Nation are in those respective eras. And so far we are half way through season one, and so far I've overheard my students say they think the Fire Nation is based off China. I wonder if they will change their minds when we see more episodes in the Earth Kingdom which has much more Chinese inspiration later on.

[@jonathandixon1305]

Lol! You are literally in the Fire Nation.

[@MappingEagle]

I know this comment was a year ago if not longer, but if you have the time could you please give an update or reply about if the student's perspectives changed after having finished the show? Did they learn more about the real world inspirations? The curiosity is killing me and it would make my day because this topic is so interesting to me now that you mention it

[@Figgy5119]

@@MappingEagle they only saw season 1, unfortunately, since they voted to move on to other things after we finished the first twenty episodes. But I have since begun teaching a university level English class with only one student in it, and although we have not started season 2 yet, I think she is able to see the connection because with just the two of us, we actually can do deeper discussions on the episodes.

[@Geninacra]

I sugest that you tackle the "theory" that "Flameo" is actually a curse word. Probably tought to Aang by his firenation friend as a joke. ¿The evidence? Chief Beifong upon seeing the aftermath of makorra breakup. "What the *flameo* has hapend here?" Maeby a bit... small for a video. But it can be fun to insert somewhere.

[@ahumanbeingfromtheearth1502]

So basically aang is just going around telling people "fuck you"? Headcannon accepted

[@sforzando]

let 👏 beifong 👏 say 👏 fuck 👏

[@QuikVidGuy]

@@ahumanbeingfromtheearth1502 or chief was just saying the equivalent of "what the buster?"

[@frankspick7544]

i think flameo suffered a better lack of word meaning change over time so flameo could of change is the past hundred years

[@CarlosRodriguez-dh7mm]

December 4th is my birthday! I'll look into the charity and likely tell people to donate instead of give to me. I only say likely because as a principle I need to trust any charity I donate to or promote.

[@RottenBen]

"Page 394 in your textbooks." I'm not letting you slip that HP reference in without being noticed, Tim.

[@fireredemblem4943]

As everyone else here, love the lecture format of this video!! Also, as someone who hasn't read any of the comics, I found the information you provided really interesting in terms of understanding the ATLA/LOK world. It makes sense that consolidating power to the Firelord and the royal family, while it may have had some early benefits, would lay the groundwork for a dictator-esque leadership, and as you said a "cult-like following". Also the war with the Fifth Nation as a way to increase naval supremacy without arousing suspicions makes a lot of sense. Overall, just extremely fascinating how the Avatar world was developed so richly, borrowing concepts from our own world, with which we can recognize and attempt to avoid such pitfalls.

[@Taniseth]

2:05 "I will be playing Zelda: Breath of the Wild for the very first time, completely blind [folded]." - Is what I wish he had said.

[@charlations]

He didn't? I really understood that he was going to play blindfolded???

[@joshuabrown7815]

ZeroLenny: What’s up bitches to about to get spicy

[@mantilauber1]

I love that OSP guest starred! I would love to take this course with them! Good topic, seemingly fair treatment of the topic... good world building.

[@singletona082]

Oh hey Red from overly sarcastic. Nice.

[@thommyneterv]

And blue of course

[@vaughnjohnson8767]

And blue of course

[@ILikedGooglePlus]

And blue of course

[@vaughnjohnson8767]

And Blue of course

[@UltaFlame]

And Blue, of course.

[@chinangel]

i would love to see more of this 'fantasy college lecture' setup

[@Paytonzane]

...well now I want a fanfic series about this university and Red and Blue's adventures into learning this topic, and Professor Wang Fire's attempts to make sure the truth is known.

[@joshuakusuma5953]

I came in prepared to learn something new about Avatar and came out wondering how a lot of schools in the world today teach the more... uncomfortable topics in their countries' history.

[@a-ramenartist9734]

the guys who made avatar watching this: "woah I'm learning so much!"

[@Mikesean45]

Poor Yun isn't even remembered for helping deal with the Fifth Nation.

[@Schuyler2614]

To be fair, he also went on a murder spree after being dethroned as an "imposter". Probably overshadowed the good stuff he did in the eyes of history.

[@wolfishpotato6978]

I cried so much reading about what happened to him and the final battle between him and kyoshi.. also probably the reason that he's not mentioned is some internal continuity with the fact that basically everyone in power tried to pretend he had never existed because they were so embarrassed about being wrong of hwo the avatar was

[@thatoneguy1350]

who's yun, is it a kyoshi thing because I haven't read those novels yet but no spoilers because I fully intend to

[@Mikesean45]

@@thatoneguy1350 Yes, he's from the novels. Great books, highly recommended

[@wolfishpotato6978]

@@thatoneguy1350 Yep, kyoshi novels, important character

[@Trithis2077]

Well, this just became my favorite college class. Although I forgot to pick up a textbook so I'm only going off of my personal readings, albeit that is rather expansive readings. I've watched both the docuseries on Avatar Aang ending the 100 year war and the docuseries on Avatar Korra's first three years in the public (though I suppose that one isn't pertinent to this class). I've also listened to the recounts of Avatar Kyoshi's first couple years as the Avatar and read through the available history books accompanying the Avatar Aang docuseries. That being said, I believe it is worth noting that, while war is never a good thing, nor were the tactics used by Firelord Sozin to establish then Firenation colonies, those colonies were the first step in unifying the nations. Take Yu Dao for example. With the help of Avatar Aang and Firelord Zuko, Yu Dao established the first joint nation government in history. Or even look to the beacon of unity, Republic City, which was originally a Firenation colony. Would the nations have eventually unified without these colonies? It's very likely, yes, but not certain. It was only some 200 years ago that seeing a member of the Water Republic (The Water tribe) in the Earth Republic (Then Earth Kingdom) was a strikingly rare sight. Not unheard of mind you, but they would certainly stand out. Change does not like to happen quickly unless it is forced to do so, and the Firenation colonies did just that; they forced Fire Nationals to live side by side with Earth Kingdom Citizens. Again, I don't want to come off as an imperialist apologist, but I do believe it is valuable to recognize the good things that come from terrible events.

[@Raedan23]

You've made some great videos through out the years but this one is my favorite by far. I would love to see more like this in the future.

[@Raw_alfred]

Toph the Great I’m amazed she didn’t get like 50 titles Toph mother of metal bending Toph the great metal teacher Damn my historical bias showing she invented a new sub form but maybe it’s not enough to be remembered in history.

[@thispersonwriting1889]

Nobody else mentioned even gets a sobriquet, and every other individual is downplayed. Given that the avatars are described as mythologized and exaggerated, the fact that Toph is just straight-up “Toph the Great” and unambiguously credited with the invention of metal bending in a specific year, speaks volumes.

[@BlackSteelKeyChain]

Thank you for spreading awareness of this crucial history taught to our children that need to learn this tragic part of history so as to ensure it doesn’t repeat and more importantly so they can properly address their lasting scares in their nation. I can’t believe main stream news channels like Fire Ferret News are so callously misrepresenting this critical bender theory in order to deny our history of racism and facism that lead us to those horrible tragedies and will make us repeat them if not properly addressed

[@qazzie5336]

0:04 "LAPTOP TM"

[@Laura-xy5he]

As a history major in college now. I can confirm this is pretty accurate. I love it, amazing job

[@Rixec2]

It really is fascinating to look at the history of Avatar like this, how it's so complex yet streamlined, showing that while there were definitely black and white moralities at play when the war began, there were so many events no black and white that led to it, showing how it progressed.

[@jsmith4liberty]

This was actually quite the interesting way to explore the lore of a series... Really would love to see more in this style.

[@auramire6304]

I love this video so much - thinking about how people in the future of Avatar's universe would discuss and think about their own history is fascinating, and the format fits that perfectly.

[@leschwachkopf5563]

That was really interesting, it was very much like learning about WW2 here in Germany, but less removed from it. It is in a way more open than Germany treats the topic, which is weird because, the acknowledgement of being at fault is so much closer to being personal. German education makes WW2 feel like it was marked by institutional changes but this direct acknowledgement of guilt in this fictional story changes my own perspective on reality. This shows how great this video truly is.

[@Max3110]

Who was your history teacher? We got like the whole guilt trip in my school. Like this was just a flashback to it.

[@leschwachkopf5563]

@@Max3110 Well we were watching a lot of films about it (documentaries) and it was really focussed on institutional failure. We did't really talk a lot about what happened, because it is pretty well known by now but rather about how a republic could fail so badly and later what a failure the eastern front especially Stalingrad was.

[@Max3110]

we talked about that too but it was a smaller part. Glad my school has a fine nose for history teachers. Sagt man das überhaupt im Englischen? Eine Nase für etwas haben? (Zurück zum Englisch, damit andere nicht gezwungen sind Google übersetzter zu benutzen) What I view as problematic is the way the 3rd Reich was treated in a museum I was. Sure it mostly was about how this special place was important for rocket science but just at one or two points said how awful this place also was and with that also tried to sound controversial. Like ”But were these scientists using people imprisoned in the KZ nearby for their rocket lauchners that horrible persons?”

[@leschwachkopf5563]

@@Max3110 I see that problem and I agree, but I also have to be honest and say that I like the aproach we had in school because it showed us beyond the guilt that we were forced to feel when visiting Sachsenhausen. I think it is important to see the wider picture of a flawed system to show how this could even escalate to the point it did and why the NSDAP even gainde the traction it did. As I said I think you are right in your dislike of shedding doubt onto the view of that meseum but I think guilt alone is not the way to educate people and prevent something similar repeating itself.

[@Kelpo45]

Dein Lehrer war echt schlecht

[@GeneralLuigiTBC]

"Only" sixty pages... Yep, that sounds like college.

[@owenorceater7845]

dude PLEASE do more like this, I absolutely LOVED this!!! Also, I LOVED the OSP cameo!!

[@classyoldsole2539]

This video’s so freakin awesome Tim, I already have a growing obsession with learning more about history & mythology So needles to say, I LOVED IT!! .. Also *Toph the GREAT!!!* 🤩 Sorry I had to say it, I just couldn’t resist. 😄

[@hangebza6625]

It always confuses me how small the avatar world is. Inatlly I thought it had the same size as earth. But if you look at the travel times for example. In the final episodes appa cruised from the fire nation to a random spot in the earth kingdom to ba sing se and then to the fire nation in what 48 hours? And 150.000 max death in a genocide of the fourth largest nation in the world? Even by medival standards that is way to low

[@francogiobbimontesanti3826]

They were nomads, modern day population of mongolia is only two million and in 1940 750,000 imagine in the 1700s

[@hangebza6625]

@@francogiobbimontesanti3826 considering the mongolian way of live did not change drastiacly between the 12th century and the 1950 it would have been roughly on the same level if ot affected by wars or crisis'. However the mongols and ajr nomads are not comparable. Two examples: 1. Air nomads know agriculture in and around their temples. Agriculture is able to feed way more people than the sheperd lifestyle of most nomads. The mongols do the latter as mongolian steppes climate inhibits agriculture. 2. The air nomads own three large island chains, which in relation cover much more on the worlds surface then the mongolian steppes. Lastly the air nomads are more nomads in name only, probably because boarders of artifacal or natural design do not boather them. If they were true nomads they would have no fixed currency and would lack the logistics to build the temples and other artefacts. Plus it would have been way way harder fore the fire nation to wipe them out, if they were true nomads. Currently it is presented as attacking the air temples was enough

[@taylor_green_9]

@@hangebza6625 I always imagined that the "nomads" title came from their frequent pilgrimages

[@hangebza6625]

@@taylor_green_9 this is probably true. Plus that they have they have the easiest means to travel the world as they can fly over everything. Otherwise nothing in their society makes them comparable to real nomadic societies as far as I know.

[@francogiobbimontesanti3826]

Han Gebza Mongols used to have cities too. And they built temples and statues. Also they didn’t have bending so I’d imagine it would be easier for air nomads to move materials or cut stone with air attacks. But most of the population were nomads. I imagined it’s the same thing for the air nomads, with only the spiritual leaders actually living in the temples to take care of the children. The air nomads island are extremely tiny and rocky so their isn’t much livable space. 150k is completely believable I would say.

[@Deadlyish]

Lol at the lecture intro giving me flashbacks to being in a uni class with Tim. Awesome to see you using the things you learned to give other people free education and entertainment dude.

[@herkles5416]

I really like this format for telling lore of avatar, or other series.

[@HillelHW]

I love how the info is presented it's such a cool frame and you go into great detail!!

[@devan6935]

"page 394" This seems....familiar

[@superbeltman6197]

Seems..... random and insignificant

[@MarikoftheShadows]

Last time I turned to a page with that number it was about werewolves

[@spencersholden]

What year is this lecture taking place in, Tim? Never mind he said see the Great Comet in a few weeks. It’s 200 AG.

[@killerbee.13]

It says on screen in the first few seconds that it's in 328 AG

[@anarnarqelion4403]

@@killerbee.13 which I'm kinda confused by, does the comet come in another interval and 100 years is simply easier to remember or what happened there?

[@killerbee.13]

@@anarnarqelion4403 well, 109 years and 4 months is a pretty reasonable comet orbital period, but as far as I know in the show they only ever say 100 years, and ~110 is pretty far off of that, so it's probably just an error on Tim's part.

[@QuikVidGuy]

if they're seeing Great Comment it would be around 2016 or so

[@Jackass887]

This idea of the classroom feel was brilliant! I felt like I was in a legit classroom. And with it being it’s the avatar series we are discussing, I’m paying close attention in class!

[@PhoenixCrown]

Tim continues to amaze me with his creativity in presenting fascinating, real-world lessons in entertaining and original ways. Thanks for continuing to bring us lessons from history, and for helping those struggling with their own afflictions!

[@razanfaisal886]

I feel that after the war zuko introduced this in the curriculum

[@alexgroot2508]

Brilliant choice rolling with a classroom setting. Its a nice change of pace from the other videos, one I would very much like to see in the future if the topic allows.

[@connorhart7597]

The immersion in this video is absolutely INSANE holy shit m8 good job. different voices for the students? SO GOOD

[@ThatF_ckingguy]

Ok but now im actually nervous about this essay assignment we got coming lol

[@tejing2001]

I love that this story has enough depth that you can do this level of detailed analysis of it. Also, the classroom format was fun and worked well for this topic.

[@WeizDLC]

Absolutely love your work and this is, IMO, your best yet! Thank you so much and congratulations on coordinating a beautifully executed collaboration.

[@Ruminations09]

This is probably my favorite Avatar related video I've ever watched. Fantastic job, loved every moment of it!

[@janusnightshade9848]

Oh cool new format, love the animatics style good work Tim.

[@quinnsinclair7028]

Fire, blood, and steam. I thought blood was a water tribe power?

[@rekaluiza1752]

I‘m impressed about how much work went into this. Well done

[@tiredjediknight3110]

I absolutely love this format, well done Tim I was hooked the whole way through