What The Barbarians Did For Art: The Huns, Vandals and Goths (Waldemar Januszczak) | Perspective

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The "Barbarians" are often blamed for the collapse of the Roman Empire, but in reality they were fascinating civilisations that produced magnificent art. Focusing on the often already Christian Huns, Vandals and Goths, Januszczak follows each tribe's journey across Europe to settle in new lands and discovers the incredible art they produced along the way.
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From The Dark Ages: An Age of Light
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[@trotterhorsewatsonjr.6668]

You are what this country lacks in teachers, humour, knowledge, compassion empathy, yes enthusiasm, and teaching! I am old now but being retired and have time to watch this, my world has opened up to unimaginable horizons!! God bless "You Tube"

[@nak5eno616]

Teaching?! I didn't learn anything about art. Sounds like he's reading directly from Wikipedia. Maybe he should waste less time walking around the woods and actually do some research and tell us more about the actual art.

[@pilijones4801]

I adore the language of the descriptions. The narrative. The way he uses the verve to describe. He’s a marvellous storyteller.

[@cinemafia]

Love the little black cat joining Waldemar on a walk at 8:17!

[@adamcfmacdonald]

‘Made by a bloke.. Big Hands.” Love this guy. More videos please.

[@imsosmart942]

The production of these shows, especially this one, is unrivaled! Not a surprise, coming from Valdemar.. But then maybe I liked this episode so much because my name is... Barbara...!

[@SP_3333]

😁👍

[@junestanich7888]

Me too!

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

It was BBC production? He is the Presenter?

[@kidohchi]

..I'm sorry, I just can't understand what you're saying?.. ^_,^

[@michaelaston4503]

@@junestanich7888 !00000000000000aa000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000qqq

[@pasodiufwen]

Far and away one of the most well-educated educators whose knowledge spans a tremendous range of art. What a fascinating man.

[@mishagas3912]

Mr Waldemar, you are a genius. Thank you so much for all your films, they are brilliant, entertaining and highly educational.

[@lisawilliamson5012]

Waldemar, we recently discovered you, when I was looking for videos on Islamic architecture. We were enthralled! Your name has now become a household word, like "Which Waldemar documentary shall we watch tonight?" You never dissappoint! Thank you so much. You are so authentic.

[@urmorph]

Also, thanks for including the music of that middle-nineteenth-century hun, R. Wagner. He liked gold bling, too. And big brass instruments.

[@x7j4]

The guy that makes these ‘films’ is absolutely amazing!! I learn so much from his art history films. My favourites so far have been the series on Impressionists, but all his films are excellent.

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

Well considering someone has simply downloaded them from a proper TV documentary series , no doubt it should be good!

[@jaymo8206]

I loved the line..'the fake goths from Cambridge.' Lol. Thanks Waldemar you make art and history, two of my passions, very amusing and never boring.

[@anthonypulle8039]

I think he said, fake goths of Camden,an area of London. Tony Pulle

[@Saffron-sugar]

@@anthonypulle8039 yes. I am one of those Goths from Camden (earlier in the video, he refers to us as “oily punks with dyed black hair who worship the devil”) and I am not amused. You would think a bloody art critic would know about the Victorian Gothic renaissance. All black corsets and funeral garb. That’s where modern goths come from, not the barbarian tribes. Either way, what did we ever do to him?

[@jaxellis3008]

Waldemar, thank you so much for this channel. All of your content is fantastic. I've fallen down the rabbit hole and watched almost every single show but I have a soft spot especially for this period which is often so shadowy. And you have successfully illuminated it for me and a multitude of others. Thanks again.

[@heidimiller642]

I don't think we should think of this work as "falling down a rabbit hole." When we spend time watching these videos, we are doing further research into history. The phrase "Falling down a rabbit hole" implies that this work is not worthy of our time, and I do not agree with that idea. As Waldemar points out (putin) in this video, The Barbarians had a bad reputation as being uncivilized. When we spend the time to investigate the Barbarians, we find that this is not true. Who slandered the Barbarians, and why would they? These are valid questions.

[@heidimiller642]

Spokane Diploma Mill, Dixie Randock, 2011 Spokane Review. In light of this situation, I'm even more convinced that we have a responsibility to challenge our teachers. Some teachers got jobs with fake diplomas from this mill.

[@jaxellis3008]

@@heidimiller642??

[@hoodstrong6980]

Lll999lal⁰0pp PINK 0

[@melly1432]

@@heidimiller642 you can fall into good rabbit holes, you know.

[@NancyBiker]

As much as J loved Dr. Schoop I wish Waldemar had been my Art History professor. He makes it all so much more interesting. I would have probably changed my major.

[@marieelena]

Love the presenter in this series,he is both quirky and interesting!

[@StephiSensei26]

Waldemar, you bring light into the Dark ages. Your programs subtly teach and illuminate and your cheeky humor traps the story in our minds and hearts. Bravo!

[@JonFrumTheFirst]

He gets the reference to Germans as 'Huns' wrong. It was the Kaiser himself who told his soldiers to fight 'like Huns.' The Allies just picked it up and ran with it.

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

He gets a lot of things wrong. Like he says Barbara means Barbarian, when he has himself said it was merely 'foreign' In a doc on the Arnolfini Marriage he rewrites the whole painting, with a total story that has no credence whatsoever. All about the 'Bride' being pregnant and dying in childbirth and this being the 'husbands' memorial to her. No evidence, whatsoever, Just W off on one of his fantasy trips again. Another documentary remade the dress, proved how it was a simple Bling thing, and she was Not pregnant. It was the Frock! But he's a bloke, what does he know about fashion?

[@TorMax9]

Brilliant! There's a little bit of Visigoth in all of us. A golden crown on an adventurous heart.

[@granthurlburt4062]

"WHAT have the barbarians ever done for ART? OK, they did this and that, but apart from that..." Thanks again, Waldemar. Both you and Bettany Hughes are absolutely top of your respective fields. You are both genuinely enthusiastic, never snarky., can be funny, and are wonderfully knowledgeable. We fans of history and history of art are lucky to have you both (I know you two are unrelated, but no one else compares to you two,)

[@gilberttessier1871]

Absolutely beautiful Perspectives! Thank you so much, again and again!

[@nuriaarfa-zanganeh630]

Once one listens to his vídeo lectures , one will not forget the subject. Good for my a English too! Thank you for an amazing entertainment. 🇪🇸

[@artteachernc9119]

I’m amazed how each of these are just so amazing. Well produced, well written, a feast for the eyes and the spirit.

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

Yes, because they were produced by the BBC or another major UK station. and someone is cashing in and probably breaking copyright

[@frankiescorpio8103]

He puts some of the most interesting Art and History programs out.

[@m.entera3196]

I love this series and presenter which is the only reason I watch it. The constant commercials are beyond annoying and disruptive, and after checking into the British network that makes these I discovered it's a corporate entity trying to unseat the BBC's prominence. Another reason to support publicly funded/non-commercial programming. Same quality minus commercial interruption.

[@77heraclitus]

Great series of illuminating videos! Love the erudition and wit he brings. Thank you.

[@melly1432]

definition of erudition for those who didn’t know (quite like myself): scholarship; the quality of having great knowledge or learning. Also, what a proper good name to have 😊heraclitus

[@memoi6308]

These documentaries are awesome!!! Binge watching.

[@gems34]

Such invigorating perspectives of art and history watching these episodes has bean a refreshing treasure.

[@shreyasshankar4109]

Yeah!

[@midnighfairy]

Love this presentation and the presentateur is fantastic Waldemar is great

[@gretasimmons8987]

So great to learn something new! They all sound like interesting people, who should not be forgotten! 👍😊

[@Paeoniarosa]

Yes, I would love to see him do documentaries on the Ostrogoths and Visigoths. Waldemar is such an interesting story/history teller.

[@rutbrea8796]

I love your narrative. It's beautiful art and well chosen for a video like this. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us .

[@melanieohara6941]

The Hun Horse Art is magnificent. Watching from Wyoming-Thank You!🙋🏼‍♀️

[@emsnewssupkis6453]

I love how this video avoids the 'rape/loot/burn' parts of barbarian invasions. Pretty jewelry but lots of dead bodies and destroyed cities in their wake.

[@melanieohara6941]

@@emsnewssupkis6453 Still super usetting-for me, anyway. 😫

[@joangordoneieio]

I was fascinated by their relationship with their horses. In 5th grade I did an entire report on "The Parting Shot" .

[@seastorm1979]

Cats always turn up from somewhere! 🐈‍⬛Weird! I love Waldemar´s stout humour and humble enthusiasm😊

[@tommunyon2874]

Back in the 1960s I was in Honors History. For the Russian History unit we had to choose a republic of the Soviet Union on which to research and report. I chose Kazakhstan in part because of pictures I had seen of the artwork produced by the nomadic, ancestral people of the area.

[@Merrymangoes]

Another enjoyable documentary by W.J...

[@Cynsome1]

Love your style Waldemar! Thanks for the excellent videos!

[@katrinaniewiarowski3549]

You know if you offered to hug those Goths in your home town I’ld bet 2 things 1) they’ll give the best and biggest hugs 2)they’re more like the original Goths then you realize

[@deliafunk9810]

A most enlightening series, thank you so much, you have changed my life!!

[@robliefeld2646]

Changed your life, really? I'd love to know how.

[@deliafunk9810]

@@robliefeld2646 Your video gave me insight! Shows how things perpetually rise and fall, same things are going on now, just different names and guises. Your video is very well made, so dense with info, such a pleasure to watch, thanks once again!

[@evertvandenberghe]

Gotta love this view on the past. Splendid documentary!

[@lesleehackenson7897]

Great stuff, I have thoroughly enjoyed all your presentations!

[@lordharrington1945]

Outstanding my friend, you bring history alive. Riveting and engaging.

[@sergiozam2012]

Love your videos, dear Waldemar. Thanks!

[@hillarychapman1]

THe section on the Vandals makes all kinds fo jumps. They are described as "farmers" and then are conquering. The mosaics seem to be attributed o them but it's the Carthaginian artists who were mosaics. The fact that the Vandals and the other barbarians wanted to be like the ROmans meant that the Roman culture was the stronger one

[@stephanebelizaire3627]

Very Good Documentary ! As Good as a University Lecture, Bravo !

[@jenniferpeters3702]

One of my very favourite videos of his. 🏆

[@karistone1297]

As a decendant of the Wendish people, 'the Vandals', I thank you for correcting this misnomer.

[@Angayasse]

From an eldergoth who loves history and art, respectfully: we are not satanists :) Although I hace slightly expected this to be said. Apart from this, I love this series. :)

[@Saffron-sugar]

As an eldergoth myself , specifically a Camden goth, you took his insults with much greater class and aplomb than I did. I’m a bit disappointed that Waldemar seems ignorant of the entire Victorian Gothic renaissance period…. But mostly that he called us oily 😂

[@catherinejohnson2235]

WOW! No words except PERFECT!!

[@jumaris28]

This is incredible work Thanks a million for your teachings and search God keep you blessing with your talent and knowledge !! 🙏🏼😘

[@Trp44]

Such great work💯💯💯

[@Michael-qv1vb]

I’ve always admired the stories of his life.

[@MalteseKat]

why? he was just a little weasel

[@Michael-qv1vb]

@@MalteseKat who?

[@patriciahooks4090]

Every ," documentary," is magnificent!

[@Phorquieu]

Brilliant interweaving of art and history! Waldemar hath done it yet again!

[@IMArtisanX]

I would love to see Waldemar do a series on Fantasy and Science Fiction Illustration from the 1700's to the present day. What would he think of Frank Frazetta, for example...

[@reignsebastian454]

i want to know more about Waldy's sweet gold skull ring. :)

[@suegreene1]

Invigorating but you only touched the tip of the Gothic and Suevi art in Spain without the Celtic Art you didn't complete the "Barbaric" in this such a rich patrimony. I'm so interested in the Steppe's cultures and Arts modelled around their nomadic or semi-nomadic lives.

[@josephpetrino1741]

Hooray for Adblock!!!!!!

[@megancrager4397]

Can I do that on my phone?

[@dupesleftrubesright7967]

2:56 "What Have the Barbarians Ever Done For Us?!" Sorry, Monty Python flashback.

[@evertvandenberghe]

Roflmao!!

[@madmax-rf4tb]

Give me life and all im

[@marjoriegarner5369]

very funny

[@tennillepatterson5500]

Did anyone else notice the black cat walking beside him? Hilarious 😂

[@marjoriegarner5369]

The black cat was very noticeable...I thought it was there on purpose, but then, cats don't often do things that humans want them to do.

[@geraldwalker2612]

He also has this thing this love of maps not just in this episode either great stuff

[@catsupchutney]

I enjoy all your videos!

[@barbaraolson600]

Love the the wolf neckpiece.'' It worn her Thank you and everyone who works to make and post this video series.

[@darrenvarley105]

The narration and editing style of these documentaries are quite entertaining in a borderline goofy kind of way.

[@P.Galore]

What a great series!

[@drintx5734]

Fascinating!

[@rosellaaalm-ahearn1760]

Hey Waldemar, Another thing that you could have mentioned is that the Vandals named part of Spain after itself. The lovely Andalucia is named after the Vandals. Great movies!

[@marinieves9717]

No. Al andalus. From the muslims

[@SamtheIrishexan]

Love some art history. A pieces history is what makes them valuable.

[@lechat8533]

All your films should be integrated into the curriculum at school. If I could I would give you at least a million likes. Thank You so very much!

[@mattr2319]

Can you include a few more adds I can still see some of the video

[@imsosmart942]

You made me laugh!

[@imsosmart942]

I know what you mean... But it must be horrendously expensive to produce these videos oh, so I can put up with the ads... But you're right oh, there are a lot of them!

[@dburgd99]

@@imsosmart942 This wasn't produced by this channel they just uploaded it. The makers of this series get NO money for it. Ad Block highly recommended.

[@helpyourcattodrive]

Waldemar is all I need.

[@p5rsona]

the way he delivers the humour with such a deadpan face is hilarious

[@DeepPastry]

Wait, are you saying someone vandalized the Vandal's good name?

[@skyqueen1148]

The Visigoths: "You can't miss them, they're the ones without clothes on" !

[@Nighthawk799]

Absolutely wonderful!! It's like studying history with a new eyes!. My art professor at the classic lyceum in Italy totally sucked!🙄😗

[@xcesar4impx666]

the amount of useless garbage they try to sell you, in commercials, just to try to watch this awesome series , its beyond annoying

[@fungool]

get an ad blocker!

[@cathyerley3057]

Aahhh, the symbolism (27:15)! This is the first video of yours I've watched, you're a pretty funny guy.

[@priscillageluk4611]

Very beautiful

[@themysteriousdomainmoviepalace]

Good name for a band! Geezer and the Vandals.

[@heidimiller642]

There's something Waldemar does not mention. The Greeks called these people "Barbarians" because the Barbarians had no organized military. They would run up, one at a time, and take a swipe at a Greek soldier, then run away. They ran out into the uncivilized forest, where their people made guteral sounds like sheep: " BaaBaa." I learned this in a youtube about Hadrian's wall.

[@Dunge0n]

'Barbarian' means bearded. They called them uncivilized, sure, but that's all that term meant.

[@heidimiller642]

@@Dunge0n Thank you for sharing that information. Do you happen to know which language interprets the word Barbarian as to mean Bearded? I've found this to be a common problem. A certain epithet becomes common. When we talk to other cultures about that epithet, we frequently find that this epithet has origins in more than one language.

[@evamaria6720]

Always funny how he explains with his whole body!

[@user-wl8wf6yx9u]

You are a brilliant and bright star bringing light to our souls. Your voice is better than the narrator of the movie Barry Lyndon.

[@alanlawrence2954]

The presenter likes dramatic, scary scenes... I can just hear him thinking, "I hope these barbarian horsemen don't trample me to a bloody pulp..." Then, "Oh well, at least I'll get a hero's send off to Valhalla."

[@fondoftheduh]

Mind blown.

[@keybawd4023]

Waldemar, please don't stop making these amazing documentaries. Your videos helped me to survive Covid lockdown, survive the disease, and come out of it all understanding so much about pictorial art that I had never noted before. I watch and watch again your videos. God Bless you.

[@thomasjamison2050]

There is a connection of Arianism and the octagon which runs through religious history. Not as meaty a story as this one, but an intriguing one. I also have a pet theory that religion played a vital role in preventing the Romans from developing a lot of technology. This I base on the way that the major religious players relied on what they considered secret technology to promote religious belief. This goes back to at least the Greeks and probably further. Things like Temple doors that would swing open by themselves, fonts that would 'magically' fill at Easter etc. There is probably some of this sort of thing going on even today. At times, and here comes Gibbon again, such technology was notably used to convert the pagans by convincing pagan leaders that the Christian religion was indeed very powerful stuff. A bit like those French magicians pulling off their gig among 19th century Arabs in North Africa. And of course, we shouldn't pass up a chance to mention the usefulness of knowing when the next eclipse was coming. Mark Twain was not the first to latch onto this idea.

[@Kannot2023]

Christianity was the main religion in Europe since 330 till now. Why it didn't stop later any inventions? They didn't need steam engines because there were a lot of slaves and resources were abondant. The population was low, needs for wood and minerals was low, so they could extract it with human labour

[@thomasjamison2050]

@@Kannot2023 Read Gibbon.

[@thomasjamison2050]

@@Kannot2023 Read Gibbon.

[@claudialandgraf4450]

I loved it when the map showed the thuringians - my ancestors.

[@IHJello]

Waldemar puts up some big numbers. Man should proud hes doing his love justice

[@lisakilmer2667]

One big flaw about the Perspective channel is the fact that the source of these films is obscured. This is a BBC series from 2012. All of the credits have been cut off so that the filmographers, composers and other contributors are dismissed. I don't understand why this is so.

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

Because they want people to think it is Them. People make loads of money from You Tube. This is Bootlegging of the Highest order, because they are conning people into thinking it is W himself, and subscribing. To something that is breaking copyright probably. The Honest Vloggers who actually Make their own vids work damned hard for it, and some of them are equal, if not better than the TV productions, because they Really Have studied their subject and are not just prancing around reading a script, that is often incorrect. And they are doing it on a shoestring. .

[@markscott554]

I love his programs and, since I'm not the only one, I guess that's why there's SO MANY ADVERTS! Put 5 at the start if you like, KZbin, hell, 10, but not 1 almost every minute throughout the bloody show!

[@TorMax9]

Get AdBlock.

[@youcrazycat1]

Pay for Premium. It's worth it.

[@danyelnicholas]

Great concept, claiming to repudiate the received notion of barbarians and then unreel a stupendous yarn of evidence for how terrible these barbarians really were. The mosaics, bathhouses and most of the jewellery, btw, were made by local people.

[@thomaseriksson6256]

He helping mee to understand art as a Landscape photographer.

[@pooryorick831]

It was touched on about the British calling the Germans Huns in WWI. It was even more widespread in WWII. All the propaganda films that were produced for and shown to US soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen always referred to the Germans as "The Hun," as in "The Hun only understands one thing-- brute force!" Stuff like that.

[@lyndaanneshop]

Ahhh! I'm so glad you covered this obnoxious word. oh and "Yeah trousers!!"

[@SandyRiverBlue]

Irony. He insists that this was not a dark age. Tell me then, what did the Hunnic language sound like? They conquered a large percentage of the world, so give me a few phrases.

[@gloriagarcia8984]

I'm a Spaniard with a last name that comes from the Goths so it's really probable that my family has gothic roots ❤️

[@debd353]

I'm truly enjoying all the films I've seen by Mr Januszczak. They are expertly written, told and filmed. I am confused about one thing. In the previous film about how and why the image of Jesus changed in the Dark Ages, you use the mosaic of Christ's Baptism in Ravenna as an example of how the need for a feminine God lead to Jesus being portrayed soft and effeminate, with no facial hair. In this film about What The Barbarians Did For Art, the same mosaic is used as an example of Aryan Art, (where Jesus, although divine, is not equal to the father). Which is it?

[@soccerchamp0511]

What about the Celts?!?

[@Survivor-mf1nm]

I love Walemar, but I'm not jumping on the bandwagon of rebranding the Huns.

[@MrDXRamirez]

Remarkably beautiful. The Huns had not at all been nomadic if they smelted gold. They had to have a labor-process of converting Roman gold into art objects of gold implying they were settled and the reshaping of the heads, same with ancient Maya, a ritualism implies settlements. The artistry and work itself of the gold cups and bowls are exquisite sights of highly skilled labor implies there was a division of labor that requires settlement. Then there are precious stones embedded in the objects of art requires mining, quarry work, cutting and finishing all by hand manufacture, require the existence of other industries to make the tools the other skilled labors use for their productions. Finally the level of skill itself could not arrive to this stage of production if the culture were a nomadic collection of tribal families for this requires the cultivation of land or food, energy, sustenance, without which the skill level could not have reached.

[@robliefeld2646]

This dude really likes putting maps on the ground.

[@clintjohnson2460]

Magnificent series made unwatchable by the insane amount of ads.

[@gails6491]

2nd time around the ads don't play

[@clintjohnson2460]

@@gails6491 thanks for this tidbit.. We don't get these in the US.. fortunately I've been able to download most of his films on the internet after finding them by accident but I like to share them with others and I will let them know about your life hack on these..