Why does Lesotho Exist? (Short Animated Documentary)

Lesotho is one of the few enclave countries in the world (being a country entirely within another country) and given who it lived amongst it's fairly shocking that it managed to survive until the modern day. So how did Lesotho do it? Why does Lesotho exist? To find out watch this short and simple animated history documentary.
/ histmattersyt
Patreon: www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164
Merch: teespring.com/stores/history-...
A special thanks to all of these Patrons below, without whom the show wouldn't be possible:
Øystein Alsaker
thypthon
Dummy
Sergio M. Vela
Heath Robertson
0dd
Dave Brondsema
YouKnowWho
Michael Kram
Hasmuffin
Franco La Bruna
Southside Mitch
Azlow the Lion
John
Andrew Partington
Matthew Literovich
William Andrea
JakeBak0905
Ryan Schindeler
Hayden Rivers
Alex Teplyakov
Joooooshhhhhh
Gerald Armstrong
Piotr Wojnowski
Phoenix Fats
Steven Gibson
Stalliarus
Travis Mount
Joshua Rackstraw
Phillip Gathright
Shauna K
imperialgerman
Windischgraetz
Coolin Castleman
Samantha O'Leary
Jack Wicks
Philip Yip
Ariel David Moya Sequeira
Aaron Conaway
sharpie660
Andrea Dekrout
Christopher Godfrey
Richard Manklow
WR
Christian & Penny Gray
Tailsdoll
Vance Christiaanse
Andrew F
Andreas Mosand
Baste
Arthur Hosey Jr.
Dana Spurgeon
Joerg S
Eugene Delacroix
Nicholas Menghini
Erik Hare
Porkmeister
Konstantin Bredyuk
Colonel Oneill
William Swiacki
Ron Johnson
Adrian Marine
Matthew Toles
Allen Rines
Shawn Morse
zockotron
David Johnston
Jack Nelson
Katie Flinn
James Fouts
Jane Sumpter
Zach Rust
Sethars
Liam Gilleece
Roman Kynčl
Keith A. Layton
TheWalkingKen
Wesley Helgeson
Chase Labiste
Harley Raptopoulos
Ciege Engine
Vilena5
Angel Aguiñaga
Dr. Howard Dr. Fine Dr. Howard
Isabel Harrison
Tim Lane
Sahni
Clayton Schuman
Tactical_Jackal
Mark Hoffman
Snowdon
Chris Winther
Michael Galloway
Bradley Backoff
Chris Weisel
Imperial Pony
Serius_Loyola
Mickey Landen
Ian Jensen
Andrew Patane
Christine Purvis
Michael Myers
mgnesium.poetry
HelloAgain
Matt Reed
Leena Al-Souki
Robert Woodward
John Garcia
epic4
Nader Farhat
Perry Gagne
Victor Gomez
Anthony McCann
KNSTRKTVST
JAY ALAN EDELMAN
Matthew O'Connor
William Adderholdt
Wilhelm Screamer
Bernice
Dullis
Steve Bonds
ARandomPaperClip
tosha van opstall
Raymond He
Juliet Werewolf
Joshua Rosenberg
Curt Helmerich
Warren Rudkin
Juan Castillo
Bartosz Zasada
Chach
Abhijeeth
bas mensink
James Bisonette Fan #1
Stefan Møller
Steven Mastronardo
BattleGoat Studios
Joel Cromwell
Nathan Ngumi
Yossi Vainshtein
Aaron Larrow
David van Reyk
Thomas McGill
Joseph Hutchins
Ahmed Roshdi
Richard Wolfe
Dexter_McAaron
Andrew Niedbala
Ryan Marinelli
Joseph Reinsch
Gnar Slabdash
No way
Hexapuma
David Patrick Bucko
Magdalena Reinberg-Leibel
Christian Vasquez Leon
Colm Byrne
Liquid Chief
Marty Myers
Scott O'Donnell
James
Nicolas IDontThinkYouCare
emccabe
Matthew Trimborn
Oliver Jenner
Manny F
Malcolm Estus
Qi Xiao
Yared Cristiano
Adam Rabung
Jonny Minogue
Tino
Bernardo Santos
Tim Stumbaugh
Benjamin Bowring
Parth Sagdeo
Alex Kihurani
Bren Ehnebuske
Alen
SirAlpaka
Bodo Nuber
Ken Warner
Alex Slepak
Burt Clothier
kevinh
Ryan Haber
Matthew Bakke
Nathan Snyder
Daniel D.
Mars Project
Clay Carroll
Emily D
Vegard Tønnessen
Dima Volodin
Eddie
Azul Bravestrong
Coper
Melissa Prober
Bryan Linsley
Sean Long
Michael Cunningham
Mirza Ahmed
nullptr
Peter Marino
Brian Giordano
Yuichiro Kakutani
Gordon Wilson
anon
Mark Littlehale
Robert Mitchell
Tristan Kreller
Pat Stahl
Léon M.
Joker 54
Jeffrey Schneider
Joseph Kerckhoff
John Orr
I'm Not In The Description
Keith Garvey
LambOfLeg
Robert Brockway
Kevin Phoenix
Justin Pearson
Alex G.
Ball State
Michael Dierker
JT96
Justin Pratt
Phil and Lisa Toland
אורי פרקש
Thomas Wang
Wolf
Kinfe85
LUIS JIMENEZ
Jeremy Arghhhhh
mohd
Sophie Winter
Joshua A Bishop
Riley davidson
Tyler Jenkins
Charles Doolittle
Peter A Titov
Mark Ploegstra
Zachary Oertel
Colm Boyle
A. G.
Ellen Teapot
Dr. Schnitzel
Franklin Sousa
blaZzinG_FurY
Mik Scheper
Lech Duraj
Yick Chung
Dr. Sarno
Sean D.
Christopher Lichtenberg
Gregory Priebe
Rita Cragwall
Donald Weaver
Peter Konieczny
Seth Reeves
Andrey Listochkin
Colonel Cheng
Alexander Pozniak
Now Seibert
Dan Reiher
Danny Anstess
Heytun
Casey Frye
Käs
Andrew Sever
Matthew Hogan
Paul McGee
Michael Coates
Abdallah Al-Ammari
João Santos
Froilan Legaspi
Daniel O'Reilly
Ben L
Stefano Deiana
Gezza The Random Reviewer
Pierre Le Mouel
Erik Carlsson
Olaf
Laura Jeal
Rhys Little
Hakkira
Jackarice26
Farquhar Ramshackle
Oliver Robson
Drew Deegan
Gina Service
Friedrich Demmer
Phil Johnston
zemnmez
James Ling
George Gremo
DarkLycan
Roberticus1992

[@vanthemanproductions9185]

“The British believed that him asking for protection meant that he was surrendering all sovereignty of his nation to the British” Seems accurate

[@NicolaW72]

Yes.

[@AmbigousInfluence]

The Scots went through a similar issue. Anglos been doing it for millenia.

[@BD-yl5mh]

Britain is a helicopter parent, confirmed

[@writerconsidered]

Most British thing ever.

[@TheCimbrianBull]

@@writerconsidered apart from five o'clock tea maybe?

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

The reason why subduing the Basotho was so hard was because it's basically the African equivalent of Switzerland. It's very mountainous and the capital at the time was located on top of a mountain fortress.

[@haydencrawford8552]

Is that why it used to be called Swaziland

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

@@haydencrawford8552 you're confused with Eswathini (Swaziland) that is north east of RSA, north of Zululand.

[@haydencrawford8552]

@@Waldemarvonanhalt oops! 😅

[@nubianeagle8634]

@@haydencrawford8552 Swaziland is a different kingdom of its own.

[@anandagumede2058]

@@haydencrawford8552 And even then, the name literally meant "The land of the Swati people". It has nothing to do with Switzerland.

[@bobsnow6242]

The vexillology nerd in me loves the fact that you took the time to correctly place all three of Lesotho's historical flags in their respective time periods throughout the video. Your attention to detail does not go unnoticed.

[@colorado13]

Same here!

[@Cambutalgirl]

Is vexillology the collecting of flags?

[@bobsnow6242]

@@Cambutalgirl The study of flags, yes.

[@monika.alt197]

Same

[@Hand-in-Shot_Productions]

As another person who is interested in flags, I agree!

[@QuentinWatt]

South African here: Short answer is that South Africa used to be 4 different countries that all bordered Lesotho. Lesotho is a mountain kingdom (like Switzerland) and can be easily defended. Some other interesting news. King Moshoeshoe of Lesotho never wanted war (kind of like Switzerland), so he sent offers of peace to all his neighbours. He was the only southern African king from the time, that lived long enough to have his photograph taken. Mostly because he never went to war. Their existence as an independent country is purely because of political negotiation.

[@SHAHIDKC]

And do'n't forget being allowed to own guns.

[@BiharyGabor]

And don't forget that at a point in time the South African apartheid system began creating Bantustans in its own territory rather than trying to annex neighbours. The independence of Lesotho was a very pleasent situation for them.

[@brehbreh01]

What about Swaziland?

[@gnose603]

In truth from the position of the British it actually had a lot to do with the number of Boers (Dutch) in SA. Having separate territories that were firmly under British control in the Anglo-Dutch contest for control of the Union of South Africa was of advantage to Britain. Had the minority electorate of SA been completely Anglo, South Africa would have just annexed Lesotho. And as the video explained from the position of the later Apartheid government, Lesotho was already in native labour reserve form, without them having to engineer it like elsewhere in SA. Strategically they controlled it anyway where it really mattered, as guarantor of the ruling establishment. (same in Swaziland) But it wasn't because invasion wasn't doable. Some people don't realise how completely lopsided the power differential between the Union of South Africa and Lesotho was (and is).

[@litebohomothokho7607]

Bring back our Free State

[@erickmiguel264]

Another fine addition to the "Why does this country exist?" collection.

[@steelbear2063]

I didn't even know it existed

[@Marylandbrony]

Next should be “Why does society exist”

[@crusadersamerica3730]

Up next Nauru

[@grondhero]

History Matters is always suspicious about tiny countries. ;)

[@p00bix]

@@crusadersamerica3730 By the time Europeans discovered Nauru in 1798, the island was unified into a tiny kingdom of a little over 1000 people. Its remote location-even by Pacific standards-and lack of known natural resources, made its colonization a very low priority for Europeans. In 1888, Germany seized the island, but it didn't become profitable until the discovery of large and pristine-quality phosphate reserves in 1900, which could then be used in the manufacture of military equipment. The UK seized the island (and associated phosphate industry) during World War One, and after the war, it was turned into a League of Nations mandate. Not wanting to deal with a colony which was essentially worthless during peacetime, the UK thrusted administration of the island onto Australia. Japan saw the island as a potential base from which the Allies could conduct aerial raids against their own forces. To prevent this, they seized the Island in World War Two, and enslaved nearly the entire population to work in phosphate mines and on the construction of a Japanese military base. The Allies, in turn, would heavily bomb Nauru to disrupt Japanese operations from the islands, who quickly became unable to resupply the isolated island, but nonetheless maintained control until the end of the war. This would devastate the island, with over half of all native inhabitants being killed. In 1947, Nauru was reconstituted as a UN trust territory, but in effect operated as a small colony co-ruled by Australia and New Zealand. Continued poor conditions for native workers, along with massive environmental damage and the memory of exploitation and destruction during WW2, led to calls for true independence, with governance and control of the phosphate mining industry handed to the Nauruan people themselves. While Australia was hesitant, pressure from the UN to grant the Nauruans' request led to them quickly relenting, granting the island independence in 1968, and selling control of the phosphate mines. Nauru was initially successful after independence, but with agricultural prospects effectively destroyed by catastrophic environmental practices under colonial rule, and the phosphate reserves slowly running out, threatened doom in the long run. That doom would come in the 1990s, with the total collapse of Nauru's economy over the course of more than a decade of recession, that reduced the country's GDP per capita from over $5000 in 1989 to under $2000 in 2002. Unemployment soared to over 90%. Nauru now depends on aid from foreign governments for survival, using its status as a technically independent state to profit from deals with foreign powers, which would otherwise be difficult or impossible to achieve. This mainly takes the form of selling fishing rights to foreign corporations, but also includes aiding money laundering efforts by drug cartels, assisting the CIA in espionage against North Korea, and hosting a high-security internment camp for refugees seeking to enter Australia. As a result of these initiatives, today most of Nauru's workforce are employed in banking, diplomatic services, and internment camp operation. These efforts have proven successful in alleviating the economic catastrophe, with GDP per capita exceeding $11,000 by 2018, and the unemployment rate falling to "just" 26%. However, these efforts have also sacrificed much of Nauru's sovereignty, and the island continues to operate, in many ways, as a pseudo-colonial holding of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

[@LAV-III]

Was literally thinking this 3 days ago and wanting you to make a video on it. My telepathic powers grow ever stronger.

[@whytry_irushalot2242]

I swear to god I also was thinking the same thing

[@mr.crowgamer6250]

Human beings in 100 or so years can probably unlock our minds to actually do that shit

[@dimensional_fusion]

Uh... Same.

[@justinweaver5900]

Bro wtf same

[@TheLukeFalcon]

Just remember to use your powers for good.

[@boaoftheboaians]

That "Caution: Racism" sign whenever South Africa is shown gets me every time 😂

[@accountretired9479]

Because it's accurate ASF

[@johndavenport2847]

The "Why does [Place] Exist?" series is great, maybe you could do one on a larger nation as a bit of a joke

[@walterriblethegreat]

"Unless you're the Mongols"

[@makarabaduk1754]

But then we'd get to " -Why- does Australia exist?"...

[@loc4725]

"Why does this place exist? Answer: Nobody knows."

[@Tongueshop]

We need why does Canada exist

[@TheCimbrianBull]

Denmark is not real!

[@MogaleMalaka]

As a South African i have always thought about this topic...especially since there are alot of basotho in our country as well. Sadly this was never covered in our schools. Thank you for the video

[@louvendran7273]

Wow, I never knew that. We had an Apartheid education so we learned about it, with Swaziland and Botswana. The Apartheid government was not happy that they lost Lesotho, Swaziland and Botswana when Britain gave them independence. Botswana was the only country in the world whose capital was located outside its borders, Mafikeng. Moreover Namibia was ruled as a 5th province when I was in school. The war with Cuba in Angola brought freedom to Namibia and an end of Apartheid as Fidel Castro was determined to defeat the Apartheid army at the time. This fact is conveniently forgotten today.

[@XER0GRAVITY]

Nothing gets covered by the public school system.

[@MogaleMalaka]

@TheWeeaboo doubt what?

[@YuriCcrt34]

@@MogaleMalaka americans think no one lives in africa

[@daynehaworth9258]

I was in High School at a public school in Johannesburg, SA 🇿🇦 and learned about King Moshoeshoe sometime between 2003-2006

[@ElladanKenet]

Lesotho: Sure is a nice day to be alive History Matters: WHY DO YOU EXIST?!

[@GAZAMAN93X]

Why is KALININGRAD a thing!?(I know why it's a thing don't tell me.)

[@fullmetaltheorist]

Lesotho : Who says I exist?

[@ecurewitz]

because Lesotho is invulnerable

[@ghaznavid]

Lesotho is also very mountainous, which makes invasion tricky. Beautiful country. Fun fact: Lesotho's lowest point is around 1400m in altitude. No other country on earth has a lowest point above 1000m.

[@strictlylesothomusic8938]

I live here.

[@mantuli_ka1]

​@yes admin strictlylesothomusic8938

[@Tycoon4222]

I live in Lesotho and appreciate the information your content has provided, on point and quite entertaining 👌🏾 I did find it funny how you pronounce Moshoeshoe I though.😹😹😹 The country’s a natural fortress; mountains everywhere you look. It’s the third most mountainous country in the world, and has the world’s highest lowest point, hence it being called ‘The Kingdom in the sky’

[@Ediel_Lins]

You have the name of Monarchs' family, are you related to them? Anyway, I think it's harder for anglophones to say names in other languages. If I say Moshoeshoe as I would in Portuguese, it would sound practically the same as in Sesotho.

[@cxzact9204]

@@Ediel_Lins It's a common Basotho first name.

[@wonderfulnightmares9143]

"I hope you enjoyed this episode..." Yeah because you give us a choice not to enjoy it. I always enjoy the episodes, I was literally just about to watch one of your videos at random and then saw the notification for this. Thank you for the amazing content and keep it up!

[@KouNagai]

Yes

[@UlisesHeureaux]

Yes, I agree! I believe he has to work even harder than most content creators to make shorter documentaries. It seems that you have to have a unique talent to condense so much information in a concise timeframe. This video, for example, could have easily been 10+ minutes long if more long winded people made it.

[@UlisesHeureaux]

@John Hathorne 🤣

[@richardalex4516]

@John Hathorne bruh nice

[@OptimusWombat]

I'm also here for the dry humour.

[@snuggery6486]

It was covered briefly in the South Africa episode of Geography Now so I'm glad you covered it in detail. Also I miss the little clips you'd have at the end of your videos.

[@Jotari]

I'm pretty sure Geography Now has a dedicated Lesotho episode.

[@Persona1996]

I love geography now

[@thezombiecreeper]

@@Jotari it was the half-way through episode too

[@felipevillalba9311]

@@eternalRBLX why?

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

@@Persona1996 Considering you have an anime profile picture. I am not surprised.

[@cpegg5840]

Another country enclaved within South Africa is Eswatini (the former Swaziland). The Swazi king Sobhuza II was the longest reigning monarch in all of history (1899-1982). A Swazi king has multiple wives (some of whom are government-appointed). The king shares power with his mother should she be living, as is the case today with King Mswati III and Queen Mother Ntfombi Dlamini.

[@fclp67]

they have a border with mozambique!!!!

[@fullmetaltheorist]

@@fclp67 Yeah but it's basically surrounded mostly by South Africa.

[@northatlanticcommonwealth1188]

Weird to think about, Sobhuza II became King when Queen Victoria was alive and died when Thatcher was in office.

[@fclp67]

@@northatlanticcommonwealth1188 what amazes me is that there is only 80 years between queen victoria and Thatcher

[@mysteriousDSF]

@@fclp67 Queen Elizabeth II: finally a worthy opponent, our battle will be legendary

[@newcourier7446]

My dad actually went to Lesotho on a business trip. He told me a story about his driver and that he kept calling him “daddy” for some reason. And when my dad pointed out that the city he went to had a lot of pizza restaurants, the driver said, and I quote, “Oh daddy, pizza is for women and children. Men eat chicken!”

[@lexprontera8325]

Weirdness on top of weirdness.

[@Barc112]

This was funny AF 🤣🤣 If you are unfamiliar with Sesotho, I could try thinking of an explanation. Either: your dad was mishearing the driver, who could have referring to your dad using the Sesotho word 'ntate' (which sounds something like "nduh-DEH' to an English-speaker) It means 'father', but it is the word used to show formal respect to any male, i.e. it's used in an equivalent way to 'Sir'. OR, the driver WAS calling him 'daddy' 🤣🤣🤣 because the driver didn't speak English well enough to just use the term 'Sir' instead of the directly translating 'ntate' into 'daddy' and didn't know that calling a man you don't know 'father' is weird for Westerners.

[@accountretired9479]

@@Barc112 Spot on, the guy was just direct translating Sesotho to English and as you can see as with most of our indigenous languages they do not translate well when doing that

[@NjonjoNdehi]

It's not unusual for Africans to call people the age of their parents daddy or mummy, people the age of their grandparents grandpa or grandma, people near their age bro or sis, and people the age of their kids son or daughter in the native language or even in English.

[@malefetsanemabote3655]

@@Barc112 🤣perfect explanation!

[@brandonlyon730]

Here’s an interesting question that can be asked: How did Lithuania get so big prior to there Union with Poland?

[@thelastprussian6491]

they had an good army

[@jokuvaan5175]

Thicchuania

[@antanassmetona4054]

Let me spoil you: diplomacy and insanely good leaders leading the country.

[@marcinkrz3140]

fall of Mongolian horde (i don't remember how it's called in English)

[@antanassmetona4054]

@@marcinkrz3140 that's the start of it, but there's way more to the story than: mongolia + gone = Lithuania big

[@sskuk1095]

"They were not allowed to posess guns, because in case of a rebellion, they might shoot back..." Italy in Abyssinia: "Nah, nothing to worry about!"

[@hallu4696]

well some of the ethnic groups like the tigray liked italy so a gun ban wasn’t really necessary not to mention it wasn’t practical to implement

[@BasicLib]

@Robert Kaevur I mean considering it's only happened once, I doubt the US is the best example, their republic has been ridiculously stable historically speaking for a society so heavily armed, with such a weak central govt with such a diverse population. It's insane the US has had really only one major armed rebellion in 250 years.

[@BasicLib]

@Robert Kaevur On that note indeed, I do see your point

[@cs-mi8ur]

British learned the hard way in 1776 and 1857.Thats why we still can't even have blades longer than 6inch without license legally.

[@BasicLib]

@@happygilmore5948 Yh that's the one I'm talking about. The US has had a grand total of one mass uprising. (lots of tiny, near insignificant ones tho like Blair mountain or the farmers war, but nothing of note)

[@beebeemotsumi]

Hi. A lady from Lesotho here. I love it there. It's amazing and our culture is wonderful. I have a 30 minutes video on a day in my life in Lesotho. And it captured the beautiful rural area of Lesotho. Drinking water from the mountains, and everything else.

[@desiredibi1621]

1 Like the prophets of the Bible, in April 1993, I, Kacou Philippe, a man who had never been in a church, I receive in a vision, the visitation of an Angel who commissions me for a Message destined to the whole earth in fulfillment of Matthew 25:6 and Revelation 12:14. This is the account of my conversion, as well as the three great visions of the call and commission as I received them: 2 I came to conversion on April 24, 1993 according to Daniel 10:4 to 11 by a vision in which I saw myself standing on the sand of the sea and then on top of a high pyramid and then again on the sand of the sea in another place and I saw an old military truck coming out of the depths of the sea and leave behind me. I turned and I saw that it contained living people. They were women and one of them was mixed-race. 3 Then two doves came toward me and went back over the waters. And there was an eclipse, then a man having the appearance of a Cloud and holding a sword came down from Heaven with a Lamb and the earth was illuminated again. They stood on the waters and the Lamb began to speak to me in an unknown tongue. The sound of his voice came into me and I fell dead. My soul went to stand on the waters with them while my body was lying on the sand of the sea. When He had finished speaking to me, my soul came into me and I became alive again but I no longer saw Them. 4 Then a crowd of people came toward me from the right side and I asked them if they had seen the Angel and the Lamb. They said, "No!" And I said: “But, how did you not see the Angel and the Lamb and all the things They have done?” They replied, "We have not seen the Angel and the Lamb and we have not heard the Words the Lamb pronounced, but we entirely believe It because what God gave and that the devil took, has now been restituted to you ". I looked up and I saw a ladder set up between the sky and the earth, above the waters and angels ascended and descended. And the vision ended and I felt what I know today to be the Holy Spirit and I wept and I believed in God on the spot. [Kc.64v3] [Kc.130v9] 5 The following day at around 3 p.m. while I was sitting with my family, I was transported again in vision into a totally desert country and I saw eastward Words that were coming down from Heaven carried on Clouds. It was after these two visions that I got up and went to church for the very first time. [Kc.137v37] 6 In a third vision, we were sitting in an examination room for the Advanced level test and the examiner was distributing the test-papers. I said to myself, "But what am I doing here? I do not have a good school level and what am I going to write?” And later, It was said to me: "The same way that Mary conceived miraculously, without knowing any man, the same way that Moses received in details what happened at the creation, you too, you have received the Words of eternal Life on this April 24, 1993 and it is decreed by God. At the appointed time, you will understand and you will teach what you did not learn in order that whoever believes has eternal Life". [Kc.9v34] [Kc.30v1-3]

[@vladimiralexanderlagos1477]

I really enjoy this series, but as a Central American, I kind of fear I will one day see our little countries as part of the series as well. Not sure if that will be a happy or sad day, though.

[@rorychivers8769]

But it's literally just a straight factual explanation of why these countries exist......... :)

[@Argentvs]

@@rorychivers8769 fun fact central American states exist in part thanks to Argentina when corsairs and navy ship attacked Spanish garrisons in their forts during the revolutionary era when the Spanish Navy was occupied in Europe during the Napoleonic wars, hence giving chance to locals to revolts. Thus the creation of the United Provinces of Central America with a flag almost identical to the United Provinces of the River Plate. But soon caudillos started to fight each other and the country broke in tinny irrelevant small countries. If you look at them most have still an Argentine based flag. Fun fact 2, same corsairs attacked the fort of Monterey and captured it. For 5 days California was a province of Argentina.

[@chombus2602]

Belize

[@littlechemie5425]

"Why Guatemala exists" "Why Costa Rica exists" "Why Nicaragua exists" "Why Belize exists"

[@timesnewlogan2032]

“Once upon a time, all of Central America was united. And then it broke. Why?”

[@number1kenyan]

0:14 as a Kenyan, I can confirm this is exactly how it happened.

[@raptorfromthe6ix833]

you are kenyan now

[@luthandondarala6270]

As a south african, i can confirm you are right

[@Unknowngfyjoh]

What is the Kenyan opinion of James Bisonette?

[@number1kenyan]

@@Unknowngfyjoh he has massively inflated he economy with his pure presence

[@number1kenyan]

@Onuphrius my great grandfather lived in this city called Mumias. He went from citizen of the Wanga Kingdom to citizen of The east Africa protectorate to citizen of the Kenya colony to Citizen of the Short lived Kenyan federation to citizen of the Republic of Kenya

[@sarahellie4113]

“As result of Napoleon being Napoleon” sums up modern history

[@NicolaW72]

Exactly.

[@ryanrodriguez644]

50/50 chance it’s either Napoleon or the British.

[@forgivemenot1]

@@ryanrodriguez644 Or the Spanish Inquisition, but nobody expects them so they get left out.

[@eliadefilho]

Napoleon being Napoleon saw Brazil becoming an independent country some years later...

[@dusk6159]

Or Garibaldi

[@szlatyka]

I love how 90% of quirky historical stories have this beautiful pattern of "everything was fine and normal but then Napoleon..."

[@m136dalie]

"This democratic tradition lasted until... the next election" God I love this channel

[@dusk6159]

Fitting for the entirety of post independence Africa as "bankrupt" for XVIII and on Spain

[@youtubeadministration8037]

We need to make a playlist of history matters' Videos answering questions we didn't ask but it's actually interesting after watching

[@Kerbalista]

I can make one

[@sarpbakrsoy8125]

That's basically all his "3 minute short documentary" type videos.

[@Kerbalista]

@TotallyAwesomeness idk how to set it up like this but ill try.

[@viditsinha9707]

So basically all of history matters videos

[@Kerbalista]

@@viditsinha9707 except of his older videos when History Matters was "Ten Minute History".

[@jamesbissonette8002]

Is this where I make a joke about it existing because of me in some way?

[@raptorfromthe6ix833]

you are the messiah everyone is talking about

[@mistifalcon3332]

Considering my country's whack history i wouldn't even be surprised if u rode into battle with the Basotho people

[@alexanderkarvos6728]

@@mistifalcon3332 Bissonnette war?

[@Protont]

Literally any country: Hey Britain can you please protect us? Britain: Sure I can annex you if you want

[@sminthian]

Today I learned...Lesotho exists.

[@Aytee2021]

This man really don't miss... as a history nerd, I love and appreciate all the awesome content my good sir

[@Nietabs]

I wish people are more like that, 'history nerd' people here in the history community are self proclaimed historians

[@santabond6685]

Lesotho: exists History Matters: and I took that personally

[@axelprino]

Small country: (exists) History matters: "but why tho?"

[@17Economics]

"Welcome to South Africa, CAUTION: RACISM". If there was ever a way to boil down to the point of almost hilarious triviality the shall we say, "troubled history" of South Africa between like 1902 and 1994, that first statement would be it! Ahhh I love this channel because of how it just cuts through so much important detail with a single, succinct and arguably subjective turn of phrase. Keep it Mister person who does the channel stuff whoever you are! :D

[@ClarkeMarek]

Probably a way to ensure that James Bizenette keeps funding it.

[@Matthy63]

My second favourite was the mention of Britain "liberating" French colonies and literally the only difference is the uniform

[@Blakbox92]

@@Matthy63 the subtle dry humour is what keeps me coming back

[@perla5465]

Yeah racism shouldn’t exist. Some people in South Africa are racist to whites, some people in the USA and many European countries are racist to blacks. Racism is so stupid and makes no sense in my opinion. Why is one race superior? I think all races should be seen the same, and racism in public should be given fines if it’s seen.

[@overdose8329]

lol racism is worse in SA than it ever was and is even closer to genocide/civil wat than ever before

[@kasper7203]

His name is prenounced "Mo-shwe-shwe" and Lesotho is extremely difficult to conquer as they have a near impenetrable mountain fortress named "Ta-ba-bi-si-ho"

[@maxdavis7722]

If it was so hard to conquer why did it ask someone else for protection?

[@ZayanK]

@@maxdavis7722 Because getting invaded still sucks.

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

@@maxdavis7722 It's hard to farm and raise cattle when you're holed up in a fortress.

[@maxdavis7722]

@@Waldemarvonanhalt why didn’t the British just do that? Everyone on the internet seems to think the British empire is the embodiment of evil.

[@nvmtt1403]

@@maxdavis7722 because evil people still like money and it was not profitable.

[@theskepticalwhaler4946]

That before and after of the british taking control of the dutch colonies reminds me of that saying: "You are being liberated, do not resist!"

[@joeshar.]

You might notice, Lesotho flag is changing constant: 2:07 flag between 1966-1987 2:55 flag between 1987-2006 2:57 flag after 2006

[@cgt3704]

"Like many things throughout history, Lesothi can be traced back to Napoleon". This shows the Corporal was someone special

[@NicolaW72]

Yes, indeed.

[@cgt3704]

@@mcfahk I mean being a great leader does not mean being all sunshine and compassion. It means being competent and not shy at showing ruthlessness

[@windykingdom6153]

Funny coincidence, Lesotho just got eliminated in Sicilian Bard’s poll battle royale

[@busbee5163]

We *NEEDED* this. Why tf is Lesotho a thing Thank you history matters

[@marcelkruger5187]

Basically although interesting, a large reason they are independent (and you can see by their geography) is that they are on a massive mountain, surrounded by a mountain range. Invading them besides being a logistic nightmare, is difficult given the terrain advantage to defensive warfare. Very cool how they have pulled it off for so long and become completely friendly.

[@Unknowngfyjoh]

I just watch to hear him read the list of Patreons

[@mistifalcon3332]

My friends and I have been plotting our invasion for two years now 😪

[@busbee5163]

@@marcelkruger5187 you can see the border from space

[@joe_lubinda]

I'm from the Lozi tribe in Zambia and we're related to sothos.

[@pierscolegate4932]

You truely are a great craftsperson. I love how you're able to condense, narrate and present great interesting stories and leave an audience feeling 'I've learned something new today' . Its a great craft. Dont stop. You're doing an amazing job. The characters are great to watch. Love the tongue-in-cheek humor. Especially love the inclusion of 'Fun fact, No' into presentations.

[@Tim_van_de_Leur]

or the "he got a case of being dead" followed by the thud sound. Awesome :)

[@Boris-ui8sk]

No one: Literally no one ever: History matters to random countries: Why do you exist

[@ananttiwari1337]

*any country exists* History Matters: WHY, WHY DO YOU EXIST

[@tomrogue13]

Why does the United States exist?

[@NicolaW72]

@@tomrogue13 E.G.

[@joesomebody3365]

Always glad to see this interesting information presented quickly and in a fun visual format.

[@richardbauer8195]

One reason the Brits did not seriously attempt to incorporate Lesotho into the Cape Colony (and later the South Africans into South Africa) is that the territory the Basotho were forced into by Boer and Zulu expansion (modern Lesotho) is mountainous and relatively resource poor. It wasn't worth the trouble. If you haven't already done so, can you do a video on the South African tribal "Homelands"? Lesotho, Botswana, and Swaziland were models that the South African govt. decided to replicate within the territory of South Africa. By declaring resource poor areas within South Africa as "independent" tribal countries they could strip black South Africans of South African citizenship and "deport" them to their Tribal "Homelands" whenever the need arose.

[@christianweibrecht6555]

I also crave a video series that explains how exactly areas tyrannical governments functioned

[@darrynfataar9448]

Transkei, Ciskei, Bophuthatswana were some of the so called homelands

[@mphosealiete9168]

Lesotho is not poor in resources they are just not tempered with as yet, we have everything here, surveys have been done

[@dordoight3448]

Lol, keep fooling yourself, british marched into deserts with no arable land in Southern Africa to capture. They lost the gun war so accepted peace.

[@Nalediii5]

@@mphosealiete9168 Thank you

[@mertdonmez5113]

This what happens when you accidently spill your tee on the map. And then you say ups it seem like I spawned another country. Queen Elizabeth

[@Jotari]

So, basically, they managed to somehow succeed in a rebellion one time that the British couldn't be arsed to quell and then people sort of just accepted it's existence from then on as there was no immediate benefit to conquering it.

[@brianjonker510]

Sort of similar to an earlier rebellion with 13 colonies

[@brandonlyon730]

@@brianjonker510Well the 13 Colonies also had some help from foreign powers during the Revolutionary War who had a bone to pick with Britian, namely France, the Netherlands, and Spain.

[@BasicLib]

@@brianjonker510 Not even close, the loss of the 13 colonies was a major disaster for the first British empire (hell it is generally accepted to be the end of the first British empire) If not for the fortuitous conquest of Caribbean and Indian territories, the UK might not have gotten a second British empire (the one on which the sun never set). So not, not at all similar to a nearly decade-long war with over 150,000 soldiers involved that involved multiple great powers and resulted in the loss of about 20% of the Realm's population. Almost no historian of note does the British nationalist thing of erroneously claiming "Loosing the 13 colonies was not a big deal". It was, Britain was just lucky/competent enough to pick itself back up stronger and better.

[@asahmed1980]

Thank you History Matters. You guys are awesome. Nailing out the fundamentals of a certain time in less then 5 minutes is great. 😁👍🏼

[@OstanAbadeh]

incredible video. looking forward to your Swaziland/Eswatini episode of the topic

[@butters1273]

South Africa: we're whole! Lesotho: the hell you are.

[@zachryder3150]

Namibia: Bye, bitch!

[@butters1273]

@@zachryder3150 😂

[@louvendran7273]

@@zachryder3150 It literally was. Thank Fidel Castro for that.

[@LexlutherVII]

South Africa: wtf is this in me...😵

[@butters1273]

@@LexlutherVII 😂

[@mertdonmez5113]

This is what happens when you encircle enemy but he still has supply in the region. So you can't finish him unless he finishes himself.

[@markusz4447]

Hate it when the game glitches like that

[@Dyknown]

It's worth noting that a lot of German states pre-Napoleon were inside other German states, separated by other German states, or in other bizarre situations after the Treaty of Westphalia. Then Napoleon and some other people thought that was stupid and now there are far fewer Lesothos. Funny how that sort of thing happens.

[@mikerodrigues9822]

@@Dyknown Ironic to think Napoleon and his reorganization of the German States was one of the key factors for German unification.

[@fullmetaltheorist]

@@mikerodrigues9822 And then Germany came back in WW2 and beat France.

[@knuppel8875]

@@fullmetaltheorist dont need to go that far back. French Prussian war of 1871

[@danielodonnell2648]

I have been waiting years for this-thank you!

[@unclenogbad1509]

Usually with your excellent vids, it's a question I never realised I needed the answer to. In this case, however, I've frequently wondered why Lesotho exists, but never could be arsed enough to find out. Thanks for saving me the trouble, in funny and informative fashion, now back to the wine.

[@codyblack7312]

Spent half a year in Lesotho. Was the most beautiful place I’d ever been. I’d love to go back to live forever. 22 from North Carolina

[@marcelkruger5187]

Too bad the trees barely grow there (at least Sani side) altitude there is crazy. Must have been really nice if you were there for a lucky snow winter.

[@codyblack7312]

@@marcelkruger5187 I was there late summer to fall. I was all over the country and there were trees everywhere

[@louvendran7273]

The donkeys are the weirdest part. Lol.

[@codyblack7312]

Yes, I ran into many donkeys, got to ride a few too.

[@febrian0079]

"How did Europe and the Islamic world reacted to the Mongol Invasion" Would be a good question

[@smrtfasizmu7242]

Poorly at first, then better

[@seneca983]

Hungary was devastated.

[@ddpzzp553]

islamic world ended very badly didnt it?

[@the3zoooz1]

they were mad

[@Unknowngfyjoh]

At first they were annoyed, then later their head was on a stick. No but actually I think some Crusader kingdoms allied with the Mongols at one point. That's pretty interesting. As is the Franco-Timurid alliance.

[@zippersocks]

I’ve always wondered this. And it made more sense than I was expecting. Thanks for another lesson!

[@rehamkcirtap]

This has been an extremely useful little video. Thanks

[@lordbonney9779]

Me: Sees a question about something in Africa. Me a second later: It’s the Brits again, isn’t it…

[@MrFarmer110]

It's always the Brit's.

[@victortisme]

@@MrFarmer110 sometimes it's even worse; sometimes it's the French

[@theshlauf]

@@victortisme You've got to _hand_ it to Belgium though, they've had their moments as well.

[@GreenPoint_one]

@@victortisme both suk

[@Ttegegg]

@@theshlauf that would make the Japanese giggle

[@maxbramwell.1598]

Anyone know of any further reading material on Lesotho? It's one of those historical curiosities I'd like to delve deeper in to, great video and as always I can't wait for the next one!!

[@rozafisheikh7968]

Did you watch Geography Now’s vid on it? It’s a good watch

[@raptorfromthe6ix833]

wikipedia has a lot of information

[@marcelkruger5187]

Basically although interesting, a large reason they are independent (and you can see by their geography) is that they are on a massive mountain, surrounded by a mountain range. Invading them besides being a logistic nightmare, is difficult given the terrain advantage to defensive warfare. Very cool how they have pulled it off for so long and become completely friendly.

[@alessio9275]

@@marcelkruger5187 Yeah, that definately helps. A fun fact is that Lesotho is the only country in the world which is entirely above 1000 meters of elevation.

[@makihadunka14]

@@marcelkruger5187 also having a leader like musheshe who was pragmatic as hell

[@Hogfan11]

Heck yeah I had commented on several of your videos asking for this video, and now it's here!! Thanks HM

[@jimr9499]

God this channel answers almost every random question I have ever thought. Excellent work, never stop!!

[@shadowfighter595]

Everybody jokes about James Bissonnette. In the meantime Kelly MoneyMaker: 🥺

[@domsjuk]

Good girl Kelly Moneygiver, we love her just as well!

[@jaewok5G]

"everything goes back to Napoleon" seems like a worthy corollary to David Starkey's "All bad ideas are French"

[@bobathicc5689]

Nice video I never really knew about Lesotho and was pleasantly surprised

[@PhysioAl1]

Great episode!!

[@joeybrown9952]

everyone talks about james bizzonette but no one gives the deserved love to kelly moneymaker

[@corey2232]

That's what I've been saying bro!

[@Unknowngfyjoh]

I think Spinning Three Plates is the best. Boogly Woogly a close second.

[@samoldfield5220]

Kelly makes the money. James nettes the bizzo.

[@marygillmeister6013]

@@Unknowngfyjoh Boogly Woogly gets my vote 😆

[@kellymoneymaker3922]

😂😂😂

[@PaleoalexPicturesLtd]

History Matters: *drops the "and thank you for watching at the end"* Me : I guess James Bizonette deserves it all

[@patmarek1222]

At least Lesotho only has a single neighbor to worry about 😂

[@Rhinelander]

Love the detailed flag changes. Great content as always, thank you. :)

[@everett6072]

History Matters: "Why does Lesotho Exist?" Me: "it does!?!"

[@remi_gio]

Hello Lesotho! 👍

[@darkbrightnorth]

Another amazing video. Very interesting topic as well.

[@dylanmaguire7864]

I just finished a massive scroll back and watching every single one of your videos. This is now one of my favourite channels. (I also love the occasional sneaky Star Wars reference.)

[@twothreebravo]

One of those things I always wanted to know about but honestly couldn't be assed enough to look into. Thank you!

[@siddhant5123]

Thank you again for giving me answers to the question I never knew I had

[@oliversherman2414]

I love your channel keep up the great stuff!

[@joz6683]

Another excellent video feature a subject that I knew nothing about, well done.

[@misterx1342]

As a South African, I'm finally glad I know why Lesotho exists, South Africans tend forget that there is a country within South Africa

[@mistifalcon3332]

Tbf it doesn't really do anything, it just sits der :p

[@brehbreh01]

There is also Swaziland, right?

[@thelegendaryking1284]

@@mistifalcon3332 what about the water you drink,fool 😏

[@shubielechesa8836]

Basotho are also South African, in case you are not well informed. We come from the South of Africa, were are found in Central South Africa.

[@theeSuperSaiyan661]

@@shubielechesa8836 listen love and light to batho ba Basotho Mara they are southern African NOT South African…if SA changed it’s name say maybe Azania like some people want, Basotho would still be Southern African but NOT Azanian… people from SADC countries love claiming SA when it suits y’all Mara ge dilo di beta le chencha fast fast…no wayyys. Not to be snaaks or anything mara let’s not lie… I know our country’s name is a direction😂😂 but still please respect that direction and its people and also Basotho from Lesotho and Basotho from SA are one people but due to borders different nationalities and until otherwise changed those nationalities should be respected

[@ihavetowait90daystochangem67]

Could you please do a video about What did Turkey did in the Cuban Missile Crisis considering they have the American Missiles

[@brandonlyon730]

Well I know after negotiations when the Soviets agreed to get rid of there missiles in Cuba, America did the same by getting rid of the missiles in Turkey.

[@Homer-OJ-Simpson]

History Matters answering a question I never had but now I’m glad was answered! What a fascinating history.

[@faristotle2979]

Love the recent uploads

[@beauty625]

Finally seeing a video about my country!🤧💚

[@andreikovacs3476]

"The british thought that by asking protection they are conceding their independence" That's pretty much how it works bub. You ask for protection, that means you are at their mercy.

[@linzeeb4]

Not really. That's also how allyship works, which of course did not occur to the British Empire.

[@andreikovacs3476]

@@linzeeb4 Allyship is between countries of equal size, against a stronger enemy Puppeting is between a powerful state and a weak one, against one that is less weak than the junior but more weak than the senior The two are not the same and they cannot expect protection without a price, as this is real life, not some fairyland fantasy of unicorns and friendship

[@nik65stgt60]

Very interesting! Thanks!

[@devsquares]

I wanted this!! Thx!

[@graham8552]

What’s It’s gonna take for a ten minute history revival! They’re Your best work

[@GeneralCalculus]

Way KZbin ads work iirc.

[@stefancristi2493]

KZbin sucks

[@hkchan1339]

He explained in a video that KZbin take away ad revenues it would be too risky to have 10 min videos if they do that

[@khukri_wielderxxx1962]

"The Basuto weren't allowed to own guns anymore because that would mean they could shoot back during rebellions and that wasn't cool" Only History Matters could make that sound funny with dead-pan humor 🤣

[@ronaldl9085]

brilliant summary!

[@prakashghumaliya2002]

Thank you for video sir

[@skinner7irish]

Excellent!! I always wanted to understand Lesotho history. Now what about the other one..🇸🇿?

[@gonkmaster717]

*Angered Sotho have left the chat.*

[@diamondback6366]

Congrats on 1 million subs

[@asgerwurtzrasmussen2660]

Congrats on 1 mil.🥳🥳🥳

[@maksymmoskalenko2055]

I should admit: unlike most questions I never thought about, this question really interested me a lot even before History Matters video

[@desiredibi1621]

1 Like the prophets of the Bible, in April 1993, I, Kacou Philippe, a man who had never been in a church, I receive in a vision, the visitation of an Angel who commissions me for a Message destined to the whole earth in fulfillment of Matthew 25:6 and Revelation 12:14. This is the account of my conversion, as well as the three great visions of the call and commission as I received them: 2 I came to conversion on April 24, 1993 according to Daniel 10:4 to 11 by a vision in which I saw myself standing on the sand of the sea and then on top of a high pyramid and then again on the sand of the sea in another place and I saw an old military truck coming out of the depths of the sea and leave behind me. I turned and I saw that it contained living people. They were women and one of them was mixed-race. 3 Then two doves came toward me and went back over the waters. And there was an eclipse, then a man having the appearance of a Cloud and holding a sword came down from Heaven with a Lamb and the earth was illuminated again. They stood on the waters and the Lamb began to speak to me in an unknown tongue. The sound of his voice came into me and I fell dead. My soul went to stand on the waters with them while my body was lying on the sand of the sea. When He had finished speaking to me, my soul came into me and I became alive again but I no longer saw Them. 4 Then a crowd of people came toward me from the right side and I asked them if they had seen the Angel and the Lamb. They said, "No!" And I said: “But, how did you not see the Angel and the Lamb and all the things They have done?” They replied, "We have not seen the Angel and the Lamb and we have not heard the Words the Lamb pronounced, but we entirely believe It because what God gave and that the devil took, has now been restituted to you ". I looked up and I saw a ladder set up between the sky and the earth, above the waters and angels ascended and descended. And the vision ended and I felt what I know today to be the Holy Spirit and I wept and I believed in God on the spot. [Kc.64v3] [Kc.130v9] 5 The following day at around 3 p.m. while I was sitting with my family, I was transported again in vision into a totally desert country and I saw eastward Words that were coming down from Heaven carried on Clouds. It was after these two visions that I got up and went to church for the very first time. [Kc.137v37] 6 In a third vision, we were sitting in an examination room for the Advanced level test and the examiner was distributing the test-papers. I said to myself, "But what am I doing here? I do not have a good school level and what am I going to write?” And later, It was said to me: "The same way that Mary conceived miraculously, without knowing any man, the same way that Moses received in details what happened at the creation, you too, you have received the Words of eternal Life on this April 24, 1993 and it is decreed by God. At the appointed time, you will understand and you will teach what you did not learn in order that whoever believes has eternal Life". [Kc.9v34] [Kc.30v1-3]

[@maxalmonte14]

So, technically it's not a country within a country, just one surrounded entirely by another country.

[@hlomphomota8055]

Wow, This video is quite deep. Do more on this topic.

[@uglyhandle]

Loved it!

[@pridelander06]

"A direct invasion would have seen major international condemnation" *Apartheid:* "First time? "

[@billt8504]

This was one of the best you've done in awhile, sarcastically speaking at least. Nearly every sentence in this three minute video had a sarcastic edge to it. Bravo! (Well done!)

[@kaminari1028]

I have always wondered this, but never enough to google it. I appreciate it.

[@musandlala7991]

I remember asking for this video, when you made a video on Gambia. The video is accurate, insightful and you pronounced some names horribly which MAKES THIS VIDEO A GREAT WATCH. GREAT JOB!!!