The Empire of Mali - An Empire of Trade and Faith - Extra History - Part 2

[@extrahistory]

Ibn Battutah wrote a book called "The Travels," producing the only eyewitness account of the Mali Empire. So today we’re going to follow him, letting his journey teach us about how trade built the realm. Support us on Patreon! We're actually running a poll this weekend (through 4/23) to determine one of our upcoming Extra History series! patreon.com/extracredits

[@en4431]

Extra Credits Your channel is the reason I've gone to Nationals at the history b. Thanks.

[@boman.]

can you do ajuuraan empire or adal

[@deadcat6212]

Extra Credits PLEASE, DO NOT SKIP MANSA MUSA'S STORY!!!!!11

[@Neoplasie1900]

@Ξ SAWIRRO Ξ @Tym the Man They take suggestions for upcoming series from their patreon supporters. So, if you really want to see these events covered by Extra History, consider Patreon.

[@daepicadam7358]

Condensing huge history sources into one understandable video is really remarkable. I thank you for your efforts and for making the fascinating History of mankind easier to learn.

[@Radiodragonofdoom]

I love that rude tourists are a universal constant.

[@Leivve]

Ben, there is a third certainty in life.

[@Matthew-Anthony]

@@Leivve The three certainties are: death, taxes, and gravity.

[@azelfdaboi5265]

@@Matthew-Anthony there's a 4th certainty, there will always rude tourists

[@b3rz3rk3r9]

Yep. Death, Taxes, Empires and assholes mocking your country's culture while visiting.

[@MrSuperman957]

Rude, yes. But not entirely. You see, he didn't have a BIG problem with non-muslims but rather with the muslims who were not practicing right. I mean, they were supposed to be Muslims so he was, as a muslim, obviously shocked. But the thing about his rank and yoghurt or whatever, extremely rude. He was the guest so he should be grateful for whatever he receives according to Islam

[@Nuinwing]

So.... he laughed at the emperors face and lived to tell about it...thats one merciful ruler for sure(for the time period).

[@TheFiresloth]

Well, he was an important guy. Ambassador are not supposed to be dicks, but if they, are, better not cut their heads before being sure you can defeat the country they came from.

[@ajjack2322]

Ibn Battuta was a lone wolf for the most part. Mansa probably would not kill him so as not to look barbaric to the general islamic world.

[@tesseract2144]

@@TheFiresloth Yeah, good luck raising a huge army a make them crossing the desert without supply line and with the possibility of neighbors attacking you during the time

[@coolbule1238]

@@tesseract2144 but when the army gets cannons and one does not the former only needs 200 men

[@jdb9318]

@@TheFiresloth *Laughs in Leonidas*

[@swampfox1007]

If I have learned anything from extra credits is it that all people are born with a tag with the initials that they wear on their clothes.

[@haroldlolz7964]

lol

[@mdaburayhan9101]

Swamp Fox. Actually it's very funny and true

[@jacobdunkin1180]

not everybody, just everybody important.

[@nathanschmitz2302]

Just think how easy it is to kill a important leader. Just look for thier name tag and shoot them in the head.

[@fighterck6241]

Jacob Dunkin ... ahhh, so that's why I was born with a birthmark shaped like my initials on my chest...

[@muixc]

"The king of Mali is so rich, he's going on tour to let everyone know. 'Wow. That guy is rich.' Everyone said." -Bill Wurtz

[@Animewatcher5953]

🤣🤣

[@CaptainSpackJarrow7]

🤣🤣

[@DragoniteSpam]

Can we just appreciate for a minute how brave some of these explorers who crossed the desert must have been? Five hundred miles with just one oasis, sending a scout ahead who might not even make it to arrange for water to be brought out to meet the caravan, oof .-.

[@DragoniteSpam]

I know, right?

[@imverygerby]

Gstrangeman96 Idk seeing someone get blown up is fucked soilders never really change there are always those ones in the front lines and those who are behind them. I'd say the civilian populace was more accustomed to violence back in the day tho

[@Zerpderp0]

DragoniteSpam These merchants are hard core

[@Wreckonning]

Remember that he was following a path that had been traveled many times before by merchants and travellers, and the systems were already in place for him to be able to make the journey. Let's not completely forget that for the people in the area, this was a way of life and not some grand adventure.

[@hi_mom_im_on_youtube]

Gstrangeman96 Peasants were never expected to fight, medieval armies consisted of mercenearies and feudal lords.

[@KendrixTermina]

Mali sounds like a pretty cool place to live actually, at least by medieval standards.

[@KendrixTermina]

Hence, "BY MEDIEVAL STANDARDS".

[@unknowndane4754]

Honestly I think it depended on your standings, for the lower classes I don't think there was that great a difference, for the middle classes I think Mali had it better because of it its lack of external dangerous enemies that threatened their way of living, for the high class... hard to judge because I think it was like most of the medieval world, maybe better if you were involved in the gold trade. They had tons of gold yes, but for them that was a product only really good for export and not that important to them.

[@TheFiresloth]

Well, in the 14th century, it was certainly better to be a malian, mughal or italian subject than, a say, french, english or syrian one.

[@MisterOrange1]

Yaldabaoth Honestly, even if you were a slave. A slave became a Mansa (his name was Sakura) years before Mansa Musa

[@Skadi609]

Gabriel Sakura? Doesn't it mean "cherry blossom" in Japanese?

[@Udontkno7]

I'm so glad there's finally some more mainstream channels that talk about African history. Africa has tons of assumptions that are negative, and I'm glad it's history is shown in a positive light.

[@semereabraham6639]

aromantic Yes, thank you, finally some people interested in actual history, not racial supremacy...

[@kayzsosa1414]

Semere Abraham word

[@nicholasnelson8641]

Ibn Battutah. Makes Marco Polo look like Dora the explorer.

[@faizahtahsin6377]

And now he has his own series

[@jaybadayatherockmerchant9832]

@@faizahtahsin6377 that they canceled...

[@wnd9434]

What wrong with Dora the Explorer

[@faizahtahsin6377]

@@wnd9434 shes fake lmao

[@JanBork]

@@jaybadayatherockmerchant9832 did they?!?!

[@twiinapocalyp2e2]

the mental image of an islamic scholar expecting veiled women only to find them walking around the palace topless is kinda hilarious

[@DaJalster28]

twiinapocalyp2e2 imagine him trying to report the "harlot" just to be told by the guards that she is the Emperor's daughter.

[@RayMKlll]

DaJalster28 And that meant she could dress as she pleased? Or am I seeing this wrong?

[@theghostofspookwagen4715]

Yup. Going around topless just wasn't an issue with them, for Battutah and his ilk on the other hand he would've fainted at the horror (and arousal).

[@hisexcellencypresidentofre4118]

Gosh u guys funny. Lol

[@nathanielclaw2841]

@@RayMKlll differences in what each culture finds to be moral and respectable. Same goes for native americans in south america, they dressed even less

[@srvaudiau]

Ibn Battuta deserves his own series!

[@ArkadiBolschek]

Seconded!

[@adnanilyas6368]

+

[@alsyrriad]

I don't like him honestly. Kind of stuck up if you ask me.

[@srvaudiau]

Dylan Sepasyar he was. But Ibn Battuta had one of the most epic road trips ever.

[@mxsdrago]

Ibn Battuta’s Bizarre Adventure: Gold Dust Crusader

[@Wolf6119]

RIP Sulking Caravan Dude

[@KasumiRINA]

*F*

[@Sebastian-mh7ej]

@@KasumiRINA F

[@detriadh]

F

[@silverking2181]

F

[@mestre12]

There are many stories about Masamusa, but, the one i like the most is: He gave so much gold in he travels, that, in some places, gold got major inflation.

[@chrispo7610]

gold was basically useless for a short period there. richest person ever

[@andrewlentner]

In some areas it was so bad that the city's economy crashed

[@nakenmil]

That's why they used cowry shells back home. Much rarer and easier to control the circulation of.

[@LuccianoBartolini]

Basically, he was the Muslim equivalent of Salomon.

[@BigHenFor]

When supply exceeds demand prices fall, so the price of gold would have deflated if Musamansa flooded the market with his generosity.

[@brianngoma9873]

As much as I really want to hear about Mansa Musa, I'm glad that you're stalling that episode to focus on the lesser known parts of an already underappreciated empire. Keep up the good work EC!

[@asiboe]

shipwrecked, kidnapped, and detained... why does it sound like now he's going to die of something very stupid after surviving all the previous?

[@edatercharles5566]

he died of old age in his city Tangiers, now he has a mausoleum in there

[@timothymclean]

He lived long enough to publish a book, so...if it wasn't death by falling manuscript, it would be outside the scope of this series.

[@Healermain15]

Upon completing his manuscript, he had a heart attack, tripped over his chair, and accidentally pierced his own heart with his writing quill. With his last breath, he managed to send his manuscript to the printers.

[@nomkir]

No that's also dramatic. He died a natural death.

[@agenthurricane4839]

Upon visiting home, he accidentally forgot how to breathe.

[@FromNothing]

This was amazing. I honestly didn't expect as much detail or elegance as people never usually offer it when talking about African history but you did it justice. Looking forward to the next episode!

[@joelgottfried5849]

Hey i'm also a fan of your channel are you willing to do dome focus of the kush empire

[@abthedragon4921]

Wow, didn't expect to find you here. Then again I probably should have, given the premise of your channel.

[@shockhouser3171]

Hey Jabari

[@Vitalis94]

As for religious syncretism, most of converting societies took the same path as Mali did. We date Christianization of many European states at the moment their kings did it. But in reality, most of population would remain pagan for few more centuries. First to convert were the rulers and traders. Later on, the capital. Then various towns and cities. Last to convert were the peasants in the villages, and that's why folk traditions come from rural places. The process of conversion to another religion went amongst the same lines as described in this video. To convince people, some of the local, pagan celebrations were disguised as Christian. The origins of the date we celebrate Christmas and Easter are winter and solar solaces, while annual celebrations of polytheistic gods were turned into the celebration of various Catholic Saints. It took many centuries for pagan belives to be entirely purged, and even then, many originally pagan traditions are celebrated to this day.

[@redwallzyl]

Thank you.! The amount of ignorance shown by people is awful. They tend to know nothing about the actull processes involved and so project their own biases on it.

[@mustipunyaemail]

Christmas is from pagan.

[@theghosthero6173]

mpye yeah it's the Scandinavian Yule

[@deangelourqhart7614]

And Yule is Babylonian for little child.

[@Vitalis94]

To say that Christmas is a direct "descendant" of Yule only would be an understatement - while Yule had influenced the outlook of Christmas in Germanic countries, other Europeans had their own pagan traditions related to winter solace. For example, Romans had Saturnalia, not to mention that the festival of Sol Invictus took place exactly on December 25th. Also, Slavs had their Koleda/Gody, Iranians had Yalda, etc...

[@threaruscamuwundra7417]

Awh man, this is a great episode but Ibn Battutah could have gotten an entire serie based on his travels. Would have been an awesome topic

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

He could get maybe some one off episode for the rest of his travels some day.

[@atsekaleb7]

Well good news for you

[@gabemobley3851]

Yep he got a full series

[@WeaselLikeMan]

good news

[@kingsumca4370]

@@gabemobley3851 where can I find the series?

[@CitanulsPumpkin]

Surprisingly, Mali culture turns out remarkably similar to Viking culture in this one area. "Just the one god? Sure, right. I'll have just the one ale too while I'm at it."

[@duchessnoor]

BUT I WOULD WALK 500 MILES AND I WOULD WALK 500 MORE...

[@mykomatos5445]

JUST TO BE THE MAN WHO WALKED A THOUSAND MILES TO GO OFF 'BOUT YOUR MORES

[@weldonwin]

Dada Da Da, Dada Da Da, Dadala Dadala Dadala Dadala dada...

[@Achillez098]

DA DA DA DA! DA DA DA DA! LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!!!!

[@sarabe2130]

O sheet whaddup it GUNTHRUM *bew bew bew beeeww*

[@myohmy9000]

Oh look, it's *Æthelstan*

[@dr.zoidberg8666]

In the final exam of our History of the Middle East class, a friend of mine accidentally called Ibn Battuta "Ibn Batooty" & I will never forget him because of that. Ibn Batooty: Truly a great man.

[@randomperson4695]

Lol

[@rickard7031]

Does this entire episode count as a SIDE TRIP?

[@abthedragon4921]

Good one

[@andreas6334]

Loser

[@tomuch4u969]

@@andreas6334 ur lame 😒

[@ryanred1525]

@@andreas6334 ur lame😒

[@Mar1aHass4n]

@@andreas6334 ur lame😒

[@GeneralLuigiTBC]

Ibn Battutah's reaction to the syncretic form of Islam practiced in the Mali Empire touches on a conundrum in religion that I've seen come up time and again as far as spreading Abrahamic religions is concerned: If the religion you seek to spread forbids something that is an integral part of the culture you seek to spread it to, how do you approach spreading your religion? Do you insist that the locals abandon the parts of their culture that your religion forbids, or do you leave those parts of their culture alone? On the one hand, trying to put an end to practices that have endured for centuries will almost certainly make it harder to attract converts--and will likely make the locals hostile toward you. On the other hand, if you allow the locals to keep their sinful customs, can you truly say that your proselytizing is helping them rather than hurting them?

[@Mechabang]

General Luigi Well put.

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

The ideal is to explain why the new practices are impotant and if you can’t maybe they are not.

[@jowiemonster]

I would say you leave the old traditions alone and i most cases they will slowly die out on there own als de new religion expands and becomes more and more of daily life.

[@johnmccarron7066]

Speaking as a Christian...yes, it does. The Ten Commandments still apply, a lot of the Abrahamic Code technically still applies (Christ said he wasn't there to overthrow the law, but to fulfill it), and Jesus left a list of dos and don'ts. And, depending on which sect of Christianity you follow, you may find a simple or fairly stringent code of living that can be quite 'arbitrary' to some folks.

[@KnuxTube]

As an Abrahamic believer, I may try to take a stab at this well put question. Islam, for example, can often adapt to a culture without losing its religious foundation. Take a look at the Moors in Spain. When the North Africans invaded Moorish Spain, originally to help the Muslims against the Catholics, they were shocked. They deemed what they saw as heresy and blasphemy, all the art and intermingling, sexual freedom and high ranks of Jews and Christians.Though they were not only of the same faith but the same ethnic heritage, Moorish and Berber, the cultural gap within the same religion was staggering. So it's certainly possible for culture and religion not to *bend* to each other but complement each other in a way that adds to both without taking away the good in both.

[@frederickkeeslar1761]

I'm so glad that you guys have been covering African history. I studied some African history during college, and it never gets as much attention as it should. Just as a suggestion, you guys should look at the city-states along the east coast of Africa and the kingdom of Madagascar. Unfortunately, most of the city-states were destroyed by the Portuguese, but they still have a very interesting history. There's also Great Zimbabwe and the kingdoms of Kush, which are also very fascinating empires.

[@GödekeMichels_72]

Let's take a guess. Gifting gold was considered bad form in a country that had so much in abudance and didn't even use it as currency.

[@dcbanacek2]

Good point. So you've just come out of the desert and are being received by the local government, what would be more important to that person? Food and water or some shiny metal you can't eat?

[@gameboyhotline3712]

dcbanacek2 and good food at that pudding and honey sounds like it was expensive in those times and when your traveling 2 months through sands and sun all you’ve been eating is tried and salted meat and idk like some old fruit. Mali showed him kindness, education and great wealth but to him he saw it as laziness and rudeness.

[@ArkadiBolschek]

Y'know, I wouldn't be surprised. You probably nailed it on the head.

[@hiddenhist]

BobHerzog1962 the hell should they just give away their gold for no reason? Should America just start gifting away money to visitors now?

[@GödekeMichels_72]

Well actually you do gift certain visitors either money or stuff that is a lot of money. In return certain officials from the US recieve the same courtesey when they visit other countries. It's diplomatic ettiquette. Also notice that travelers were not quiet as common as today in western society. And even those you don't want to give money you spend a lot of money on to get them out again or to hinder them comeing in. Ibn Battutah also wasn't just anyone. He was a well known scholar, friend of Kings and basically had somewhat the status of an ambassador. And lastley one has to accept that other cultures and other times had different custdoms. And it usually works when it is a thing everyone does. Because if every scholar of certain esteem is gifted valueables then yes you have to give out some money but your scholars will also recieve money when they travel and thus you don't have to support their travels as much. It would like, if the US and other nations agree that instead of their home University paying travel costs for scientific conferences the nation it is held in would do so. As long as everyone does so and noone has an relative to their size overly large amount of conferences it works. Back in those times it meant scholars had to carry less valuables with them and thus were less likely to be robbed of them.

[@FeyTheBin]

Ah yes, that lad Battuta, finally with his own series. Just gonna watch this one again as I wait for more episodes.

[@virginiansupremacy]

Fey that’s why I went back here.

[@josesphaturaya488]

It's the son of Battuta, not Battuta himself.

[@JcoleMc]

They should do an video of Ibn battuta's trip to Swalhi coast

[@abdur1996]

This is soo much cooler to watch after the Ibn Batuta series! You guys are a treasure!

[@sircoloniser5454]

This is a side trip to the Ibn battuta series

[@FnKtelevision]

Fun Fact: there is a mall in Dubai named after and themed around this man

[@Abd121]

been there, almost everything from imported/made in China. was very disappointed!...

[@omarbell4579]

FnKDeadBeat He's as iconic in the Islamic world as Marco Polo in the west.

[@nakenmil]

+Abd So like how Las Vegas puts up random replicas of European and Egyptian landmarks, then.

[@FnKtelevision]

+Abd yeah it's not the most impressive mall in dubai. mostly went there for the IMax screen when I lived there

[@mxsdrago]

Only just realized that the different countries in the mall represent his travels. Holy shit.

[@isadoracostahamsi163]

I LOVE African history. Please do more of them. We get enough Europe in school.

[@Talleyhoooo]

Totally agree!

[@mostafabellabiad3030]

This is a wonderful day. Finally I can see a icon of Moroccan history in Extra Credits, and it's Ibn Battuta, the famous traveller ! I'm so glad and I hope you will cover more about this man who saw so much things in the world. Great work as always guys !

[@HaloLibrarian]

My EU4 Mali campaign is because of these videos

[@Nihilvidz]

Are you going for the achievement?

[@melfice999]

Considering the time frame, shouldn't you rather go for a Crusader Kings 2?

[@davidking6242]

Crusader kings 2 would be more appropriate. I'm doing a series right now and I just conquered morroco and Iberia as the malians

[@manelgf1]

I recommend colonising Brazil one you've got a hold of the western coast. It's actually at a stone's throw! (Watch out for those Spanish and Portuguese though...)

[@Carewolf]

Did that in EU3.. Fun times. Only annoying thing is that to get better tech progression I had to westernize, there was no option to have closer ties to the muslim world to get their tech speed. But yes pre-scambling Africa, and getting a head start on overseas colonies is key to victory.

[@zacharysnyder2520]

Ibn Battutah probbably lived one of the most interesting lives in history.

[@TheNekoGentleman]

... You managed to make me love the history of my country and my religion. Me, a man that used to despise both. Kudos.

[@antoniolewis1016]

Hooray!

[@thepbg8453]

Out of curiosity why would you despise it?

[@assalane]

I am also Malian in origin. I apreciate the highlight too, but there are still aspects of the religions I despise, be it Islamic or pagan

[@echoambiance4470]

Which country might i ask?

[@assalane]

Echo Ambiance Mali

[@benzur3503]

i love the way you acknowledge and embrace the unreliability of the narrator and explain it from multipile angles so much

[@duderzguy1236]

This channel needs more subs

[@eventyraren]

DuderzGuy 123 I also think they shold change there name sens extra credit is no longer the only show here.

[@whatareyougay2826]

DuderzGuy 123 I need more sub's.

[@SlimTony]

Man, the mali empire sounds like a really nice place.

[@isitokaytoeatquick-wittedb2953]

I came back again to watch this after finishing the Ibn Battuta series, and after seeing his numerous other travels, the Battuta here in Mali that I previously thought obnoxious, is actually really just expectant. During his other trips, the rulers always give him big welcoming and parting gifts, always riches, gold, slaves, houses, horses, so he probably expect the emperor of Mali who has so many gold will be even more extravagant in gift giving, moreso that Battuta is coming to Mali by the order of the Moroccan sultan, hence making him some sort of ambassador.

[@degenerate3288]

Anyone else think that Ibn might have some plot armour

[@Loremaster85]

It's easy to have plot armour when you're the one writing the story about your own travels.

[@nomad20122]

Osiris ibn is not his first name, ibn means son and this was his nickname son of batuta not actual name

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

Is he reliable? I recall one traveler who was not and tried to google if this was him but apparently only his account of going to Bulgaria was unreliable?

[@Abd121]

he was a religious scholar, His way of seeing and documenting his surroundings would've probably been very different from that of a real historian!

[@8xMorladumx8]

+ 1 to you Loremaster xD

[@JunkPhuJP]

It will be interesting to see how the region Mali inhabits converted to a majority Islamic populace over the centuries, and slowly left some of the traditional African beliefs. Also, the gold security reminds me a lot about the Chinese and Mongolian iron grip on silk and silk worms. Also, friendly reminder to everyone that we need to keep discussing what happened to the 2000+ ship expedition that disappeared without a trace haha.

[@mustipunyaemail]

Most likely those 2000 ships had landed in carribian.

[@braniacc]

It was Walpole.

[@JubioHDX]

@@mustipunyaemail more likely than that is that they died in a storm at sea or got lost. I feel like there would be at least slight evidence of 2000+ ships full of west africans landing in the new world when columbus and the rest of the europeans actually arrived in the carribbean less than 2 centuries later, even genetic evidence would make it obvious if they truly did make landfall, since the natives of the americas are closest in relation to asians due to how their ancentors arrived from the land bridge in the north rather than being so close to africans due to such a substantial influx of them at such a recent date.

[@nahheio]

I’m here on a side trip

[@mattzhang4854]

ok but yogurt and honey is awesome

[@mattzhang4854]

so do bread cakes, sour curds, and beef

[@azelfdaboi5265]

Yes

[@junior4900]

Lieutenant Terry Jeffords of Brooklyn's 99th Precinct agrees

[@NikkiBikki]

Random, I'm eating that now...

[@jubileeYAVEL]

Ikr!

[@a.a.6789]

oh man! ibn batuta was badass and freaking hilarious I love it!! he'd make a great protag in a movie! he probably became wiser with age,but I can't blame him for his reactions,cultural shock is too real!😂😂 this channel is amasing keep up the good work❤❤

[@C.O.R.E_Supermacy]

The Mali culture seems so intriguing! I'd love to learn more about their history.

[@zaaimi]

Moroccan here, I am simply happy you mention morocco and Ibn Battuta. Great explorer, and his writing still stands today as an open window to the islamic world during that period.

[@musicaldoge9412]

I just wanna say two things. First this is spectacular what you guys do by teaching people history throw such simple drawings, and second how it helps me in an ApWH class to study easier by just simply watching one of your guys is videos. I would also like to ask for a recommendation, if okay, that you can make an episode on the Olmec empire, after this one of course. Once again thanks, and I hope the team at Extra Credits is doing well. Have a good day!

[@MisterOrange1]

Love how everyone is respectful in the comment section.

[@connerymilne6466]

The Mali Empire, aka real world Wakanda

[@Argantys]

Wakanda forever!

[@tonytruong861]

MALI FOREVER =D

[@AnasDaif]

Minus everything and I sjust a piece of buildings in middle of desert .

[@auliafajar9346]

Who came back here after the newest Ibn Battuta series?

[@TrueZero2]

You know that moment where you think 'THAT'S where I heard the name from'? That was what I had with Ibn Battuta.

[@fbaez7132]

Man, an Ibn Battutah EH series would be perfect

[@ArkadiBolschek]

I know, right?

[@collinsagyeman6131]

WE HAVE ONE NOW!!!!!!

[@olamideolanrewaju4005]

Wow. You have history videos of African Empires. You're awesome. Thanks a lot.

[@unklemoose]

Mansa Musa is one of my favorite historic figures. A man so wealthy that just his VISITING Egypt on his pilgrimage almost caused the Egyptian economy to collapse. Amazing. Would also be interested in seeing if you cover the "drum" style of trading they practiced at that time.

[@Cometstarlight]

Le gasp, a married woman talking to another man in friendship?! The scandal!

[@PongoXBongo]

Maybe she was discussing sandwich recipes?

[@Cometstarlight]

You never know~

[@merrittanimation7721]

PongoXBongo The horror! Next she'll tell him her secret sauce!

[@walotheman1]

19th century England was this uptight too you know.

[@Cometstarlight]

Not even close to this extent. Nice try though.

[@PavarottiAardvark]

Bread, beef, and sour curds....the gift was a Cheeseburger!

[@talknight2]

I can haz cheezburger?

[@cosmicwatermelon3927]

This is my favourite series so far, trade is so fascinating! I wish I could see the journey of all my consumer products in full.

[@shawnheatherly]

Battutah sounds like the worst sort of guest, and yet we've got to be thankful for his account letting us know all this.

[@TheFiresloth]

He sounds like the jerks who posts their holidays adventures on facebook. "I went to this place, and I was a total dick to the hotel staff. Wazaaaah !"

[@ozmantheterrible9837]

he's more important than most Kings. a fucking jere, but also a hero

[@robthebob4586]

Not exactly, sure is was a bit ungrateful at times but he brought a lot more good than bad.

[@kufre4493]

I have a feeling he didn’t actually laugh in the face of the emperor and just added that in his records

[@chowyee5049]

Will you ever do a series on the Ethiopian Empire?

[@davidking6242]

Chow Yee Lee definatley should. Focus it on the medieval Christian abbysinian empire specifically that's my favourite with aksum as second fav in Ethiopia

[@Jan-rq8mo]

depends on the patrions

[@JohnnyLodge2]

At least a stand alone on lalibella

[@gameboyhotline3712]

JohnnyLodge2 I’d rather see one on Halie or a series on the era of princes

[@mxsdrago]

t h e y n e v e r g o t E t h i o p i a

[@nmnmbj]

Its nice to hear about the Berber for once a lot of the time you see the written off just as Arabs not their own ethnic group.

[@badhombre7247]

This channel is getting better and better after each episode.

[@drowningindanile7184]

the fact at 8:14 is hilarious the Emperor's just like: is this dude fr?

[@davidheitzenrater9027]

You guys should really do a series on Ibn Battutah's travels. He honestly puts Marco Polo to shame.

[@GarthTheMighty]

That camel is adorable. And may or may not be Billy Batson.

[@egully6755]

I would love to see one of these exclusively on Ibn Battutah

[@ArkadiBolschek]

Hell yeah!

[@benrennella5335]

This series is excellently timed I have just started studying the history of west African kingdoms in my history class, thank you for making this I love your work.

[@xenos12500]

Mali sounds like a fairly good place to live compared to other empires and kingdoms at the time.

[@javierrozasgomez2060]

Congratulations for your work. I'm a Spanish English student and I find your videos very interesting and out of the stereotype we figure out when we think of African History apart from Egyptians. Very instructive also to learn common and not so common words to improve my Englisj vocabulary. Thank you for your your work and I hope you post more historical videos soon. Saludos desde Madrid

[@PelegdolevWackyycool]

Who else is here in 2020 after the bin bahtutah series

[@taylorhancock5834]

In World History, we just recently learned about Ibn Battutah, but only acknowledged his existence. I'm glad that I actually do know his importance now. Thanks for your videos guys, they make history extremely interesting!

[@nakenmil]

5:00 well, they practices traditional African religionS. We don't want to give the false impression that all of Africa had a common religious system. As some, well-meaning, but ignorant people seem to want to present.

[@timothymclean]

"I mean, the Americas have one religion, why wouldn't the other continents?"

[@zebedeesummers4413]

Timothy McLean have you never been to the states? Also, to be fair, he did say religions in a plural manour.

[@skyrius5568]

I think the sarcasm flew over a bit there, he was trying to make a sardonic analogy XD

[@frinkls5347]

Hahaha! You seem to imply there was even a single religion Islam merged with in Mali! Africa, is amazing diversity to the max.... For example in Nigeria its not uncommon for you to not understand the language of your neighbour. In the Mali empire alone there probably were more than a 1000 religions!

[@KoteDarasuum]

Yes this is true but is it ignorant? no. Its like talking about norse viking religion and saying it is germanic religion. Sure there is more germanic religions than only that but it doesnt change the fact it is germanic religion.

[@YourTypicalMental]

Man, the Empire of Mali sounds so cool.

[@iamseamonkey6688]

At least we finally get an ibn battuta series now

[@dialaskisel5929]

Awesome episode, I love the format. Telling the story of an empire and it's practices from the written accounts of an outsider traveling through their land has an unmistakable air of adventure

[@Captainflake99]

I have seen a video about a prince from west Africa making a pilgrimage to Mecca and he had billions in gold. On his travels he brought and spent so much in Egypt that gold was devalued nearly overnight and it would take a century before it returned to its value before he turned up

[@alfreddupont1214]

Not a century, but a decade

[@talknight2]

Mansa Musa

[@kirbyjaeger2506]

I like how they take music from the cultures that they're looking at and play it as their outro. It really shows an attention to detail.

[@DuranmanX]

A society that is religiously tolerant, treats women respectfully, and gifts food to travelers? THIS IS THE WORST!

[@franciscomm7675]

You were treated with respect, as long you are not slave. And mali had many slaves

[@ramenbomberdeluxe4958]

YEAH! People NOT viewing women as inferior tools? THE HORROR! *Faints in Ibn Batuta, Cries in Turkish, Dies in Moorish*

[@thatonekid640]

Kroq Gar *Everyone faints*

[@itumo2645]

@@franciscomm7675 >> Not anymore than any medieval state.

[@jason-tq9nh]

Francisco MM well a Slave did become the Mansa once so....

[@beknown63]

Did someone say SIDE TRIP?

[@Leivve]

And there are still some people that think Africans didn't have nations or cultures.

[@unknowndane4754]

Even worse there are the people that think of Africa as some sort of unified thing

[@Leivve]

Well yeah, they're all black right? That means they're all the same right, cause that's totally how it works.

[@kayzsosa1414]

Leivve word

[@supermanboy1255]

Leivve Race and culture are separate and Ethiopian is not a South African

[@Leivve]

Wrong comment dude.

[@arturoreyescortez2476]

Wow, Ibn was a jerk. Even with the issue of slavery, Mali was a really progressive African Empire, and I like how they blended Muslim and African cultures in a way that isn't forced. Diversity of cultures is good for human relationships and businesses. A country that is culturally homogeneous (which doesn't happen in real life) wouldn't be able to trade with other countries, and there would be risks of military conflicts.

[@tudorradutu2329]

More than that, I wholeheartedly agree! Diversity of culture promotes progression on a world wide scale! If we all just acted and thought the same, even if we reached a consensus eventually, it would lead us in a dead end. There would be prosperity at first, but then it would be a long stale decline. Diversity in culture, religion even language and other criterias I cannot think of right now would make us think twice.

[@IkeOkerekeNews]

Arturo Reyes Cortez I though Japan, and the Koreas were just that?

[@arturoreyescortez2476]

Ike Okereke Japan and South Korea have diversity, but they have many other issues to deal with that would require a long analysis and discussion of possible solutions. North Korea is doomed unless they get true democracy and freedom of thought. A simple look to North Korean cartoons can show that creativity is dying there because of strict values and fear of authorities.

[@KennyHazy97]

Japan and (South) Korea aren't quite as homogeneous as they would sometimes like to pretend they are. And I don't think it's fair to discount the immense foreign cultural influences they've felt over the years, from Buddhism to Baseball.

[@ab5441]

Not really your conflating being open to ideas to your post-modern ideology. There are many cases such as in china were groups have fought over control of the state. Also Japan and Korea have no substantial minority groups that have the right to vote which is were the conflict comes from.

[@joinmarch76]

You know, it's times like this that make me glad I subscribed to this channel. I would have likely never heard of the Mali Empire hadn't it been for you guys; and it's a damn good thing I did. This empire was amazing for many things; perhaps my favorite aspects include its progressiveness for its time, and its religious freedom. You ask me, America could learn a thing or two from this... But let's not turn this into a diatribe on my grievances with Westboro Baptists roaming free; no, this is about the Mali Empire. And while this may be a roundabout way of saying it, I'm happy I learned of its majesty.

[@kayzsosa1414]

A African history video not saturated with racism and afrocentrism I thought these were only myths

[@coolbule1238]

dark ambience

[@blakemoore122]

The comments seem fairly civil as well!!! Its so nice!!!

[@Palestine4Ever169]

kayz sosa Afrocentric don’t want their west African history They want North Africans and others history

[@jamestodd1104]

There’s just no real records. A lot is speculation.

[@kufre4493]

@@jamestodd1104this record is as real as it gets

[@everfree4175]

In my honest opinion Mali Empire was the best Muslim nation of its time.

[@gameboyhotline3712]

I just wish it wasn’t so isolated from the world by the Sahara

[@Jarethenator]

@@gameboyhotline3712 If it wasn't as isolated it probably wouldn't have flourished the way that it did. Hence why the other empires had to deal with so much 𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 I mean, even if a place is so full of gold and all a big, sandy, army-killing desert really puts one off from going and messing with them in any major way... Not to mention if you're in closer proximity to other cultures, you're more likely to adopt them rather than develop and maintain your own unique one...

[@pongers5895]

I mean ibn batuta was a judge he judged

[@tomuch4u969]

Who’s here after the ibn battuta series?

[@Based-wn9jg]

Everyone

[@underwoodessays6936]

Anyone watching this after the end of the Ibn Battutah seris?

[@mtnrth4080]

Me!

[@zaclegoattack]

Yo

[@celeen7476]

Me

[@tg10tg]

It actually sounds like a nice place to live in that century at least

[@AS-jy6pf]

Last part of ibn battuta episode brought me here

[@ghostbrain198]

This video inspired me to get In Batuttah's book. I can't wait to see how much of a tourist this guy acts like across the world.

[@joefrew1614]

So basically, Ibn Battudah is a 14th version of Logan Paul in Japan!!! Lololol

[@buddyltd]

Wow, I thought this was going to be interesting, but this is waaay more interesting than I imagined it would be! Awesome topic!

[@Crimson_07]

And a year later we'll be learning Ibn Battutah's story...

[@3ipolarBear]

though you were gonna mention the berbers were battuttas compatriots, given he was also a berber

[@TrixAreForKicks]

Mali seemse like a beautufull place. Would have ben amazing to witness with my own eyes.

[@Sondrebol]

I had hoped Timbucktu would come up. What little i know of the Songhai empire (and to some extent, Mali) is because of that city.

[@olefredrikskjegstad5972]

I find Ibn's frustration with how Malian Islam isn't 100% on the letter to be pretty amusing. It's actually pretty interesting. Almost everywhere else in the world, Islam was spread by the sword, and so was enforced from the top down by the Pious Conquerors. Since Mali essentially got to adopt Islam on its own terms, they created this unique combination that preserved important aspect of their own culture, and that's honestly really cool.

[@IndraKatiK]

Pyro Gear it was pretty similar to how it was spread in indonesia, since it's too far from the middle east, it managed to assimilate and form a syncretism with local beliefs, avoiding the cancerous arab culture's tendencies to extinguish previous culture instead of coexisting... Well at least only so far until recently

[@petergray2712]

"Spread by the sword" is inaccurate, sir. Islam was actually spread by the tax code. Islamic rulers imposed their faith by charging Non-Muslims a poll tax (the Jizya) for practicing their faiths. In fact it was mostly Christians that converted people through armed coercion, as many pagan peoples of Northern and Central Europe can attest

[@dcbanacek2]

It helped that Mali had that big freaking desert as a buffer from the more "traditional" views of Islam.

[@youraverageimperialguard7932]

Islam was not spread by the sword. You clearly know nothing about Islamic history.

[@partibananathurai5862]

+Peter Gray Spread by jizya to Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians. Because they were still monotheists. Pagans only had a few choices : Convert to Islam Convert to Christianity and pay jizya Leave Die

[@nqinadlamini]

This episode was really hilarious. I especially like the spirit ghost being measured. LOL

[@humo89]

Love it! Awesome work Habibi!

[@oumardiallo7701]

i'm from the current Republic of Mali , really thank you

[@silveryuno]

As amazing as Ibn Battuta's life was, he himself was kinda of an asshole. Always criticizing stuff he didn't like in the lands he visited in his travels, with very little care for why it was so that things were like that in those lands.

[@aziz00181]

You should not forget that he was a Judge,making judgement towards Society belongs to his Profession,and don't forget the cultural Differcity.

[@haitamc5611]

He was a extremely curious, extremely horny young fellow, that's all I can say.

[@noriyakigumble3011]

Tbh, I’d rather have an asshole complain about real things he hated than have someone lie through their teeth, at least there’s truth to the former

[@martinconway8174]

Ibn has been places hasn't he? Marco Polo eat your heart out

[@alchemist7525]

his name is ibn batota not ibn lol his name mean the son of batota

[@jackal25301]

@@alchemist7525 his real name is chams din ibn batuta chams din = the sun of faith

[@leavemealoneplease583]

Mali sounds like a lovely place to live

[@aperson5135]

You know... I was looking at your first videos and I just realized its been over 3 years apparently since I started watching since I started watching during the warring states videos... damn I have to say I have honestly really enjoyed theise videos and I look forward to them every week I cant wait for the next video