The Ethnic Demography of Game of Thrones (And Their Real World Equivalents)

What is the demographic/ethnic makeup of the Game of Thrones world and why is it relevant to real world history and geography?
In today's video, we're taking a break from real world ethnolinguistic geopolitics and discuss the very same in one of my favorite television shows and one of the most popular fantasy worlds ever created. The similarities, analogies and outright parallels to reality are far too many to count and even more interesting to point out. Let me know other interesting comparisons between the people, places and cultures of the world of Game of Thrones and our own world. Thanks for watching!
Music: • Game of Thrones Theme ...
• "Lord of Light" (Melis...

[@fondofangels]

Dorne is very much similar to Moorish Spain, where they were ruled by Arabs who migrated from North Africa. This goes along with the filming locations as Dorne scenes were filmed in Moorish palaces and mosques.

[@FaithfulOfBrigantia]

Disagree. Maybe similar to the Maghreb, but Al-Andaluz had a completely different climate and landscape, and most of the Andaluci population was still native Iberian, not Moorish, so Dorne really doesn't really look like Al-Andalus at all, except for the moorish architecture (which is also obviously found throughout most of the Northern African coast)

[@FaithfulOfBrigantia]

@ⵟⴰⵏⵉⵔⵉ This isn't really about knowing history, but knowing geography.

[@FaithfulOfBrigantia]

@ⵟⴰⵏⵉⵔⵉ Fair enough.

[@BloodRider1914]

@@FaithfulOfBrigantia Most of the Dornish Population has at least some Andal or First Men ancestry, and in the West most people have minimal Rhoynar ancestry

[@TheFightHubb]

Migrated? Lmfao u mean conquered right?

[@wiseonly52]

Me: i dont like history Got: you like history Me: i like history

[@augustinus5877]

The Iron Islands are clearly inspired by sudreyar, a viking kingdom on the hebrides and the isle of man.

[@TheGreatGodPan]

It probably is more accurate to compare them to specifically the petty kingdoms of the Norse such as the Hebrides or Orkney.

[@nedisahonkey]

@Hoàng Nguyên What are you so salty about? And why are you projecting your own problems on a completely unrelated comment?

[@dirtygiraffe]

@Hoàng Nguyên Yeah, as someone from Scandinavia who loves Norse history and mythology, it hurts a little bit every time people mention that Martin was inspired by the vikings when he created the Ironborn. And it doesn't help that Dumb & Dumber made every single character, region, ethnicity and culture on the show retarded and/or fucked up in so many ways. Instead of Martins epic masterpiece they gave us White Messiah Dany, Dumb Jon, Badass Emotionless Arya, Robot Bran, Catty Empowered by Rape Sansa, Saint Tyrion, Evil Stannis, Mustache Twirling Batfinger, Handsome Genius Ramsay, Hot Topic/Jack Sparrow Euron, Spineless Lapdog Jaime and Poor Cersei who just wants to protect her children. And don't even get me started about Porne and the North who doesn't remember...

[@Unlitedsoul]

@Hoàng Nguyên The Dothraki are more influenced by Huns than by Mongols, but I do get your point here. Martin's portrayal of any of those cultures is fairly shameful, but at least it's done in a fantasy setting... and he is trying to outline the barbarians more along how they were viewed by "civilized" medival cultures than by how they were in reality.

[@polishherowitoldpilecki5521]

Dirty Giraffe Yes the Vikings were cultured people.

[@haruner_]

Dothraki's weapon name is "arakh" and shape of sickle. Sickle in Turkish "orak"

[@alexandersimeonoff]

Dothrakis resemble the turkiC tribes, but the name is closer to the Thracians, while khal (turkic-khan)Drogo is based on Spartacus(also a thracian), the one who led a rebelion against the Roman Republic. Living in large tents and the savage look made me think of bulgars, who by that time (900 ad) are divided in 2 large emipres (Bulgaria on the Balkans, by that time covering the most of southeast Europe and the Volga Bulgaria stretching south to the Caspian sea and going far north to the seas bordering the north pole. One of the major theories gives the Bulgars turkic descent, ruled by khans.

[@ermuhambetcalmenov8104]

Durys aitasyz. Biraq men kitabti oqygan zhopyn. Tek qana show

[@nicklepin7133]

They’re based on nomadic people such as Huns mongols, turks, Arabs, native Americans with a dash of fantasy in George rr Martin own words pry not exactly the way he said it but close enough

[@thesoundinyourhead1782]

Seljuk empire have nothing to do with modern day turkey and ottoman empire.

[@siyacer]

@@thesoundinyourhead1782 they are Turks

[@savvageorge]

You don't have to go as far as Scotland in Britain to experience the North/South divide. Most of the money and political power is centred around London so many people in North England also hate the south. Even as little as 100 miles North of London there is a strong anti-south feeling. People in Northern England also have very similar accents to people in Winterfell.

[@willkp50]

Mate I don’t think Northerners hate the south, it’s just a bit of banter is all

[@savvageorge]

​@@willkp50 Maybe hate is too strong of a word but I think most northerners would prefer to have a king in the north than be ruled from London by Theresa Lanister.

[@azih8626]

Hate the south??? You sound delusional lmao, many people have relatives all over the UK so it would be stupid to hate other regions. Being from Leeds myself, people don't hate the South generally, they just hate the concentration of political power in the South. They also hate that the rest of the world sees the UK as just London, and sometimes including Scotland. I'm sure if the political powers resided in the North, Southerners would feel the same too. People here also have this perception of Southerners being posh and snobby, but the snobbiest people I've encountered are from Durham and neighbouring areas.

[@torinjones3221]

You also don't have to go north to see a North South divide. Just head in any direction outside of London. Like the closer you get to Lands End. I think Brexit was probably the best example of highlighting the Divide in England between the major cities and the rural areas.

[@gladifly]

@@azih8626 You are not from Leeds, you are a Somali currently residing in Leeds.

[@Zhongda95]

By what means is Westerosi technology based on 900 AD? Plate Armour? Jousting? Longswords? Seems More like 1350 to me.

[@tsopmocful1958]

Yep, I agree. It was a real clanger as soon as he said it. Especially as he showed a 14th or 15th century picture as he said it.

[@HouseOfAlastrian]

Not to mention the War of the Roses was part of George R. R. Martin's inspiration, which started a whole century later in 1455.

[@polishherowitoldpilecki5521]

Zhongda95 I read somewhere that the technology and medical know how of Westeros is actually pretty advanced compared to that of the knowledge of the 1400s

[@Zhongda95]

@@polishherowitoldpilecki5521 However, there is no gunpowder, which makes it rather impossible to compare its technology to that of real history since the invention of gunpowder greatly predates Game of Thrones' armor technology.

[@tsopmocful1958]

@@polishherowitoldpilecki5521 Well it is a fantasy after all, because they have dragons as well, so anachronistic technology and medicine isn't such a huge leap in concept for it. But this thread is more about how Masaman mistakenly described their military technology as of the 10th century when it is clearly of a later period.

[@LamiNalchor]

I have to disagree with the dating of Westeros technology. Martin was obviously inspired by the Wars of the Roses and absolutely also by the technology from that time as in the 15th century not the 9th. The 9th century did not have any plate mail whatsoever nor longswords, neither did they have substantial castles.

[@el_padron_1795]

Anything: *exists* Masaman: *the ethnic makeup of Game of Thrones*

[@stlouisix3]

Unexpected but bloody excited!!

[@XXPanayisXX]

I don’t think you mentioned Bravos in this video. Bravos Is definitely based on the Venetian empire. Back when many Greek islands were part of their republic.

[@Jeroen72]

D.B. Weiss (Executive Producer): "...From the moment we read about the Iron Bank, and Tycho Nestoris the representative of the Iron Bank, we loved it because it was such an atypical element - banking doesn't really factor into most High Fantasy. But it's very modern, I mean the lines are very clean and Dutch Protestant, and the way they dress is inspired by the Dutch Golden Age, and they're a bit more advanced than most of the people in Westeros - which is perhaps why they're in charge of everything."

[@messianic_scam]

Was there a Venetian empire!? when

[@iamthelaw82]

I’d say Braavos could represent any of the Mediterranean Greek or Italian city states.

[@ΝίκοςΖουρνατζίδης-λ4κ]

the colossus of rhodes.. The Big statue that holds a torch instead of a sword... And also the ships enter the port passing under him...

[@datsj2152]

You guys do realise that a single thing can draw inspiration from a number of different historical locations, architectures and cultures. Basically, all of you have a point.

[@frankrosati2664]

I think of the Valyria being more analogous to Atlantis.

[@youtubeguy2340]

I thought it was an analogy to Alexander’s empire

[@sandman8115]

I thought it was more to akin to Rome and Ghis was Carthage

[@Unlitedsoul]

@@sandman8115 Agreed that Valyria is somewhat obviously Rome. Ghis and the "old cities" are an amalgamation of Babylon, Assyria, and Egypt. There are very heavy influences there from each.... and each was eventually conquered by Rome as Ghis was conquered by Valyria.

[@babycalvs]

Valyria does sound an awful lot like Illyria.

[@CaptainHarlock-kv4zt]

Valyria is Rome. At least in my mind.

[@TJTheProud]

Why is he shying away from saying that Dorne represents Arab Spain (Al Andalus)

[@FaithfulOfBrigantia]

Because it doesn't look like Al-Andalus at all, except maybe the Architecture, but that was still far more commun in the Maghreb than in Al-Andalus.

[@hoangkimviet8545]

Before watching this video, I watched the advertisement for Game of Thrones. What a coincidence! :-0

[@ooooo934]

it is artificial intellect of google advertisement

[@SeymoreSparda]

Huh, you again. Hey, if you don't mind me asking...did you yourself delete your comment in Langfocus's How Different Are Indonesian and Malay?! video comment section? Or did somebody else do it. Damn, I don't feel like repeating what I commented there prior...Your comment did not breach KZbin's community guidelines, did it? Then wtf? Feels like someone's trying to censor us for some reason...

[@ElladanKenet]

The North- Northern England Beyond the Wall- Scotland The Westerlands- England Dorne- Spain The Stormlands- Germany Iron Islands- Scandinavia culturally The Vale- Switzerland/Austria The Reach- France The Riverlands- The Netherlands The Free Cities- Italy (Venice, Genoa, etc.) Valyria- Ancient Rome Volantis- Catholic Rome

[@BennoWitter]

J. Michael Straczynski did similar things with Babylon 5.

[@استغفراللهواتوباليهالعذروالسمو]

Patrik Zácsi lol

[@JediBunny]

I prefer warm weather so I could go for either Qarth or Dorne 🌴 ☀️

[@Assassins6688]

I would go for dorne just for the girls with whips

[@MrMhtmht]

You don't look like it, you belong where your type belongs

[@JediBunny]

Moataz Metro lol... just stay vigilant and be wary for their penchant for poisons !

[@JediBunny]

MrMhtmht as much as I love being an introvert, it was wayyyy too chilly for me in the Vale... plus the altitude really gets to your mind after a while. I’ll take the Moon Door on my way out 🤓

[@mirceagogoncea]

Same here! When people ask me what part of Game of Thrones I would pick to live in, I pick Dorne before they even finish the question 😂

[@Assassins6688]

Dorne is clearly influenced by Arabic region the arcticture the weather and desert, Jews consists of different races and cultures.

[@felipecibotti9595]

Great video! Let me left some personal analisis tough: -Old Ghis make reference to Carthage -Ibb make reference to the inuit people -In "A World of Ice and fire", the Rhoynar are portrayed a lot similar to the ancient greeks, and share a similar end, both being conquered by the next great poder -I see a lot more influence of the Huns over the dhotraki. The mongols would be portrayed by the "Joghos Nhai", a related nomadic culture on the other side of the Bone mountains. -The free cities are based in the independent Italian States from the medieval Age, with braavos being clearly analogue to Venece. -The far east "City of the winged men" can be an Analogue of the medieval europe cnowledge over the tibetana. (Sorry about my bad english)

[@the_number_one]

Tu parlo bello

[@TheFightHubb]

Also Yi ti in the far east of Essos is like 110% based on China

[@itsnotatoober]

Masa, Dorne is similar to the Vandals who settled in spain. They weren't the original inhabitants, moved on mass from their homelands, fought with rome, and conquered Spain. Also, the arab and vandal kingdoms both were separate kingdoms and people who inhabited the region together, just like the salty and sandy dornish.

[@chrisklitou7573]

Westeros is basically Europe and Essos is the middle East Kings landing is based on Rome The North is Northern England North of the Wall is Ireland/Scotland The Westerlands is Germany The Vale is Switzerland/Austria The Riverlands is Netherlands/Belgium The Reach is France Dorne is Spain Iron islands is Scandinavia Stormlands is Southern England

[@FaZaFurhod]

how is Westeros Europe? All of the kingdoms speak the same language except Dorne and real world Europe is made of many different languages

[@chrisklitou7573]

@@FaZaFurhod each kingdom has the culture of real life countries I mentioned

[@FaZaFurhod]

@@chrisklitou7573 and like I just mentioned, each kingdom except for Dorne speaks the same language. Real life countries you mentioned all speak different languages therefore their cultures are way more differentiated in real life than in ASOIAF

[@chrisklitou7573]

@@FaZaFurhod I said culture not language is the same learn the difference

[@FaZaFurhod]

@@chrisklitou7573 obviously language is a huge part of the culture. if the countries in Westeros don't differentiate in language then they don't differentiate in culture that much either. Westeros is one country

[@bensyson3438]

Valeria is Rome (new great power) who defeated he previous great power old ghis = Carthage , the volcano might be inspired by Pompeii and also the barbarian invasion that leads to the fall of Rome sorta put together or at least that’s how I always saw it :3 Really interesting seeing other people’s take on where the inspiration for such a fantastic fantasy work came from :D great video!

[@jasonprevo2161]

When you said you were a teen when GOT started.. that made me feel old af.. thanks... lol... I will be 36 this year....

[@wackyruss]

The Dothraki remind me of the Kazakhs of modern day Kazakhstan. Like the Dothraki, horse meat is still popular even today and the vast Kazakh Steppe is very much like the Grass Sea. Before the Soviets “settled them down” into towns and dreary apartment blocks, the Kazakhs were nomadic horse riding people and the horse is believed to have been first domesticated on the steppes of modern day Kazakhstan.

[@TheFightHubb]

I think they’re a combination of turkic tribes (including Kazaks ofc), huns and mongols

[@dw9524]

​@@TheFightHubbis gree. Culturally they're like the huns ect. Ethnically they look more like indigenous ancient turks for sure.

[@HighLordSythen]

King's Landing wouldn't be Constantinople. Constantinople would be more analogous to Qarth.

[@samuraiblue3901]

Sythen Qarth=Qatar ?😂

[@Assassins6688]

Kings landing is a coastal capital there is few like these neither London Paris or Rome are like that, it's more like Athena Istanbul Alexandria or Lisbon.

[@حسۄۄنۦ]

Qarth is Babylon

[@jamesthomas5109]

Which country next? Latveria? Arendelle? Wakanda? Or maybe the demographics of DC, Marvel or Dark horse comics.

[@perspii2808]

James Thomas Not to sound like a nob but superhero comics and films don’t really go in depth enough to make a video like that, as opposed to a sci fi or fantasy like LOTR or ASOIAF, at least imo anyway

[@jamesthomas5109]

@Albert Miller I know.

[@jamesthomas5109]

@@perspii2808 They're diverse enough arent they?

[@jamesthomas5109]

@@perspii2808 It was more of a joke but nevermind.

[@samishaniyy]

You couldn't mention the Andalusians when talking about dorn?

[@paununs8719]

When people say Spain, they mean Andalusia. Dorne doesn't look like Castile or Galicia at all.

[@whoreofdragonstone1031]

Pau Nuns we know this, hence why he said Andalusia instead of Spain, although even then dorne culturally speaking is the exaggerated stereotype of Andalusia

[@carlesr9117]

I think the destruction of Valyria is more relatable to the destruction of th Minoan culture of Crete, the antesesor of Hellenic culture also destroyed in a volcanic eruption

[@Jartisann]

And that is why Khalisi to me feels like Cleopatra whose lineage is debated to have come from the Greeks, and come to rule the land of blacks and half-dark skinned people. And Meereen also has many pyramids.

[@rhystudor8093]

You mentioned all the Celtic nations of Great Britain and Ireland, except the Welsh. Misrepresented and overlooked, now that is historically accurate...

[@r3t4d3doscar7]

Because you useless! Just give up and let us annexe you man! You're already turning English enough just let it happen.

[@taffyducks544]

@@r3t4d3doscar7 Useless?! How ironic....you wouldnt even be able to make that comment if it wasn't for a Welshman who perfected Packet switching (Donald Davies) 😂

[@taffyducks544]

@@r3t4d3doscar7 also, so useless. The English completely failed to wipe the Welsh out. Despite having a far superior population. The conquest happened the other way pal. 410 - 1280s 😂 Henry the 7th conquered England at Bosworth. 😉

[@samuraiblue3901]

I heard another equivalent before: The north --- Russia Casterly rock --- England The reach --- France Riverrun --- Germany Vales --- alps Stormland --- Italy Dorne --- Iberia Iron islands --- Vikings

[@ilya_rusin]

Russia is more like Riverlands. I'm from Russia

[@samuraiblue3901]

All Father yes but Scotland may not be major enough. The north is a major power with many smaller houses, which match Russia better. I think the wildlings are more Scottish

[@samuraiblue3901]

ilya_Rusin why? That place is the crossroad of seven kingdoms and disorganized, which indicates medieval Holy Roman Empire better.

[@samuraiblue3901]

Admire Kashiri where is Japan then?

[@samuraiblue3901]

Admire Kashiri where are they on the map? I cannot even find them. In the vary east?

[@gbtvbrbgbgbfbgbyjyh8692]

I Think that the ghisgari Empire is based on ancient Carthage, because when They lost their wars to the Roman Empire, Then their fields Were also salted, just like the valyrians did to ghis

[@kurtalexander20]

The people in kings landing have cockney (london) accents... so I assume its london. but with a mediteranian weather... Also, the northerners are not scottish, im from leeds, and clearly the accent is mostly yorkshire.. good vid

[@rizwanbalti4487]

Woooow , The idea so amazing 😍😍😍 (Update) As now I have watched the video, so it actually is amazing

[@t.a.hamilton9125]

I thought the city of Kauth, was a take on the Byzantines.. And the house of the undying in Kauth, were the palaces that dazzled and confused the noble byzantine visitors, foreign emissaries & guests. Who Knows. Love Your Channel Bro!!

[@Gui101do]

Can you do an ethnic demography of game of bones?

[@richardsantanna5398]

Nah

[@redjsaceda9264]

The cock is dark and full of veins.

[@wythore]

I always pictured Braavos as Venice due to the many canals and waterways

[@GeoBBB123]

And its mercantile credentials ($$$)

[@ek5273]

Great Video, but I believe that Old Ghis was based off of Carthage/ Phoenicia.

[@Evilgood1]

I always thought of them as not-Egypt, but no need to stop at one Inspiration

[@Liquidsback]

Egypt waaaassss conquered by Persia.

[@Evilgood1]

I interpret Asshai and Stygai as being more akin to Persia and abandoned Mesopotamian cities.

[@lucaventinove3151]

@@marcgarcia1673 Asshai is a purely fantasy realm, as it's the home of darkness and evil magic. The isle of Leng is resemblant of Indonesia, Sarnor is usually depicted similarly to the Ghiscari, so it could be based off another middle eastern nation. Then there's Ib, wich may be based off Iceland

[@gregcampwriter]

The chain that Tyrion stretches across the harbor at King's Landing comes straight out of the attempts of Muslim forces to conquer Constantinople.

[@princeprocrastinate6485]

The Dornish are a mixture of First Men, Andals and Rhoynar, that's why you get salty Dornish, sandy Dornish and stony Dornish sub groups of the region, they are the most ethnically diverse of the Seven Kingdoms. And the Rhoynar only migrated to the region about 1000 years before the story, which makes them the most recent migratory people to the continent.

[@The_Custos]

The Vale is the most interesting to me. Swiss knights?

[@lightningwight4154]

The Vale corresponds to Northumbria imo. While the south was invaded by the Saxons from the mainland (Andels for GoT), the Vale was invaded by "some other kingdom" from higher up north (Angles for England). They conquered the First Men (Celts) but also mixed in and lived next to surviving tribes (Picts/Scots, Northumbria bordering Scotland)

[@ilya_rusin]

Caucasus region.

[@lightningwight4154]

@Gev G All of GoT is literally English history plus magic. Its map is the British Isles turned upside-down. The wall is Hadrians wall built for the Picts in England. The Targaryens are the Normans, fractures of the Roman Empire's technology mixed with Western military conquering the isles. GoT is mostly based on the "War of the Roses" era in English history, with the Lannisters representing the Lannicasters and Starks the Yorks.

[@lightningwight4154]

@Gev G The fuck? Sounds like a non-English speaking country just has such a preference for non-English speaking history that they feel the need to jump on any discussion of it to inject their own history and explain to English speaking folks how objectively superior their own history is when nobody asked or cares.

[@Samperor]

@@lightningwight4154 They were considered Swiss by George.

[@8393Robertrex]

I actually like to see valyrians as a mix between romans and "vikings" Its *a* penninsula yes. But Its far more similar looking to denmark. And my favorite part is that the valyrians rode dragons, and viking sailed in ships with dragon heads(rode dragons(

[@doublep1980]

Northern Houses (Starks and their bannermen): Scots/Irish Lannisters and Tyrells: Norman Brits/French Dothraki: Mongols/Huns/Scythians with a little bit of Native Indians Iron Born: Vikings Dorne: Moorish Spain with a touch of Saracen Sicily King's Landing: Constantinople with a little bit of medevil Paris Braavos: Venice with a little bit of ancient Carthage and Rhodes Valyria: mythical Atlantis with a little bit of Rome and the Ptolemaic dynasty(the whole incest thing) Free Cities: Italian city-states of the Renaisance/ ancient Greek city-states/Hanseatic city-states The Wall in the North: Adrianic Wall in Britain Wildlings: Picts from Britain/ Germanic tribes(Goths,Teutones,Saxons,Ceruscii etc.) Also,the whole War of the 5 Kings is inspired by the War of the Roses,the Redd Wedding from the Black Dinner etc. etc.

[@swanhildm]

@doubleP My Analysis exactly, except Valyria reminds me more of the mythological Greeks (with a bit of Ragnarök thrown in) and Alexander the Great. Way too whacky to be compared to the super organised and pragmatic Romans.

[@CaptainHarlock-kv4zt]

King's Landing is Constantinople.(Greek fire etc.)

[@jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj07]

Do you know swimming ? Gayrek 🤣🤣🤣

[@CaptainHarlock-kv4zt]

Have you read any good book lately ?...I guess not.

[@CaptainHarlock-kv4zt]

When it comes to people from Turgay it's always the same. You don't even have to try, they keep ridiculing themselves. Learn to read Mehmet, you'll be surprised, trust me !!!

[@xenon9030]

Aside from Greek fire, no, I dont think King's Landing has too much in common with Constantinople. Volantis is imo the more likely City inspired by it. With them beeing the last great remaining city of an ancient Empire, having huge and grand walls, and most of all, beeing the legal and institutional remnant of said empire

[@animalia5554]

Xenon There’s also the shape of King’s Landing and how it makes a siege difficult.

[@HamzaPKR]

The Dornish people are most definitely a representation of Iberia during the Middle Ages. According to lore Dornishmen are divided into three distinct sub-groups (Sandy, Salty and Stony). Sandy and Salty are darker than their more mountaneous counterparts known as the stony dornishmen who also happen to be lighter skinned. I think this is a reference to the regions of Asturias, Galicia etc where the people were more "European" as compared to the more mixed Andalusians of the south of the Iberian peninsula. Arabs, Berbers and even black Africans although a minority nevertheless mixed with the inhabitants of Andalucia whereas the northern regions were ethnically more similar to the Basque and Aquitanians.

[@samlee443]

Correct

[@candylandi5351]

I think Westeros is Europe and Middle east and Easteros is Asia and North Africa. The wall is Siberia, the North is Russia, The Iron Isles are Scandinavia, the land in the middle is France (Tyrell), Germany (Lannister), England (Baratheon), the capital is Italy and Dorne is Mid East. The Dotraki are Turko-Mongols and the slaves cities are North Africa.

[@samuraiblue3901]

Candy Landi dorne is Iberia and Mexico

[@jordancox305]

Westeros is literally just England, England was split into 7 kingdoms for real. GRRM has said so apart from Dorne which is Spanish inspired

[@webwebwebby0]

I’m surprised the Fictional Westeros/Real World Västerås etymological connection wasn’t mentioned. Could be seen as another nod to the Viking invasions of England around the analogous aforementioned time period described in the video.

[@yuzan3607]

Dorne is clearly inspired by Arabs in the middle ages. Weird that you didn't link that.

[@XoAngelFanyXo]

Yuzan no dorne is inspired by moorish Spain

[@yuzan3607]

@@XoAngelFanyXo Yes exactly, but moorish Spain was first just a part of a bigger country, their capital was actually Damascus not Spain (and then Baghdad), then Al-Andalus (Spain) got independent. But I'd say Dorne isn't only inspired by Spain as if you look at the geography of Dorne, it's mostly desert. Also, the actor of the prince of Dorne Doran Martell, is half Arab, and most of the actors of Dorne look Arab-ish in general (except the Asian looking daughter). Plus, all the decorations, architecture and fashion of Dorne scream middle age Arabs, I don't know how ppl don't link it. Maybe most had never read about the history of that area before.

[@XoAngelFanyXo]

Yuzan no people have definitely noticed that it looks Arabic but Westeros is based off Europe so calling one part of it entirely Arabic is awkward. Moorish Spain already has Arabic elements

[@jordancox305]

Wonho’s soft tiddy breast Id say Westeros is based off of England more than Europe with Dorne being the only outside influence I.e Iberian peninsula. England itself was split into 7 kingdoms and the wars of the Roses were the main influence according to GRR Martin

[@matthewsteele99]

Arabs with Celtic names lol

[@rouskeycarpel8652]

Great work as usual massaman.For me the most interesting parts of the game of thrones universe would be Yi Ti,Sothoryos and finding out if there is any land west of westeros(is there earth round like ours?)

[@lastofrwby8395]

Strange I thought the children and the giants are supposed to represent the neanderthals and first Man homo saipans

[@Spongebrain97]

The children are just supposed to represent any ancient culture that lived in an area for a long time before being displaced by a migrating group of different people. The ASOIAF world is filled with different species of "human" just like our world was a couple million years ago

[@covenawhite4855]

The Children of the Forest represent the Tuathe de Dannan in Irish mythology. They were the magical first inhabitants to immigrate to Ireland whose enemies were a fish like people called Formians. The Children can also represent magical fairy folk called Aos Si who are believed to secretly live on this island to this day en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuatha_D%C3%A9_Danann?wprov=sfla1 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fomorians?wprov=sfla1 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aos_S%C3%AD?wprov=sfla1

[@michaelataturk249]

Please do not compare Khal Drago to Genghis Khan. Khal was a mere horselord who died a weak death and didn't even really conquer any great kingdoms, he was also primitive. The Mongols created siege machines and Genghis and his grandsons had roads and trade routes built, they were not so primitive. Genghis Khan was a great strategist and conquered a huge expanse of the Asian continent. It's insulting to Mongolian people. Khal Drago isn't even East Asian.....

[@michaelataturk249]

@batuhan timuçin ATTİLA Genghis Khan is Mongolian! The photo of Khal Drago was placed next to the Great Genghis Khan which is a way of comparing the two, as if Khal Drago could even compare to 1/10 of how great Temujin was....

[@michaelataturk249]

@batuhan timuçin ATTİLA Haha..... no. Turks wish that, but in reality, Mongolian people are more closely related to East Asian race people, while Turks are more closely related to Arab people..... Arabs, Uighur Turks, and Persians were all subjugated under Mongol rule, but did not receive the upper class status as ethnic Mongols did. Uighur Turks were slaughtered by the Mongols...... His mother was not Turk, his mother was of the Olkhunut tribe which originated from what is now part of China. Mongolian DNA is more closely related to Buryat people with are Asians, Turkish people are more closely related to Arabs and Persians. Even the facial bone structures in their skulls are different

[@michaelataturk249]

@batuhan timuçin ATTİLA Also, please specify if you are talking about Central Asian Turks (Uzbeks, Kazakhs, etc...) or Middle Eastern Turks (Ottomans)..... Please refer to this video and you will clearly see his map of Turkic and Turkish people does NOT include Mongolia because Mongolians are ethnically and culturally different. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqLbmad4msiJm8k

[@michaelataturk249]

@batuhan timuçin ATTİLA But you are being prejudice against the Mongols, they are their own people, culture, and ethnic group, they are different from Central Asian Turkic peoples and Ottoman Turks. You are trying to give a group of people credit, for a leader who isn't of their culture or ethnicity.

[@michaelataturk249]

@batuhan timuçin ATTİLA It does contradict. He makes a clear distinction between the Ottoman Middle Eastern Turks and the Central Asian Turkic peoples. He also makes a clear distinction by not including Mongols as Central Asian Turks. Turkish people, meaning the majority of the people that inhabit the country of Turkey are mixed blood with the Arabs and other groups that inhabited Asia minor. They are not related to the Mongols, but I'm sure they wish they could be related to such a great figure in history, but the reality is they aren't and the Mongols slaughtered thousands of Turkic peoples....... So please take your Ataturk Turkish Nationalism somewhere else....... and let the Mongols be Mongols.

[@XXPanayisXX]

This video is awesome. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate person to put this information together and upload this video. Well done!

[@chiming_in]

I liked it too although it went very quickly, I think I'll have to re-watch it at like 3/4 speed. Small detail: he didn't mention the Reach representing France and other bread baskets of Europe, Braavos as Venice, and Dorne being Moorish Spain.

[@fayder743]

Dude, thanks for the vid. Perfect timing to get me back into your channel, not that I left for any reason or anything. Just been bombarded with other content lately it slipped my mind. Excited to go through the vids I've missed and looking forward to the new ones. 👍🏽

[@sunnyduckk1489]

I always thought qarth in the show represented Carthage of the Mediterranean

[@francessmith9565]

The land of White Walkers. What's been happening beyond the wall? Why have they decided it's time to go south.

[@bojackthetrustworthy736]

You eventually made GOT interesting thx:)

[@dylanbrown3057]

I was thinking about the demographics of the show and geography like a year ago and this reinforced what I thought good vid

[@Baboonfromdatoon]

Wrong. The North is clearly based on the Kingdom of Northumberland. The House of Stark is analogous to the medieval House of York,

[@Brandonhayhew]

Martin also ripoff of others like Eastern European they don't have knighthood because they don'follow Catholic but do follow Orthodox Christianity.

[@Baboonfromdatoon]

@@Brandonhayhew ?

[@Brandonhayhew]

@@Baboonfromdatoon I am just saying he may have taken some inspiration from eastern european.

[@GeorgeLeshkov]

Nice! Can you please do a video on the ethnic demographics of more fantasy world's and which real life inspiration did they take from? Worlds such as Elder Scrolls and JRR Tolkein's would be a good start!

[@Peter_Baelish]

The Eyrie is the swiss alps. The proud honourable people reminds of the modern swiss people that are proud and war neutral. One note: the arryns claim pure blood..which means incest and this kind of exists in some villages in Swiss towns. And the wild tribes can be the Gauls that resided in the Swiss alps and were seen as savages by the Roman empire.

[@Neo587]

When you compare the Mongols, how they were and what they did to every other people they met, and the Dothrakis, the latter are soft teddies. GRRM could have easily made them much worse. Read about what the Mongols did in Asia and Europe. Made me put things into perspective afterwards.

[@Ignisan_66]

I'd say Dothraki are more like the Scythians or Sarmatians of the bronze age than medieval mongols. Mongols were not savage animals like Dothraki, they used strong armor, weapons, they had money, extensive politics, administration and bureaucracy, trade networks. They were quite advanced. Dothraki are on a level of an early bronze age culture, very far from Gengis Khan's Mongol Empire.

[@xiiir838]

True, they were only savage in the way they slaughtered everything on their path even destroying cultural marbles

[@tombless6596]

Well well well, this is amazingly pieced together. I was expecting to hear the equivalent of Volantis.

[@big-bonkin-head1034]

Since we’ll get into fiction, I recommend looking at Wakanda as well

[@VerbaleMondo]

Wakanda exists, agh. Why can't people understand it? 🙄

[@mckenziewright2866]

Sweet I’ve been looking for a video like this for years thank you.

[@MrYedige]

I would say that the Dothraki probably closer Atilla Huns that conquered germanic tribes of Eastern Europe and reached the Roman Empire. Because Hunnic, Mongolic and Turkic tribes of 900-1100 were way more civilized and less vial in many ways.

[@Neo587]

civilised? go check the Mongols genocides, just for an example.

[@MrYedige]

@@Neo587 why dont we check all of the European genocides between different kingdoms? why don't we look at genocides in Americas when the settlers from Europe came there and took countless lives? Mongols were vial, brutal but don't make it look like that they are only people on Earth that commited genocides. Ghengis Khan actually gave a choice to most of people that were being invaded by him. Unlike other "kings".

[@Neo587]

​@@MrYedige ​ wtf lol, you were telling lies about the "Hunnic, Mongolic and Turkic tribes". I read your pseudo historical assertions and went here to state the facts. The subject is not Europeans' actions outside Europe here. Don't systematically jump on the occasion to attack us Europeans. You're all as bad as us and we Europeans don't feel any guilt about the past. Nor do you, whenever. So, get over it.

[@theonewhoknocks9512]

The lord of light religion " R'hllor " in game of thrones is simulated from ancient Persian religion Zoroastrianism

[@nicklepin7133]

Also catharsis in medieval france

[@TheWorldHasGoneNuts]

You've outdone yourself on this one Mason. Combining two of my favourite pastimes, G.O.T and maps, what more could a kid ask for. The three-eyed raven predicts that this will be one of your most viewed videos ever. 👏👏👏👏👏 🖖

[@themysteriousnavi6850]

I think works of fantasy such as Game of Thrones is why I got so into history and demography even though I’ve never watched nor read Game of Thrones.

[@jhaarbur]

If you ever do other fictional realms like this, I would suggest the Star Trek Universe as that is analogous to modern day nation states, cultures, international organizations, etc. (said while biting my tongue with the canon of Star Trek: Discovery). I would also suggest the Babylon 5 Universe as the civilizations in that are more representative of ancient empires. Another really good one is the Battlestar Galactica remake from 10-15 years ago as each colony of the 12 Colonies of Kobol is like it's own nation state, and each world is named after a zodiac sign. Thus, the 12 ethnic groups of humans on the show are ethnic groups based on Greek zodiac signs (which I thought was brilliant). And since they came from Kobol, that was the origin of these humans. (I don't want to give spoilers with that on here). LOTR and Star Wars are good candidates as well. And while it wouldn't be the same sort of metaphorical comparison, it is still fascinating to watch the socio-political development of The Expanse and the civilizations in that (especially the Belters in the asteroid belt).

[@historylore6831]

I got an ad for game of thrones lol. Great video btw!

[@Vissaius]

You should do a video on the ethnic demography of Lord of The Rings

[@Assassins6688]

White people good and middle eastern bad, and no black or Asian, quite easy tbh

[@nerrufam7105]

do you even 720p bro? awesome content! love your vids, but 480 is a lil bit too low.

[@bosiom]

Actually I don't think there is any real world equivalent for GOT kingdoms and cultures cause they are all a mix of several civilizations. Other thing that seems nobody notice... Stark-York, Lannister-Lancaster?

[@protoncoccus3229]

"the wall" reminds me of a different country tho

[@Hawaiian_Shirt_guy]

You completly skipped the ibbenese! GRR Martin's world has bloody Neaderthals!

[@meddlingkids7603]

They are the Finns.

[@alaincaine]

Wild fire = Greek fire Valyrian steel = Damascus steel Both are lost arts

[@RonaldMcPaul]

TFW when nothing happened in S08E01 so you come to Masaman for actual new content ^^

[@neonsamurai4604]

The swahili peoples were great traders and shippers and traded good with china, india and the middle east. This may be why its the summer isles but also the isle has alot of west african and caribbean influences and aesthetics.

[@NotQuiteFirst]

You should do this for Star Trek

[@cccspwn]

@SOLDIER 1ST-CLASS if you know anything about Star trek, it was created in part to be a medium for discourse and conversation to examine social and political issues during the cold war era that would not have been accepted at face value. Klingon -- Soviet Union Alliance -- Western Europe and America Romulans -- China Etc

[@MrMhtmht]

It's funny how many muslims think the Dothraki would be some kind of desert folk, when in reality they are hunns who enslaved the arabs

[@ghufrankhalid1719]

The civilization of Ghis is analogous to the empire of Carthage. A great and slave empire that was ultimately defeated by the Romans, who then adopted their model of slavery. In GoT, the Valyrians also adopted the Ghiscari model of slavery after defeating them.

[@nedisahonkey]

What an amazing idea for a video. Hope it brings some new subscribers to your channel because you definitely deserve more than you have currently!

[@magnus1parvus]

Great job... Succinct yet incredibly informative.

[@mrperson0140]

This video has me even more pumped for GoT tonight

[@23Trollface]

GOT the best show that ever was, and will ever be. cannot wait for the new episode to air today

[@kikebautista2110]

Chill out a little buddy. The first seasons were good, then it went down the hill. The last one was bad. Only the amount of money saaved it, and just the visuals.

[@threerabbit2227]

8:36 Was that from Dark Souls 2? Either Heide's Tower of Flame or the Dragon Aerie

[@gbendicion7052]

Valyria is the Roman Empire, Essos is Asia and the Near East, the easternmost Essos regions is the Far East.

[@thefullbring3667]

Man it would be awesome if G.O.T went to Africa next exploring the wild jungle climate with a few mythological creatures lurking around or an Egyptian empire but with a more G.O.T spin on it.

[@janpolak7013]

Are the Andals Vandals? Are the Dornish Cornish? Is Qarth Carthage?

[@yj9032]

Jan Polák interesting

[@mizanulhaque8476]

Jan Polák The Andals are like the AngloSaxons in Britain . The First Men are celts, and the Targaryen are the Normans.

[@nantzstein3311]

@@mizanulhaque8476 Were do you put the Romans then,

[@mizanulhaque8476]

Nantz Stein the Valyrians are Romans.

[@nantzstein3311]

@@mizanulhaque8476 so Normans are Romans

[@michamcv.1846]

i didnt understand Ural mountains but Euro mountains - took me a time at google to realize it ^^

[@Vissaius]

This is my favorite Masaman video ever!!!

[@dragoninthewest1]

I do like how the Andals are the basically the anglos and the Saxons. He'll Anglo is only two letters away from Andal.

[@LordAnestis]

I believe the Valyrians are Greeks, Atlanteans and Romans altogether.

[@TsalagiAgvnage]

Dragons are based on very real metaphors. While the wildlings are similar to the picts. White walkers, I'd say Vikings AFRICA is close to Europe and Africans have been in Europe since at least the Roman period, if you don't count the Homosapiens homoneanderthalis meeting which led to the annihilation/absorption/ extinction of the Neanderthals. Could also be analogous with the First Men and the arrival of the rest. The Lannisters of Lannister Rock, are uncannily similar to the Irish, at least through symbolism of the rock, Leinster being an important Kingdom and Cersei staunch sense of freedom reminds me quite a lot a the Irish word for freedom, saoirse.

[@Modzey999]

Vikings are the Ironborn, they pay the iron price and use what they take by raiding and pillaging. They are great at naval combat and ship building. The white walkers are based on ancient celtic fairies, not the ones with wings that you think of but fairy meaning "other being", just as the children of the forest are like fairies or pixies, the white walkers are also fairies. Halloween being samhain a celtic festival was practiced when the nights get longer and the world becomes darker during the winter, the celts believed spirits would enter the wolrd at this point in the year, just as the starks warning "Winter is coming" refers to a dark time of the year when snow and ice brings evil 'others' or white walkers. the starks worhsip the old gods (celtic religion) and are descended from the first men (celts). if you look at the cave art by the children of the forest its very similar to celtic rock art, not to mention the obvious stone circles in game of thrones the one in the woods by the children and the ice one made by the white walkers. this is identical to the ones found in Scotland and other places in britain.

[@gordontheman6151]

But the wildlings are basically Vikings. Savages that come from the real north(Scandinavia) separated by the wall(the ocean)

[@Modzey999]

Not really, the wall is Hadrians wall. The Ironborn are based on vikings. For example they use what they take from pillaging and raiding (paying the iron price), they are extremely effective at sea voyages and naval combat, the Iron Islands are based on Ireland. A lot of Ireland was taken by the vikings, places like Dublin were named after the norsemen. The wildlings are based off the Caledones or the picts, tribes that lived beyond hadrians wall and share a common religion to the starks the old gods. The starks are descended from the first men (celts) and so the wildlings worship the same old gods. When the romans took over britain there were still Britonnic tribes in the south when they built the wall, so you have the more civilised romano celts to the south and the more hostile celts to the north that were never truly conquered by romans. The Ironborn have their own drowned god which is a sea god, the vikings conquered a lot of northern europe through their skills at sea. Another example would be how Euron has travelled around the world, just how the vikings discovered Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland. if you look at the cave art of spirals and the stone circles in the northern lands made by the children of the forest its highly linked to celtic stone circles and rock art.

[@chloeokorn2281]

Asshai is so fascinating to me! Would love to see it on screen sometime or have more info on it!

[@iem7252]

Winterfell is Newcastle. The Ironborne are definitely scousers :)

[@iamthelaw82]

Forgot about Braavos being a nod to Greek city-states, they even have a variant of the Colossus of Rhodes

[@taylorwilson6655]

wildlings are scotland/ireland/northern wales, the north definitely represents the north of England. biggest indicator? sheer distrust in the south (london)

[@harrycook1696]

the northmen reflect men of northern england not sctoland the wildlings represent scots.

[@conornorris6815]

no one ever notices that they chucked brittany france on to ireland in the form of dorne

[@jordancox305]

That’s probably more Cornwall than Brittany