The Colosseum After the Fall of Rome

After Rome fell, the Colosseum was a palace, a castle, a bullring, a den of thieves, and a bustling neighborhood - sometimes at once.
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Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:22 The last games
2:15 From arena to neighborhood
3:52 Stone robbing
4:35 From neighborhood to palace
5:19 Bullring and den of thieves
5:49 Peregrine Pendants
6:55 Renaissance pillaging
7:47 Early preservation efforts
8:46 Christian shrine
9:24 Tourist attraction

[@QuantumHistorian]

I don't normally comment until I've watched the whole video, but _"Benvenuto Cellini, goldsmith to the pope, watched a necromancer summon demons in the Colosseum"_ is one hell of an opening, every word taking me by surprise.

[@wauliepalnuts6134]

Imagine having the first name of "Welcome", as Cellini did. Everyone knows your name wherever you arrive as a guest.

[@liljs4189]

I find it surprising that paganism during that time still existed openly like that

[@b.a.erlebacher1139]

​@@liljs4189 Demons are part of Christianity, no?

[@QuantumHistorian]

@@liljs4189 More witchcraft than paganism I would think. Although the boundary between the two (especially a millennia before, in the early middle ages) was permeable.

[@nohbuddy1]

Great opening to a novel right there

[@panqueque445]

The more I learn about what happened to it, for so many years, the more I'm amazed ANYTHING survived.

[@DavideGendo]

I've been saddened to learn that so much not just of the Colosseum, but of other buildings of the Forum, was still surviving by the XIV century earthquake, which means they had already endured 8-9 centuries after the fall of the Empire. While of course we can do nothing against nature in these cases, you can be sure that had it happened today, an effort to recover as much as possible from the rubble would be made. Instead, that rubble lives on in many other buildings of Rome...

[@benjamintillema3572]

Honestly, this whole set up of people making entire villages in the mammoth halls of the colloseum, an economy being formed around mining its ruins, those living in the echoes of a greater past not knowing its significance is metal as fuck and would make a sick backdrop for a historical epic.

[@98Zai]

It sounds like a post apocalypse setting.

[@rtqii]

@@98Zai The fall of Rome and the larger empire was seen by many as the apocalypse. The thing about it is that it took hundreds of years reach the point of people mining the work of earlier generations while living in ignorance and poverty. It was not an event but a historical progression.

[@Squirrelmind66]

You should try writing it!

[@liamnacinovich8232]

@@rtqiiit was an apocalypse. Major cities collapsed and the only effective governance was local. There’s a reason the villas came out as the sole source of authority as imperial authority collapsed it’s because mass organization of labor like that was no longer possible

[@herodotus945]

@@rtqii As if most people in ancient Rome weren't already living in ignorance and poverty.

[@ale_s45]

The fact that Rome went through so much decay and depopulation that people even forgot what the purpose of the Colosseum was is mind blowing

[@wawaweewa9159]

N then they turned it into a village 😂

[@ThillerKillerX]

Soon to be my lad

[@jimmy12347654]

Likely the Colosseum ruins will out last our flimsy civilisations buildings for people to forget and rediscover it once again

[@zippyparakeet1074]

And then revisionists say it wasn't a Dark Age for Western Europe.

[@gauntlettcf5669]

​@@zippyparakeet1074 It's not the revisionists, it's most historians. And it wasn't a dark age. Sure, there was some localised depopulation in various zones and in different times, but similar things had happened during the Roman Period too and even after the Medieval Period. It was the illuminist m*rons that pushed the false narrative about the dark ages, often with tons of false myths to back up their empty claims.

[@ktkatte6791]

the Spirit Halloween gag had me giggling. thanks for that

[@CharlieGeorge_]

Fascianting to think that the Colosseum's very purpose was forgotten in the centuries preceding Rome's collapse

[@histguy101]

I dont believe so. It was still being used for animal hunts in the early 6th century

[@525Lines]

Exotic plants carried as seeds in the fur of the wild animals brought into the coliseum created a kind of rare plants arboretum there.

[@ION400]

Cool to imagine, but wouldn’t they have kept it under wraps to clear spaces for the action?

[@beminem]

I just love how we live in a time where we not only know about the Colosseum’s original use but also the people centuries later that had no clue what it originally was and their crazy hypotheses. Like some type of dramatic irony, I love it

[@stanislavkostarnov2157]

and in an age that has such hubris as to believe that the theories and scientific constructs they have built are accurate & a hundred percent true, unlike the crazy stories of the past...

[@joexer1]

@@stanislavkostarnov2157uh…huh…

[@juniorjames7076]

@@stanislavkostarnov2157 Electric Universe.

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

I walked inside this structure ten years ago and was mightily impressed by the size of the building blocks - Lego it isn't. Designed and built by competent teams without the benefit of modern equipment, it is awesome. We hear little or nothing about those who designed this and other immense structures and that is regrettable - they all deserve more prominence.

[@sawahtb]

The fact that anything survived makes you also appreciate the enormity of what it took to build it. It's a wonder of the world.

[@evelknievel2000]

The fact that it was part of buildings and people used to live in it actually made it survive in history. Something similar happened here in Maastricht with the 1st citywall from the 13th century: when the second wall was constructed a 100 years later and the first lost it’s purpose, the poor people built against the wall to save money on stones and the wall became part of all these houses. When the houses eventually were taken down in the 1920’s, the 800 year old wall was revealed again. Was it not for the houses, it would have been gone centuries before.

[@information169]

I’ve always loved hearing about classical building being repurposed in the medieval ages for various purposes. I love when you cover this topic.

[@OptimusMaximusNero]

*Sad fact:* The Colosseum was severely damaged by fire in 217, just after Caracalla's death. It was a rather fascinating foreshadowing of the horrible times to come.

[@BrendenFP]

I love that your sponsors are often unique and interesting businesses and not the tired old rota of KZbin sponsors.

[@blainekennedy]

And let us pause for a word from our sponsor It's raid shadow legends

[@PeculiarNotions]

I love all toldinstone videos.

[@SpaceHCowboy]

Definitely, man! 👍🏼

[@wauliepalnuts6134]

The last time I was this early, the Colossus of Nero stood outside of the Colosseum.

[@WORLDCRUSHER9000]

oof, marone! he looks terrible!

[@acdc3185]

all i know is Nero never had the makings of a varsity emperor

[@Alexq79-]

‘The carthaginians, they aren’t all bad…’ Oh yeah? Ever heard of the second Punic war? Cocksuckers took elephants over the alps, pointed them right at us! ‘That was real? I heard that poem, i thought it was bullshit…’

[@wauliepalnuts6134]

@@acdc3185 You're not going to believe this. He killed 16 Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator!

[@cuttwice3905]

@@acdc3185 He never was going to be Homecoming King if had had not bought the school.

[@tommyvalenzuela7504]

So I already enjoy this channel but, seeing the Coliseum as a Spirit Halloween store, made me LOVE IT!! LoL I had to stop and re watch it to make sure I saw what I saw haha!!

[@Sabrowsky]

I didnt expect apostasy and demon summoning as a way to set up the subject, but goddamn that did the job well.

[@Ksoism]

I want to thank for quality subtitles. English isn't my first language, and although i do understand you completely, it's a good addition. Always it isn't possible to either crank the volume up, or there is too much background noise.

[@mattheide2775]

Great video ❤ The Coliseum was built so well with Roman Concrete that it stands today. Just a reminder that sports are all fun and games untill someone loses with (rarely) deadly consequences. 😊

[@RizzstrainingOrder66]

You nearly got the 500k, really deserve it, please keep those great videos coming and thanks for those.

[@thagamerzzz]

The fact that despite the damage to the Acropolis because of it being a munitions storage the Germans still used the colloseum for weapons storage is mad

[@DesertGuy702]

Have you seen it Spaniard! It’s freaking huge!

[@christopherevans2445]

We're all shadow's in dust Maximus... Shadow's in dust!

[@hughjass8430]

I didn't know men could build such things!

[@rolyatyobillys4138]

I remember growing up in the colosseum after the fall of Rome. Me n my little bro would play tag in the crumbling bleachers, we milked the goats every morning and then would run and hide from mom in the tunnels before she could try n get us to do more chores. Good times, MRGA. Shout out to my homies I grew up with from the ‘seum 🤘🏽

[@SpaceHCowboy]

Shout out from the Palatine hills, homie. For the glory of Rome. ✊🏼

[@ION400]

You were there at the fall of Rome?! Please do tell…

[@transcendtravel]

Your research of each subject is simply breathtaking. Kudos Sir

[@memirandawong]

Visited the Colosseum some years ago. A fascinating place indeed. This video should be a prerequisite for anyone planning to visit.

[@v.g.r.l.4072]

What a miracle! I am very lucky to listen again the so much insightful remarks of this lover of Roman glory after a long interval. Thanks as always.

[@WORLDCRUSHER9000]

Imagine what our distant descendants will think of the incredible megastructural earthworks and architecture we will leave behind after the technocommercial empire collapses

[@mcs699]

Someone needs to start carving the internet into stone so they can at least have some help figuring stuff out.

[@WORLDCRUSHER9000]

@@mcs699 as a representative of the digital archaeologist's union i disagree

[@MegaFragger]

They will not last! Contemporary structures are so fragile...😮

[@charliehedrick6414]

@@mcs699 I'll get started with goatse

[@isculptmemes]

@@WORLDCRUSHER9000 im afraid all digital data will decay faster than we are ready to accept

[@colbystearns5238]

That Spirit Halloween gag is amazing. lmao

[@watermelon2223]

Does anyone else feel bad for the colosseum? It's been through so much

[@johnladuke6475]

Ehh, I hope I look half as good when I'm that age.

[@edwardschneider5135]

Dr. Ryan: congratulations on your engagement. I wish you all the best

[@kirkkerman]

The medieval Colloseum is such a unique and evocative image, I almost think it's more interesting than its roman era! (Although I ultimately can't deny that the games were also deeply intriguing...)

[@theworldaccordingtojoe9269]

What a great video. Being of Italian descent and having visited this site as well, I find your information to be truly fascinating. Not to mention your always eloquent delivery and command of the English language. Anyway, I just want to say a heartfelt‘Thank You’ for the work you do and the good vibes. 😎

[@huntclanhunt9697]

Spirit Halloween on the colosseum. Nice touch.

[@bernardmcmahon351]

Excellent presentation, thanks

[@Chrisilch]

A video about the different Colosseum style amphitheaters in the Romen Empire could be interesting

[@xyzi8163]

Perfect video, on not so much thought subject, it was truly interesting to learn this thousand year history of this monument. Thank you for the video!!

[@fordprefect80]

Highly informative, thanks.

[@robbabcock_]

Fascinating stuff! So much history lost...but of course, it was used to build new history!

[@kmvoss]

Thank you for this video.

[@gaemlinsidoharthi]

Can sort of imagine this sort of thing happening with abandoned shopping malls.

[@almusicworld5424]

Very well description and great narration voice over I was born around the Colosseum and grow up there and you gave a great short interesting description of some obscure facts 👏 Bravo and compliment to your channel 👏👍

[@polomis27]

Brilliant!!

[@scrollop]

Love the intro - a real feast for lovers of ASMR. And of course, love your content!

[@highdesertsunset3011]

Will see this with my own eyes in 3 weeks!!! Thank for your vids

[@grafneun]

Great Content

[@cykryst]

I had to pause for a good 30 seconds to laugh at the Spirit Halloween sign 😂 so perfect

[@Jamie_kemp]

I love the people at the time’s knowledge of things that had happened previously. Not covered enough I think

[@AleksiJuvakka]

Hi! I just visited the Rome for the first time and one thing that left me a bit puzzled were the retaining walls of the Palatine hill. The way the walls are currently it's as if it's missing a facade to cover the brick arches. Were the original walls also covered by something like marble to hide the brick arches beneath? All the pictures that recreate the palatine hill shows that the retaining walls are 'filled in', but when looking at them today there's a ton of empty space there. Sorry for the confusing question and thanks to anyone in advance for answering

[@vpking77]

Thank goodness it survived. If you are lucky enough to visit Rome when you approach by vehicle or on foot it is jaw dropping. Imagine a structure like this built 2000 years ago. It was truly magnificent when it was constructed. The architects, builders and engineers behind it were way ahead of their time. The gladiators and sacrifices were barbaric but to the populace the Coliseum was awe inspiring.

[@gottes1stsenpai30]

Very cool video!

[@NormAlTheEnd]

I just used your discount code! I had already been planning to buy something from the site for a few weeks!!!

[@pridefulobserver3807]

All the Coliseum stuff was great but, seriously, a necromancer summons demons and the pope's goldsmith gets a taste of the "hitchhiker effect", that is some opening there

[@vincesanin4221]

Just got back from Rome and can't get enough of the history!

[@user-ov3tm5fu3y]

Pretty art paint❤❤

[@exittomenu]

The visual of a village within the ruin is so compelling

[@Leo-if5tn]

Wow, just video is great

[@KENKENNIFF]

Very interesting

[@RevisitingHistoryChannel]

Oh thats interesting !! Its a key for hisstory for sure

[@thewyj]

The scale of this boggles me. How could it be mined for 400 years and still be anything left? One merchant took 2500 cart loads of stone. So it must originally been much bigger? Or has some of it been rebuilt?

[@c.vonsohn9566]

Renaissance Rome apparently had a population of only 50,000 and given the enormous weight of those limestone blocks a cart is filled pretty fast I reckon.

[@johnladuke6475]

Also, consider that big missing chunk out of the side. Mostly that fell down on its own, but once it's crumbled it's easier to take away.

[@ManningOWNsTeboww]

TIS you’re the goat 👏🏽

[@2002yannick1]

Spirit Halloween was sooooo funny, lol

[@TyroneTyler-eq9fk]

I’m glad Spirit Halloween store could get in there too

[@cuttwice3905]

I love what the kitchen designer did in the Rillow advert. Do they still take customers?

[@caivsivlivs]

dang i was hoping that one painting of people living in the arena during the middle ages would be in here but i didn't see it

[@T_Mo271]

Closing in on a half-million subscribers.

[@zbs8334]

Hello Garrett, how would you compare the Colosseum of Rome to the Arena of Nîmes? I heard both held gladiator fights.

[@TimHWolfe]

I have a couple of old roman coins from my Dad. They are from about 50ad to 300 ad. Does Peregrine mount a personal coin in their jewelry?

[@Dvpainter]

ooo it has a low price on Rillow

[@mikethomp1440]

Sounds a lot like what happened to the great pyramid. The outer casing being used to build Cairo.

[@Kyle_Schaff]

“Now the entire city could fit in the front rows.”

[@martinbrizuela9232]

That’s one hell of an intro

[@EndrChe]

Cellini is freaking out, man

[@jamesramirez85]

Uhmmm 31sec ago, simply perfect!😂

[@sellyshootsandscores9300]

Toldinstone got video titles that make you go « Yeah, I wondered about that. » When in fact, you never wondered.

[@johnladuke6475]

"Spirit Halloween" sign on the Colosseum. This mand knows how to teach history.

[@boothenroar]

Love the idea of having a Roman coin necklace but the one advertised is out of the price range. Any ideas where I can find one slightly cheaper ?

[@paulkoza8652]

A nice summary, Garrett. However, my favorite Roman ruin in Rome id the Parthenon.

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

It's not a ruin - it's a functioning RC church as well as a tourist attraction.

[@giulianoradice4715]

Pantheon not Parthenon !

[@TheManCaveYTChannel]

Did Constans II visit the Colosseum when he went to Rome in the 7th century?

[@mikethomp1440]

It is interesting that as civilizations fall into decline, they loose contact with their own history. Just like Nero’s personal palace and the destruction of Pompeii. These locations were reintroduced buried history.

[@davidwest2880]

Consudering how much stone was taken away it amazing how much of the collosium us left.

[@daunjung97]

literally just saw your reddit comment responding to this subject c:

[@notaulgoodman9732]

I saw the thumbnail n thought it was that one AC:B scene in the colosseum lol. Cool vid tho.

[@jonomojo]

I lived for a year in rome, during the time they started to restorate colosseum, and i have to say i hate it. The restoration destroys the historically strong, but still vulnerable due to time- feel to it for me.

[@muiscnight]

To see Rome at it's height or in 1000 AD would be as equally fascinating

[@Notimportant253]

I’d wanna see it in the 6th century after emperor Justinian and bellisarius reconquered Italy. That was the absolute lowest point of Rome.

[@ytrew9717]

I love those stories of how even more primitive people live long after in the ruins of glorious roman building

[@harrisonshone7769]

The coliseum was IRL diamond city from fallout 4.

[@brick6347]

The oldest modern stadium still in use is the Racecourse Ground, in Wrexham, Wales. It was opened in 1807, and became a football stadium in 1864. The even weirder thing is that it's owned by Ryan Reynolds... Deadpool. It really is. If you ask me superhero movies are basically big, sweaty men hitting each other for our entertainment, so not that far removed from gladiators really. And apparently it pays well enough to buy a stadium! So, in a way, the tradition lives on (I do doubt that Wrexham's stadium will last 2,000 years though).

[@SackofWoe]

those damn Halloween stores

[@MrSorbias]

How the triumph of Titus survived so well just next to coliseum?

[@mikespinelli299]

Congrats on the fiancé professor Ryan! Hope to see you come back to aa for a game this fall!

[@SlapShotRegatta22]

Rillow 🤣😂

[@JohnVance]

Spirit Halloween 🤣

[@Buckdawg]

Did you use AI for the narration? Very hard to understand sometimes 😢 Some great research, fascinating info on such a legendary structure

[@wawaweewa9159]

That's wilddd the people of Rome forgot what the colloseum was about 😂

[@angelogarcia2189]

A Spirit Halloween..... lol

[@OptimusMaximusNero]

Pretty fascinating how Vespasian, a man born in an un-important family, created one of the greatest wonders in the World like the Colosseum. That shows what anyone can achieve no matter their origins

[@dougsinthailand7176]

5:21 I think that’s Mithra.

[@renalxdo]

Some kight backgground music would go a long way.

[@MaxwellBurton]

I'm not getting any audio

[@frednich9603]

DO you know about the staples, and why that's important?