Wheel of Time Quick History and Geography Background NO SPOILERS

A quick background guide on the History and Geography of the Westlands from the Breaking to the present in the Wheel of Time, ideally for non-book readers who want some background information on history and geography without plot spoilers.
Maps from atlasoficeandf...

[@ianjohnston1545]

Dude. I have read the series every other year for the past 20 years. You have done a tremendous job. You have much Ji, good sir.

[@Aaronsbookreviews]

Do you have time to read anything else!? haha

[@kevinwallace6170]

This synopsis of the land is soo good!! this will help my wife catch up as we watch the series together

[@100Companions]

That's great! I'm glad people are finding this useful!

[@TheDiabeticGameMaster]

Holy shit. This actually blew my mind. I had NO IDEA that Lehman was a Damodred. That explains a lot. And I'm on book 9. I love this series. So much thought put into everything.

[@100Companions]

Moiraines Uncle. Isn't it just an absolute masterpiece? I'm one of the heretics that personally places Jordan above Tolkien. Don't get me wrong I love Tolkien. But Jordan has just perfected world building.

[@theashrook6129]

Even after all the books and each one having a map of most of the world, I still forget exactly how things are situated. But I do love WoT maps, so cool and good video. The city maps in the books are also cool.

[@100Companions]

I love the city maps. Maybe I'll do more videos like this in the future when we get to know the cities better

[@JasonNordstrom]

I got to book 8 about five years ago, then had a two kids. I’ve started them again, and about to start Book 3. I needed this in the middle of book 2! Thanks, man!

[@100Companions]

I just jumped into book 2 in my current reread! Love it every time. I'm hoping to make some more stuff like this going forward!

[@tumbling6940]

I would love to see more videos like this. You explained it really well.

[@100Companions]

Thank you! I'm considering doing some more like this going forward I enjoyed it!

[@solenesedai9529]

I absolutely love the books (I'm on Book 5), but I am a visual learner so this was incredibly helpful. Your channel is quickly becoming my favorite for fair WoT tv show reviews by a book lover. Thanks and keep 'em coming!

[@100Companions]

Thanks so much! I was hoping this could be helpful! I'm hoping to make some more!

[@solenesedai9529]

@@andrewfrank7222 Oh yay, can't wait!! I just love the books.

[@isthisandy]

super super super helpful, to the point and you didn't give unnecessary information. well done.

[@100Companions]

Thanks so much! Hopefully I'll be making more!

[@Nifava]

Actually very interesting video as a fan of the show that hasn't read the books.

[@100Companions]

Thanks Marc! Hope you come back for more in the future! I aim to add a little helpful info without spoiling plot for anyone

[@creinicke1000]

I decided to read the books before I watch the show.. (Im going to watch because I love Daniel Henney.. And even though there has been a lot of critic by fans of books about the show.. but I'm going to try to have an open mind.) I am reading and listening to books.. so I don't see any maps.. and I really appreciate this clip. I esp finally understand the waste vs the blyte. thanks.

[@100Companions]

Well I love the books more than any other series I've ever read but you've got some homework! Season two might be out before you're done!

[@creinicke1000]

@@100Companions I'm in book 4.. I'm an avid reader and listener. Lolol... But yes.. I am reading as fast as I can. I'm retired grandma.. so I have 4-8 hours a day to work on it. 😁

[@grazzitdvram]

This was great, the only thing that could have been done to improve this is you didn't indicate time frames, how long ago was the trolloc wars, artur hawkwing, etc... but very informative

[@nickycha8428]

Thank you for the useful information!

[@100Companions]

I'm just glad people think it's helpful! Thanks for checking out my channel!

[@amisedai942]

That was good. I hope it helps some out there struggling. It's been a while that I read the books, but I thought Cairhain was said like Care-rain. Pronunciation in this series 💯☠️😑😂👏😭

[@100Companions]

Thank you! Yea I just go with the "how i read it in my head" pronunciation until I hear it on the show a lot of the time lol.

[@amisedai942]

@@100Companions I actively read the glossaries and tried to learn how to say everything, but it has been a while, and I'm Aussie, so my accent can get in the way. 😂👏

[@ohlookakitty911]

HI! This was very well done. Every time I wanted to write to add a detail that you were missing I realized it would be a spoiler!:) GG!

[@100Companions]

Thanks! Yea I actually cut out a whole section that I did on the WORLD map as even being careful to avoid spoiler knowledge it was just too leading. I decided it wasn't fair haha 🤣. I might do one on Tam Althor's movements as a young man and the Whitecloak wars next now that they have revealed his backstory.

[@stickytape2]

Thank you, this helped a lot! Could you please do a follow up vid covering the Seanchan continent?

[@100Companions]

lets say *tentatively* yes after i finish current season reactions but id need to double check my sources and make sure i have enough to go on too

[@pixelfive1272]

Wish this was out few weeks ago - I spent a lot of time trying to figure it out on my own.

[@100Companions]

Well that was genuinely insensitive of me and I apologize 😂🤣

[@furyxan]

Very useful. Thank you!

[@100Companions]

Thanks! I'm working on coming up with more if you're interested!

[@anab2799]

I NEEDED THIS SO MUCH! T H A N K Y O U !

[@ogieogie]

A very useful summary.

[@100Companions]

Thank you! I'm glad so many people are getting something from it!

[@frasafrase]

Been reading through the books now (on Book 5), so this was great to watch because this stuff is even only barely touched on or I just didn't get a good grasp. I'll note, Cairhien will be pronounced in the show like Cai-rhien ("KEYE-ree-hen"), which is how its pronounced in glossary. I had to learn this when people started using its demonym, Cairhienin in the books, because "Care-hine-nin" didn't sound right to me, and will be pronounced more like "keye-ree-hen-in". Similarly, still don't really know how Tear's demonym, Tairen is supposed to be pronounced, because "Tearen" seems like it could've fit as well.

[@100Companions]

Yea this is like a distillation of knowledge from MANY readings of the series and compendium its not really layed out whole at any point, but my rule is "if an educated person in world would generally know it" then its not dangerous knowledge

[@this.is.a.username]

When in doubt go with the audiobooks. Tairen is "TYE-ren"

[@brettpetty7840]

I listen to the audiobooks (on book 8 right now) and I think printing out a map would help me a lot. Does anyone have recommendations on a map I should print

[@100Companions]

The one I use here is pretty much the "inside the book jacket" map. It's pretty good and short of buying one of the Compendiums it would be my recommendation.

[@brettpetty7840]

@@100Companions I didn't even think about a compendiums, didn't realize those were a thing I'll have to check those out. Thank you! Loved the video too

[@100Companions]

@@brettpetty7840 I'm hoping to make another with some basic Seanchan stuff soon

[@theashrook6129]

***Possible Spoilers*** Talking about the 10 nations. Do you agree/think that might have been what was referred to in the Prologue of Eye of The World? Like where Ishamael tells Lews Therrin, “once you summoned the 9 rods of dominion”. I believe the two rods (oath rod and the one given to the Shaido) are part of the Rods of Dominion and that Lews Therrin had the rulers swear on the rods to be just rulers, maybe so long as he lived, then after his death everything feel apart among the kingdoms?

[@100Companions]

*** I do believe the Rods of Dominion ARE the oath rods. Though I believe in the Age of Legends the oath rods were only used on criminals. One of the Forsaken says something along the lines of "you bind yourselves as criminals" when talking to an Aes Sedai of this age somewhere in the books and it always stuck in my head

[@theashrook6129]

@@100Companions ooo I may have missed that

[@domdom3938]

So they haven't expressly revealed it in the show itself, but what I am theorizing is that the Trollocs managed to get to the Two Rivers all the way from the Blight undetected thanks to the Ways. That way they could've crossed that large distance quickly and without being found. Am I right in speculating such?

[@100Companions]

Im committed to not leaving any spoilers on here for anyone to read on accident. But I'd definitely call that some interesting speculation.

[@domdom3938]

@@100Companions Similarly, I was gonna ask, I read some stuff on the wiki about the lore pre-show, and I understand that there used to be an ocean near what the Two Rivers now are? Does that mean the lands to the west did not exist then?

[@100Companions]

@@domdom3938 during the breaking the continents shifted. Think natural continental drift but like a million years worth in 300 years because of madmen. They literally changed the shapes of the continents before they were all put down. Emptied oceans. Sank cities into the sea.

[@domdom3938]

@@100Companions Sounds like they had a lot of fun

[@sandrat3690]

Good idea👌🏾they should have done that already! Maybe they‘ve been afraid that it looks like GoT☺️

[@100Companions]

They have like accessible maps etc on the website if you're diving into it. But they aren't crazy informative. There's just so much to cover in this world. I can see how you fall into referencing things without contextualizing them and hoping people catch on

[@sandrat3690]

@@100Companions I don‘t need the maps, but for non-Readers they are definetly needed. Also, I think you would get faster into the plotline they are trying to picture

[@Kallekosmo]

I have read the series 3 times. And i have never seen the map at all. Where have you got this information. They do not talk about the history of the world this much?

[@100Companions]

Most of my editions of the book have the colorized map I used in them. I've probably read the series a dozen times or more and I'm the kind of person who, given a map, always makes sure I know where I am on it. In addition the "World of the Wheel of Time" Compendium by Robert Jordan and Theresa Patterson. And the "Wheel of Time Companion" book contains a great deal of history and geography in much more detail. The movements of the Aiel war for example I have pieced together from between descriptions in the books and compendium. Most of the information of the Compacts of the nations etc comes from the compendium.

[@100Companions]

I have a different edition. But it's the same book. It sortof LOOKS like fluff but I'd heavily suggest trying to find it somewhere used. It has a great deal of information Robert Jordan never wrote anywhere else in it. www.amazon.com/World-Robert-Jordans-Wheel-Time/dp/1250846404/ref=asc_df_1250846404/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=509062326676&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=578501377512569783&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9015698&hvtargid=pla-1291286471413&psc=1

[@JesseSierks]

If the show pronounces it "care-hine" I riot, lol! Otherwise I enjoyed the video and will be sharing it with my wife & friends.

[@100Companions]

While it's probably fair to say I'm "obsessed" with this series the one area where I have certainly failed is pronunciation. I KNOW it's all there if I'd just go look. But whose honestly referencing the notes in a first read? And without them pronunciation is just whatever your head first decides. People would LAUGH at how I pronounced Nynaeve in my head for the longest time

[@JesseSierks]

@@100Companions Finding the audio books after several re-reads was a shock. But now that's how I pronounce things - even though they weren't always right.

[@100Companions]

@@JesseSierks I've only fairly recently gotten into audiobooks and agree they would have been immensely useful haha

[@waynedavies3714]

This was spoilers for the TV show. But was a nice explainer / recap for readers. Who knows where the show will go. The seven towers was a couple hours walk from Fal Dahra.

[@100Companions]

Yea I think I'm pretty clear the no spoilers is for the books but sorry if it confused you! And moraine mentions the seven towers SHOULDNT be that close but that it's warping from the dark one approaching the pattern. Which is early. But canon.

[@jabbott6748]

Good explanation. Well informed video. Your audio quality is very poor and this makes you hard to understand. I hope you can resolve this issue soon.

[@100Companions]

hmmm me too its been a minute since i got a complaint about audio quality. too loud? too tinny? i might need a little specifics to address

[@jabbott6748]

@@100Companions I don't know much about audio, but your voice is echoey and there's quite a bit of background noise.

[@100Companions]

@@jabbott6748 so sorry i didnt realize which video this was i assumed it was my most recent: yea my levels were all screwed up recording this one, i think im doing a lot better now!

[@jabbott6748]

@@100Companions Sorry myself. I hadn't noticed how old the video was or I wouldn't have mentioned it.

[@Bassic]

Your audio is distorting/clipping.

[@100Companions]

sorry! Im very new to this, trying to wrap my head around the basics of a lot of different things I've never messed around with before but you can be sure I'm fixing what I'm figuring out how to!

[@kev4366]

@@100Companions Depending on what sort of mic your using you should be able to find the 'gain' control, try dropping that a little or the 'input sensitivity' on what ever you are using to record. I'm a long time WoT fan/obsessive, while none of this was new to me I can't click away from a Kev talking Wot, enjoyed the breakdown, very concise and easy to digest.

[@100Companions]

@@kev4366 Much appreciated fellow Kev! I'll see if I can't get it to sound a bit better this week!

[@09cutie0pie]

Damn, that mic 🥲

[@100Companions]

I know. I was very very new to this. I'm still pretty new to this but at least I don't sound this bad anymore.

[@09cutie0pie]

@@100Companions It's ok, no worries :)

[@rogerhuggettjr.7675]

I haven't wanted to watch the show as opening the series pretending a girl could be the dragon told me they were abandoning the basics of the story. It sounds like the show is repeating the mistakes that took a good Divergent series and destroyed the movies. Keeping aspects of the books without explaining context may seem like putting in Easter eggs, but it just becomes clutter if the meaning is left behind.

[@100Companions]

thats actually not abandoning the basics of the storyline if you know the storyline and how Amaresu fits in etc and also the basic concept of the unreliable narrator. Youre welcome to have opinions but maybe go watch the show instead of being a sheep and repeating the tired opinions of other people.

[@scott4482]

The screenwriters don't care if you understand, they don't care what the books did, they're not doing The Wheel of Time, what they want is Game of Time or Wheel of Thrones.

[@100Companions]

Do yourself a favor and look up what the word "adaptation" means. People are selling a product and they want it to sell widely instead of solely to a group of lonely white men in their 40s who've read the worlds longest children's series? Quelle surprise!

[@cameronpetie8318]

There are women in their 20s and 60s complaining about it too. The TV Show is an interpretation not an adaptation. If you turn your critical brain off you can like this show - but as an example, we are looking at the map and we see the Aiel Waste all the way on the east and Falme is all the way on the west, yet Aviendha, Bain and Chiad are in Falme in the show. Don't think too much and it's ok.

[@benediktcz]

aiels = fremens :D

[@khomo12]

Thank you, and it's perfect for non-bookreaders like myself!👍👍👍🎡🎡🎡⌚️⌚️⌚️

[@100Companions]

youre welcome! I appreciate the comment!