1 00:00:09,243 --> 00:00:11,310 HOST: FROM THE TENTH TO THE 15TH CENTURY, 2 00:00:11,345 --> 00:00:16,248 NORTH AND WEST AFRICA UNDERWENT A DRAMATIC TRANSFORMATION. 3 00:00:16,283 --> 00:00:19,885 CELEBRATED CITIES AROSE, INCLUDING TIMBUKTU... 4 00:00:21,455 --> 00:00:24,556 MARRAKESH... AND ILE IFE. 5 00:00:26,060 --> 00:00:28,827 GREAT SCHOLARS WROTE BOOKS THAT FILLED LIBRARIES. 6 00:00:30,564 --> 00:00:32,731 WEALTH FROM TRANS-SAHARAN TRADE 7 00:00:32,767 --> 00:00:34,967 GREW ON A SPECTACULAR SCALE... 8 00:00:36,771 --> 00:00:38,637 DRAWING ATTENTION FROM AFAR 9 00:00:38,672 --> 00:00:40,773 TO THE WONDERS OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT. 10 00:00:42,343 --> 00:00:44,043 THIS IS THE INCREDIBLE STORY 11 00:00:44,078 --> 00:00:46,645 OF HOW FARMERS, TRADERS, AND NOMADS 12 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,348 FROM THE BARREN FRINGES OF THE SAHARA DESERT 13 00:00:49,383 --> 00:00:50,416 WOULD BUILD SOME OF THE MOST 14 00:00:50,451 --> 00:00:52,851 ADVANCED CIVILIZATIONS IN HISTORY. 15 00:01:05,866 --> 00:01:07,900 BY 1000 A.D., 16 00:01:07,935 --> 00:01:11,503 ISLAM, A RELIGION BORN ON THE ARABIAN PENINSULA, 17 00:01:11,539 --> 00:01:15,374 HAD BECOME ESTABLISHED ALONG THE WHOLE NORTH AFRICAN COAST 18 00:01:15,409 --> 00:01:19,077 AND DEEP INTO THE IBERIAN PENINSULA. 19 00:01:19,113 --> 00:01:22,114 THE WESTERN EXTREMITY OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION, 20 00:01:22,149 --> 00:01:23,849 WHAT'S CALLED THE MAGHREB, 21 00:01:23,884 --> 00:01:26,718 MEANING LAND OF THE SETTING SUN. 22 00:01:26,754 --> 00:01:29,354 THIS IS WHERE OUR STORY BEGINS, 23 00:01:29,390 --> 00:01:31,790 IN THE CITY OF MARRAKESH. 24 00:01:33,394 --> 00:01:35,994 WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED IN THE YEAR 1070, 25 00:01:36,030 --> 00:01:39,364 MARRAKESH WAS A CENTER OF POLITICS AND LAW. 26 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:41,433 BUT IT SOON BEGAN TO ATTRACT MERCHANTS AND CRAFTSMEN 27 00:01:41,468 --> 00:01:44,203 FROM THE SURROUNDING REGIONS. 28 00:01:44,238 --> 00:01:45,837 FOR CENTURIES SINCE, 29 00:01:45,873 --> 00:01:48,640 LUXURY GOODS HAVE BEEN TRADED HERE. 30 00:01:48,676 --> 00:01:51,977 SPICES, GOLD, AND TEXTILES. 31 00:01:56,350 --> 00:01:59,585 IN JUST 50 YEARS, MARRAKESH HAD BEEN TRANSFORMED 32 00:01:59,620 --> 00:02:02,354 FROM A COLLECTION OF MUD-BRICK HUTS 33 00:02:02,389 --> 00:02:05,991 TO A SOPHISTICATED METROPOLIS. 34 00:02:06,026 --> 00:02:08,227 THE ANCIENT WALLED CITY, THE MEDINA, 35 00:02:08,262 --> 00:02:10,929 IS A MAZE OF NARROW LANEWAYS. 36 00:02:10,965 --> 00:02:12,397 IT'S EASY TO GET LOST. 37 00:02:14,134 --> 00:02:16,335 SEEMINGLY AROUND EVERY CORNER, 38 00:02:16,370 --> 00:02:20,205 ONE ENCOUNTERS A FINE PALACE, A GREAT MOSQUE, 39 00:02:20,241 --> 00:02:22,140 OR A LUSH GARDEN. 40 00:02:22,176 --> 00:02:24,042 THE ORIGINS OF MUCH OF THIS SPLENDOR 41 00:02:24,078 --> 00:02:26,111 CAN BE TRACED TO THE INFLUENCE 42 00:02:26,146 --> 00:02:30,249 OF ONE CHARISMATIC ISLAMIC THEOLOGIAN-- 43 00:02:30,284 --> 00:02:33,919 ABDALLAH IBN YASIN. 44 00:02:33,954 --> 00:02:36,255 WOMAN: IBN YASIN ACTUALLY ORIGINATED FROM 45 00:02:36,290 --> 00:02:39,291 WHAT'S NOW SOUTHERN MOROCCO. 46 00:02:39,326 --> 00:02:42,461 HE WAS OBVIOUSLY SOMEONE WHO WAS INTERESTED IN RELIGIOUS LEARNING 47 00:02:42,496 --> 00:02:45,297 BECAUSE HE MADE THE VERY DIFFICULT JOURNEY NORTH 48 00:02:45,332 --> 00:02:48,433 ACROSS THE HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS INTO SPAIN 49 00:02:48,469 --> 00:02:50,836 TO STUDY IN CORDOBA. 50 00:02:50,871 --> 00:02:53,238 HE SEEMS TO HAVE HAD ASPIRATIONS 51 00:02:53,274 --> 00:02:56,241 TO RELIGIOUSLY LEAD A GROUP OF TRIBES, 52 00:02:56,277 --> 00:02:58,143 BUT THEN LEAD THEM ON TO GREATER THINGS 53 00:02:58,178 --> 00:03:00,212 IN A POLITICAL SENSE AS WELL. 54 00:03:02,783 --> 00:03:04,883 HOST: IBN YASIN WAS A BERBER. 55 00:03:04,918 --> 00:03:07,152 HIS TRIBE, THE JUDALA, 56 00:03:07,187 --> 00:03:09,021 WAS PART OF THE SANHAJA, 57 00:03:09,056 --> 00:03:11,123 A GROUP LIVING IN THE SAHARA DESERT. 58 00:03:13,661 --> 00:03:18,163 IN 1046, IBN YASIN WAS INVITED TO GIVE THE SANHAJA 59 00:03:18,198 --> 00:03:21,967 INSTRUCTION IN THE TRUE PRINCIPLES OF ISLAM. 60 00:03:22,002 --> 00:03:25,637 WHEN THEY REBELLED AGAINST THIS HARSH INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW, 61 00:03:25,673 --> 00:03:29,241 HE WITHDREW AND FOUNDED A MOVEMENT TO CONVERT THEM. 62 00:03:31,345 --> 00:03:34,046 IN 1055, HE LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN 63 00:03:34,081 --> 00:03:36,448 TO SPREAD HIS REFORMIST IDEAS 64 00:03:36,483 --> 00:03:40,285 AMONG THE URBAN CENTERS OF MOROCCO AND GHANA. 65 00:03:40,321 --> 00:03:43,522 BENNISON: AT THAT POINT, THE TRIBES OF THE SAHARA WERE 66 00:03:43,557 --> 00:03:47,059 FAIRLY SUPERFICIALLY ISLAMIZED, 67 00:03:47,094 --> 00:03:49,328 SO, THEY WERE MUSLIM, 68 00:03:49,363 --> 00:03:51,129 BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A DEEP KNOWLEDGE 69 00:03:51,165 --> 00:03:55,834 OF THE RITES AND RITUALS THAT CAME WITH BEING MUSLIM... 70 00:03:55,869 --> 00:03:58,403 NOR WERE THEY VERY FAMILIAR WITH ISLAMIC LAW. 71 00:04:02,609 --> 00:04:04,309 HOST: IBN YASIN'S SOLUTION 72 00:04:04,345 --> 00:04:05,977 WAS TO GO BACK TO BASICS 73 00:04:06,013 --> 00:04:07,946 AND PROMOTE A LITERAL AND PURITANICAL 74 00:04:07,981 --> 00:04:09,915 FORM OF ISLAM. 75 00:04:09,950 --> 00:04:11,950 HE WANTED TO BRING WORSHIPPERS BACK IN LINE 76 00:04:11,985 --> 00:04:15,253 WITH WHAT HE BELIEVED WAS THE TRUE ISLAMIC FAITH. 77 00:04:17,791 --> 00:04:20,992 MAN: IBN YASIN TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE CONVERTING, 78 00:04:21,028 --> 00:04:23,061 BUT WHAT HE ACTUALLY MEANT WAS CHANGING THE WAY 79 00:04:23,097 --> 00:04:24,596 THEY'D BEEN PRACTICING ISLAM TO THE WAY 80 00:04:24,631 --> 00:04:26,198 HE THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE PRACTICED. 81 00:04:27,868 --> 00:04:31,103 AND HE DECIDED THAT THEY WERE EFFECTIVELY DEEP SINNERS, 82 00:04:31,138 --> 00:04:32,471 AND SO, THEY SHOULD GIVE UP 1/3 83 00:04:32,506 --> 00:04:35,173 OF ALL THEIR GOODS TO HIM. 84 00:04:35,209 --> 00:04:37,876 AND HE WAS REALLY FOND OF FLOGGING PEOPLE. 85 00:04:40,514 --> 00:04:42,614 PEOPLE LEFT OUT A WORD WHILE THEY WERE PRAYING, 86 00:04:42,649 --> 00:04:44,449 THEY GOT SOME LASHES FOR THAT. 87 00:04:44,485 --> 00:04:46,051 IF THEY DIDN'T STAND IN THE RIGHT POSITION, 88 00:04:46,086 --> 00:04:47,586 THEY GOT LASHES FOR THAT. 89 00:04:47,621 --> 00:04:49,888 THOSE JOINING THE MOVEMENT WOULD BE 90 00:04:49,923 --> 00:04:52,824 WHIPPED AND SCOURGED FOR THE PRAYERS 91 00:04:52,860 --> 00:04:55,994 THEY HADN'T PERFORMED IN THEIR PAST LIFE. 92 00:04:56,029 --> 00:04:59,965 THEY WERE IN A SENSE LITERALLY BEING WHIPPED INTO A FRENZY, 93 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,769 AND THE ZEAL FOR THE MOVEMENT WAS BEING INCULCATED IN THEM 94 00:05:03,804 --> 00:05:07,706 THROUGH THIS VERY INTENSE PHASE OF INITIATION. 95 00:05:09,910 --> 00:05:11,143 HOST: DEEP IN THE DESERT, 96 00:05:11,178 --> 00:05:13,245 AMONG THE SANHAJA BERBERS, 97 00:05:13,280 --> 00:05:15,080 HIS REVOLUTIONARY MESSAGE 98 00:05:15,115 --> 00:05:17,282 ATTRACTED A FERVENT FOLLOWING. 99 00:05:21,555 --> 00:05:24,656 HIS FOLLOWERS WERE CALLED THE ALMORAVIDS, 100 00:05:24,691 --> 00:05:26,391 WHICH CAN BE INTERPRETED AS 101 00:05:26,427 --> 00:05:28,727 "PEOPLE OF THE FRONTIER FORTRESS." 102 00:05:33,167 --> 00:05:36,134 MAN: THIS IS ONE OF MANY MOVEMENTS WHERE 103 00:05:36,170 --> 00:05:39,070 PEOPLE COME ALONG AND SAY, YOU KNOW, "YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG, 104 00:05:39,106 --> 00:05:40,939 AND I KNOW THE WAY TO DO IT RIGHT." 105 00:05:42,643 --> 00:05:45,811 BENNISON: AND IT'S AT THAT POINT IN THE 1050S 106 00:05:45,846 --> 00:05:48,513 THAT THE ALMORAVIDS BEGIN TO COALESCE 107 00:05:48,549 --> 00:05:52,083 AS A SIGNIFICANT ARMY, AS A SIGNIFICANT MILITARY FORCE, 108 00:05:52,119 --> 00:05:55,353 AND BEGAN TO EMERGE FROM THEIR DESERT TERRITORIES, 109 00:05:55,389 --> 00:05:58,123 MOVING NORTHWARDS, FIRST OF ALL 110 00:05:58,158 --> 00:06:00,992 TOWARDS THE GREAT CARAVAN CITY OF SIJILMASA. 111 00:06:01,028 --> 00:06:02,961 [MEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY] 112 00:06:09,470 --> 00:06:12,037 HOST: SIJILMASA WAS AN IMPORTANT TRADING CENTER 113 00:06:12,072 --> 00:06:13,605 ON THE EDGE OF THE SAHARA. 114 00:06:17,344 --> 00:06:20,445 IBN YASIN DEMANDED THAT SIJILMASA SUBMIT 115 00:06:20,481 --> 00:06:22,481 BECAUSE OF ITS SINS. 116 00:06:22,516 --> 00:06:24,983 WHEN IT REFUSED, HE ATTACKED. 117 00:06:32,526 --> 00:06:34,893 AT THE CARAVAN CITY OF SIJILMASA, 118 00:06:34,928 --> 00:06:37,896 THE ALMORAVID ARMY SMASHED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 119 00:06:37,931 --> 00:06:39,464 AND SHUT DOWN THE WINE SHOPS. 120 00:06:41,101 --> 00:06:42,400 EVERYWHERE THEY CONQUERED, 121 00:06:42,436 --> 00:06:46,104 THE ALMORAVIDS IMPOSED A FUNDAMENTALIST REGIME. 122 00:06:46,139 --> 00:06:49,941 THOSE WHO FAILED TO COMPLY RISKED EXECUTION. 123 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:55,113 BENNISON: IBN YASIN WAS MOTIVATED 124 00:06:55,148 --> 00:06:56,948 BY A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FACTORS. 125 00:06:56,984 --> 00:06:58,950 THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY THE RELIGIOUS FACTOR, 126 00:06:58,986 --> 00:07:02,187 BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WERE COMMERCIAL AND POLITICAL MOTIVES 127 00:07:02,222 --> 00:07:04,589 UNDERPINNING HIS ACTIONS. 128 00:07:06,159 --> 00:07:08,159 WHEN THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL, THEY BELIEVED THAT MEANT 129 00:07:08,195 --> 00:07:12,197 THAT THEY WERE RELIGIOUSLY RIGHT IN THEIR APPROACH. 130 00:07:12,232 --> 00:07:15,267 THEY SAW VICTORY AS A MARK OF GOD'S FAVOR. 131 00:07:18,805 --> 00:07:22,040 HOST: TAKING SIJILMASA BROUGHT IBN YASIN AND HIS ARMY 132 00:07:22,075 --> 00:07:24,910 ONE STEP CLOSER TO A MAJOR GOAL-- 133 00:07:24,945 --> 00:07:28,246 CONTROL OF THE TRANS-SAHARAN CARAVAN TRADE, 134 00:07:28,282 --> 00:07:31,283 ESPECIALLY THE TRADE IN GOLD. 135 00:07:31,318 --> 00:07:34,085 TO COMPLETE THAT MISSION, IBN YASIN SET OFF 136 00:07:34,121 --> 00:07:36,855 ON THE ARDUOUS, THOUSAND-MILE JOURNEY 137 00:07:36,890 --> 00:07:41,126 ACROSS ONE OF THE LARGEST DESERTS ON THE PLANET-- 138 00:07:41,161 --> 00:07:42,427 THE SAHARA. 139 00:07:44,364 --> 00:07:46,531 THE GREAT EXPANSE OF THE SAHARA DESERT 140 00:07:46,567 --> 00:07:48,633 WAS AN OCEAN TO CROSS. 141 00:07:48,669 --> 00:07:50,702 IT WAS A BARRIER THAT DIVIDED AFRICA 142 00:07:50,737 --> 00:07:52,470 FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, 143 00:07:52,506 --> 00:07:55,240 AND ATTEMPTS TO NAVIGATE IT WERE TREACHEROUS. 144 00:07:55,275 --> 00:07:58,610 LONG JOURNEYS FROM ONE OASIS TO THE NEXT OASIS 145 00:07:58,645 --> 00:08:01,479 COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS, EVEN LIFE-THREATENING. 146 00:08:06,987 --> 00:08:11,823 THE SAHARA COVERS 3 1/2 MILLION FORMIDABLE SQUARE MILES. 147 00:08:13,660 --> 00:08:16,828 THE SANHAJA LIVED ACROSS THE WHOLE OF THE SAHARA, 148 00:08:16,863 --> 00:08:19,364 FROM GHANA AND TAKRUR ON ONE SIDE 149 00:08:19,399 --> 00:08:21,833 TO SIJILMASA ON THE OTHER. 150 00:08:21,868 --> 00:08:23,501 SO, BERBERS LIKE THEM HAD BEEN 151 00:08:23,537 --> 00:08:25,503 CRISS-CROSSING THE DESERT TO TRADE 152 00:08:25,539 --> 00:08:27,939 FOR MORE THAN 1,000 YEARS. 153 00:08:34,648 --> 00:08:36,448 AROUND THE SECOND CENTURY, 154 00:08:36,483 --> 00:08:39,050 THEY ADOPTED A NEW MODE OF TRANSPORTATION 155 00:08:39,086 --> 00:08:42,520 WHICH MADE CROSSING EASIER-- THE CAMEL. 156 00:08:44,057 --> 00:08:46,458 AS TRANS-SAHARAN TRADE ROUTES OPENED UP, 157 00:08:46,493 --> 00:08:50,061 DEMAND FOR WEST AFRICAN GOLD INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. 158 00:08:50,097 --> 00:08:52,030 THE DOMESTICATION OF THE CAMEL 159 00:08:52,065 --> 00:08:55,367 WOULD ALLOW TRADERS TO CONQUER THE UNFORGIVING HEAT 160 00:08:55,402 --> 00:08:58,269 AND VAST DISTANCES THROUGH SEAS OF SAND 161 00:08:58,305 --> 00:09:01,139 WITH FAR GREATER EFFICIENCY THAN EVER BEFORE. 162 00:09:04,478 --> 00:09:07,145 ON THE SOUTHERN END OF THE TRANS-SAHARAN CARAVAN ROUTE 163 00:09:07,180 --> 00:09:10,382 WAS A RESOURCE-RICH LAND CALLED THE SAHEL, 164 00:09:10,417 --> 00:09:12,784 MEANING "SHORE." 165 00:09:12,819 --> 00:09:15,453 IT CONTAINED MERCHANT CITIES THAT WERE GATEWAYS 166 00:09:15,489 --> 00:09:17,689 TO THE PRINCIPAL SOURCE OF GOLD 167 00:09:17,724 --> 00:09:19,290 FOR MEDIEVAL EUROPE. 168 00:09:21,995 --> 00:09:24,029 ONE OF THE LARGEST OF THESE CITIES 169 00:09:24,064 --> 00:09:27,499 WAS IN MODERN-DAY MAURITANIA-- AWDAGHUST. 170 00:09:29,236 --> 00:09:31,269 SEIZE IT, AND THE ALMORAVIDS 171 00:09:31,304 --> 00:09:33,838 COULD CONTROL THE GOLD TRADE. 172 00:09:33,874 --> 00:09:38,376 THAT MEANT CONFRONTING A LARGE SUB-SAHARAN STATE-- 173 00:09:38,412 --> 00:09:40,412 THE EMPIRE OF GHANA. 174 00:09:47,220 --> 00:09:50,488 MAN: GHANA EMERGES AS A KIND OF MIDDLEMAN STATE 175 00:09:50,524 --> 00:09:54,759 THAT IS GOING TO TAP INTO WEST AFRICA MERCANTILE ACTIVITY 176 00:09:54,795 --> 00:09:57,495 AND ESPECIALLY GOING TO CONTROL THE GOLD TRADE 177 00:09:57,531 --> 00:10:00,999 ACROSS THE DESERT FROM SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. 178 00:10:01,034 --> 00:10:02,333 HOST: GHANA'S ROOTS DATE BACK 179 00:10:02,369 --> 00:10:04,302 TO THE VERY FIRST CIVILIZATIONS 180 00:10:04,337 --> 00:10:07,439 IN SUB-SAHARAN WEST AFRICA. 181 00:10:07,474 --> 00:10:10,942 AROUND 1500 B.C., A RICH CULTURE AROSE 182 00:10:10,977 --> 00:10:13,545 IN THE REGION OF DHAR TICHITT, 183 00:10:13,580 --> 00:10:14,979 IN TODAY'S MAURITANIA. 184 00:10:17,250 --> 00:10:20,051 EVENTUALLY, THIS CIVILIZATION SPREAD SOUTH 185 00:10:20,087 --> 00:10:22,987 AND FOUNDED NEW SETTLEMENTS ALONG THE NIGER RIVER, 186 00:10:23,023 --> 00:10:25,790 WHERE IT GREW INTO A POWERFUL EMPIRE. 187 00:10:28,228 --> 00:10:29,594 GHANA IS LOCATED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE 188 00:10:29,629 --> 00:10:31,863 BETWEEN THE SENEGAL RIVER SYSTEM 189 00:10:31,898 --> 00:10:33,531 AND THE NIGER RIVER SYSTEM, 190 00:10:33,567 --> 00:10:35,166 AND IT'S IN A POSITION STRATEGICALLY 191 00:10:35,202 --> 00:10:37,368 WHERE IT CAN CONTROL ACCESS TO BOTH OF THOSE, 192 00:10:37,404 --> 00:10:38,837 AT LEAST POTENTIALLY IT CAN. 193 00:10:41,575 --> 00:10:42,674 CONTROL OF THE GOLD TRADE 194 00:10:42,709 --> 00:10:44,843 GENERATED ENORMOUS WEALTH, 195 00:10:44,878 --> 00:10:47,579 WEALTH THAT BUILT EMPIRES. 196 00:10:47,614 --> 00:10:50,348 AND THE KINGDOM OF GHANA WAS POISED TO EXPLOIT 197 00:10:50,383 --> 00:10:53,585 ITS PERFECT LOCATION. 198 00:10:53,620 --> 00:10:56,187 GHANA'S LEGENDARY WEALTH AND STRENGTH 199 00:10:56,223 --> 00:10:59,491 WOULD LEAD THE GOLD COAST COLONY IN 1957 200 00:10:59,526 --> 00:11:01,593 TO ADOPT "GHANA" AS THE NAME 201 00:11:01,628 --> 00:11:04,229 OF ITS MODERN-DAY NATION. 202 00:11:04,264 --> 00:11:06,431 WARE: THERE'S AN 11TH-CENTURY SOURCE THAT SAYS 203 00:11:06,466 --> 00:11:09,000 THE RULER OF THE EMPIRE OF GHANA 204 00:11:09,035 --> 00:11:11,302 CAN PUT 200,000 SOLDIERS IN THE FIELD, 205 00:11:11,338 --> 00:11:12,804 40,000 OF THEM ARCHERS. 206 00:11:15,375 --> 00:11:16,941 HE'S THE BIGGEST, BADDEST GUY ON THE BLOCK 207 00:11:16,977 --> 00:11:18,676 AND YOU'RE NOT MESSING WITH HIM. [LAUGHS] 208 00:11:18,712 --> 00:11:20,512 THORNTON: GHANA HAD A VERY STRONG 209 00:11:20,547 --> 00:11:23,848 EQUESTRIAN TRADITION AND CAVALRY 210 00:11:23,884 --> 00:11:25,683 THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED IT TO DOMINATE 211 00:11:25,719 --> 00:11:28,019 OTHER REGIONS AROUND IT. 212 00:11:28,054 --> 00:11:30,155 HOST: IN THE TENTH CENTURY, GHANA'S ARMY 213 00:11:30,190 --> 00:11:33,925 HAD CAPTURED AWDAGHUST FROM THE SANHAJA. 214 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:37,495 SO, IN 1055, IBN YASIN ARRIVED 215 00:11:37,531 --> 00:11:40,498 TO SEIZE IT BACK IN A BRUTAL TAKEOVER. 216 00:11:42,869 --> 00:11:46,504 WRITING IN 1068 A.D., THE ANDALUSIAN MUSLIM 217 00:11:46,540 --> 00:11:49,040 GEOGRAPHER AND HISTORIAN AL-BAKRI 218 00:11:49,075 --> 00:11:51,142 HAD THIS TO SAY. 219 00:11:51,178 --> 00:11:53,011 MAN AS AL-BAKRI: THEY VIOLATED THE WOMEN 220 00:11:53,046 --> 00:11:55,079 AND DECLARED EVERYTHING THEY FOUND THERE 221 00:11:55,115 --> 00:11:58,283 TO BE THE PROPERTY OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY. 222 00:11:59,452 --> 00:12:01,653 HOST: FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF AWDAGHUST, 223 00:12:01,688 --> 00:12:03,254 GHANA BEGAN TO DECLINE, 224 00:12:03,290 --> 00:12:06,991 ULTIMATELY FALLING IN 1076. 225 00:12:07,027 --> 00:12:10,361 ITS TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS FIRST COEXISTED WITH, 226 00:12:10,397 --> 00:12:12,630 BUT THEN EVENTUALLY GAVE WAY TO, 227 00:12:12,666 --> 00:12:14,399 THE FORCE OF ISLAM. 228 00:12:14,434 --> 00:12:15,700 THORNTON: THE ALMORAVIDS MAY VERY WELL HAVE 229 00:12:15,735 --> 00:12:17,936 CONVERTED GHANA BY CONQUEST 230 00:12:17,971 --> 00:12:19,838 OR IT MAY HAVE BEEN A VOLUNTARY CONQUEST 231 00:12:19,873 --> 00:12:22,473 OR AN ALLIANCE OR SOME OTHER KIND OF THING. 232 00:12:22,509 --> 00:12:25,710 WE KNOW THAT BY 1100, THAT REGION HAD BEEN 233 00:12:25,745 --> 00:12:27,045 CONVERTED TO ISLAM. 234 00:12:31,785 --> 00:12:32,984 [HORSE WHINNIES] 235 00:12:38,024 --> 00:12:40,024 HOST: BY THE LATE 1050S, 236 00:12:40,060 --> 00:12:41,559 THE ALMORAVID ARMY, 237 00:12:41,595 --> 00:12:44,195 INITIALLY COMPRISED MOSTLY OF NORTH AFRICAN 238 00:12:44,231 --> 00:12:45,964 SANHAJA BERBERS, 239 00:12:45,999 --> 00:12:50,435 NOW INCLUDED VAST RANKS OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICANS. 240 00:12:50,470 --> 00:12:52,437 SENEGALESE, YOU KNOW, SOLDIERS, NOT SLAVES, 241 00:12:52,472 --> 00:12:54,739 FREE SENEGALESE SOLDIERS THAT PARTICIPATED, 242 00:12:54,774 --> 00:12:56,274 AT LEAST 4,000 OF THEM. 243 00:12:56,309 --> 00:12:58,009 SO, THEN IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT INSTEAD 244 00:12:58,044 --> 00:12:59,978 OF AN ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP, 245 00:13:00,013 --> 00:13:02,513 THE SAHARAN AND SUB-SAHARAN, YOU KNOW, POPULATIONS 246 00:13:02,549 --> 00:13:04,682 WERE WORKING IN, YOU KNOW, IN CONCERT. 247 00:13:06,419 --> 00:13:08,620 HOST: IN 1059, WHILE THE ALMORAVIDS 248 00:13:08,655 --> 00:13:10,822 WERE CAMPAIGNING IN THE DESERT, 249 00:13:10,857 --> 00:13:13,024 IBN YASIN WAS KILLED IN BATTLE. 250 00:13:14,427 --> 00:13:16,794 BUT HIS MOVEMENT CONTINUED TO GROW. 251 00:13:18,732 --> 00:13:20,832 ONE OF ITS NEW LEADERS WAS A GENERAL-- 252 00:13:20,867 --> 00:13:23,801 YUSUF IBN TASHFIN. 253 00:13:23,837 --> 00:13:26,170 IBN TASHFIN MARCHED THE ALMORAVID ARMY 254 00:13:26,206 --> 00:13:28,706 ACROSS THE HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS 255 00:13:28,742 --> 00:13:31,609 AND SEIZED CONTROL OF THE NORTH AFRICAN COAST. 256 00:13:36,082 --> 00:13:40,151 IN THE YEAR 1070, IBN TASHFIN FOUNDED A NEW CITY 257 00:13:40,186 --> 00:13:42,720 TO BE HIS ALMORAVID CAPITAL. 258 00:13:42,756 --> 00:13:45,056 IT WAS CALLED MARRAKESH. 259 00:13:50,063 --> 00:13:51,963 BENNISON: THEY SETTLED ON A TERRITORY WHICH IS 260 00:13:51,998 --> 00:13:55,199 DESCRIBED AS BEING VERY ARID, VERY BARREN, 261 00:13:55,235 --> 00:13:58,136 QUITE DESERT-LIKE. 262 00:13:58,171 --> 00:14:00,371 NOT AN AREA THAT ONE MIGHT THINK OF 263 00:14:00,407 --> 00:14:03,274 AS IMMEDIATELY BEING THE PLACE TO FOUND A CITY, 264 00:14:03,310 --> 00:14:06,177 BUT NONETHELESS AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH WAS QUITE AKIN 265 00:14:06,212 --> 00:14:09,247 TO THE ENVIRONMENT WHICH THEY HAD COME FROM. 266 00:14:09,282 --> 00:14:12,583 BLOOM: WHAT THE ALMORAVIDS DID WAS REPLACE 267 00:14:12,619 --> 00:14:14,419 THE OLD TOWN OF SIJILMASA, 268 00:14:14,454 --> 00:14:17,355 WHICH WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS, 269 00:14:17,390 --> 00:14:21,426 WITH THEIR NEW CENTER, THEIR NEW CITY, MARRAKESH, 270 00:14:21,461 --> 00:14:24,095 WHICH BECAME MUCH GREATER THAN SIJILMASA 271 00:14:24,130 --> 00:14:25,563 EVER HAD BEEN BEFORE. 272 00:14:27,300 --> 00:14:28,566 HOST: MARRAKESH BECAME 273 00:14:28,601 --> 00:14:30,535 SUCH A RICH COMMERCIAL CITY 274 00:14:30,570 --> 00:14:33,404 FOR ONE REASON--ITS LOCATION. 275 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:35,273 IT WAS THE TERMINUS OF ONE OF THE GREAT 276 00:14:35,308 --> 00:14:38,376 COMMERCIAL TRADE ROUTES ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT. 277 00:14:40,714 --> 00:14:42,080 SITUATED HALFWAY BETWEEN 278 00:14:42,115 --> 00:14:44,515 THE SAHARA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN, 279 00:14:44,551 --> 00:14:46,584 MARRAKESH WAS A JUNCTION 280 00:14:46,619 --> 00:14:48,987 FOR GOODS MOVING ACROSS AFRICA 281 00:14:49,022 --> 00:14:50,755 INTO EUROPE AND ASIA. 282 00:14:52,425 --> 00:14:57,395 TEXTILES... LEATHERWORK... 283 00:14:57,430 --> 00:15:00,164 AND, ABOVE ALL, GOLD. 284 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:02,633 BLOOM: YOU KNOW, WAR IS WONDERFUL. 285 00:15:02,669 --> 00:15:04,736 I MEAN, I GUESS, THEORETICALLY, IF YOU-- 286 00:15:04,771 --> 00:15:06,804 BUT IT DOESN'T-- IT DOESN'T PROVIDE 287 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:08,873 THE STEADY MEANS OF-- OF SUPPORT, 288 00:15:08,908 --> 00:15:11,409 AND SO, BUILDING A CITY, A TRADING CITY 289 00:15:11,444 --> 00:15:12,777 IS A MUCH BETTER WAY. 290 00:15:15,048 --> 00:15:17,915 HOST: AS THE CITY GREW IN WEALTH AND REPUTATION, 291 00:15:17,951 --> 00:15:20,284 MARRAKESH BECAME A SHOWCASE 292 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:22,553 FOR THE INGENUITY AND ARTISTRY 293 00:15:22,589 --> 00:15:24,422 OF ARCHITECTS AND ARTISANS. 294 00:15:24,457 --> 00:15:26,391 [HAMMERING] 295 00:15:29,429 --> 00:15:33,598 BLOOM: I THINK THAT THE ALMORAVIDS HAD BAD PRESS. 296 00:15:33,633 --> 00:15:36,134 PROBABLY THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE ABOUT THEM 297 00:15:36,169 --> 00:15:38,803 HAD SUFFERED UNDER THEIR RULE, 298 00:15:38,838 --> 00:15:41,439 AND SO, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING GOOD TO SAY TO THEM. 299 00:15:41,474 --> 00:15:44,776 ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S GREAT ABOUT ART AND CULTURE, 300 00:15:44,811 --> 00:15:47,145 I MEAN, IS IT'S SORT OF SILENT TESTIMONY 301 00:15:47,180 --> 00:15:49,247 TO WHAT HAPPENS DURING A PERIOD. 302 00:15:51,051 --> 00:15:54,485 HOST: IN 1947, ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNCOVERED 303 00:15:54,521 --> 00:15:57,088 SOMETHING HERE THAT SHED NEW LIGHT 304 00:15:57,123 --> 00:15:59,323 ON ITS ALMORAVID PERIOD. 305 00:15:59,359 --> 00:16:01,359 THIS TOWER--THE KOUBBA. 306 00:16:08,701 --> 00:16:11,335 BENNISON: ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE FEATURES OF THE KOUBBA 307 00:16:11,371 --> 00:16:13,704 IS THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE EXTERIOR, 308 00:16:13,740 --> 00:16:17,241 WHICH IS QUITE PLAIN AND SIMPLE, 309 00:16:17,277 --> 00:16:19,844 AND WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU GO INSIDE. 310 00:16:24,150 --> 00:16:25,683 IT'S A REAL REVELATION. 311 00:16:29,923 --> 00:16:33,224 COMPARED TO THE AUSTERITY OF THE EXTERIOR, 312 00:16:33,259 --> 00:16:37,528 ONCE YOU GET INSIDE AND YOU LOOK UPWARD, 313 00:16:37,564 --> 00:16:44,802 YOU SEE THIS FANTASTIC, DEEPLY CARVED, PLASTER DOME 314 00:16:44,838 --> 00:16:48,306 WHICH HAS VEGETAL DESIGNS, 315 00:16:48,341 --> 00:16:50,775 CONCH SHELL, WHICH IN SOME WAYS 316 00:16:50,810 --> 00:16:52,343 REMINDS YOU OF THE INTERIOR 317 00:16:52,378 --> 00:16:55,279 OF THE DOMES IN THE GREAT MOSQUE OF CORDOBA. 318 00:16:58,685 --> 00:17:01,219 SO, IN THE DAY, IT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN 319 00:17:01,254 --> 00:17:03,855 EVEN MORE OF A SURPRISE, BECAUSE THE PLASTERWORK 320 00:17:03,890 --> 00:17:05,556 WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN PAINTED. 321 00:17:07,794 --> 00:17:09,794 HOST: ONE THEORY HOLDS THAT THE KOUBBA 322 00:17:09,829 --> 00:17:11,729 WAS AN ABLUTIONS PAVILION 323 00:17:11,764 --> 00:17:14,065 FOR A GREAT ALMORAVID MOSQUE, 324 00:17:14,100 --> 00:17:16,334 WHICH NO LONGER EXISTS. 325 00:17:16,369 --> 00:17:18,769 ANOTHER IS THAT IT WAS A MONUMENT 326 00:17:18,805 --> 00:17:20,271 IN A PUBLIC PARK. 327 00:17:23,009 --> 00:17:25,042 BENNISON: WE CAN'T REALLY SAY EXACTLY WHAT 328 00:17:25,078 --> 00:17:28,312 THE KOUBBA WAS DESIGNED FOR ORIGINALLY, 329 00:17:28,348 --> 00:17:31,983 BUT IT IS PART OF THE MONUMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE 330 00:17:32,018 --> 00:17:35,186 OF EARLY MARRAKESH, AND IT WAS CERTAINLY DESIGNED 331 00:17:35,221 --> 00:17:38,356 TO BE A PROJECT WHICH THE PUBLIC WOULD SEE 332 00:17:38,391 --> 00:17:40,892 AND WHICH THEY WOULD IDENTIFY WITH THE ALMORAVIDS 333 00:17:40,927 --> 00:17:44,462 AND WHICH WOULD CELEBRATE THE ALMORAVID EMPIRE 334 00:17:44,497 --> 00:17:46,063 IN ITS WIDER SENSE. 335 00:17:49,936 --> 00:17:51,369 BLOOM: THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE KOUBBA 336 00:17:51,404 --> 00:17:54,305 IS A PRODUCT OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN 337 00:17:54,340 --> 00:17:57,842 ANDALUSIAN BUILDERS AND TECHNIQUES 338 00:17:57,877 --> 00:18:00,111 AND NORTH AFRICAN PATRONS. 339 00:18:01,714 --> 00:18:03,681 THE ALMORAVIDS HAVE THIS REPUTATION 340 00:18:03,716 --> 00:18:07,218 OF NOT BEING ATTUNED TO AESTHETIC THINGS. 341 00:18:07,253 --> 00:18:09,153 CLEARLY WERE INTERESTED, BECAUSE 342 00:18:09,189 --> 00:18:13,191 THEY MUST HAVE BROUGHT VERY TALENTED ARTISANS 343 00:18:13,226 --> 00:18:17,929 TO BUILD THESE STRUCTURES FROM SPAIN TO MOROCCO, 344 00:18:17,964 --> 00:18:20,131 AND OF COURSE, THE ARTISANS WERE HAPPY TO COME, 345 00:18:20,166 --> 00:18:21,899 BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE THE MONEY WAS. 346 00:18:24,137 --> 00:18:26,237 HOST: BY THE END OF THE 11TH CENTURY, 347 00:18:26,272 --> 00:18:29,407 MARRAKESH HAD BECOME A PLACE OF AFFLUENCE, 348 00:18:29,442 --> 00:18:31,008 WEALTH, AND LUXURY, 349 00:18:31,044 --> 00:18:33,778 A FAR CRY FROM THE BERBERS' NOMADIC EXISTENCE 350 00:18:33,813 --> 00:18:36,113 IN THE REMOTE ATLAS MOUNTAINS. 351 00:18:36,149 --> 00:18:39,083 THE BERBERS HAD GONE FROM BEING MERCENARIES FOR HIRE 352 00:18:39,118 --> 00:18:40,318 TO EMPIRE BUILDERS. 353 00:18:43,323 --> 00:18:47,158 IN 1085, WAR BROKE OUT IN AL ANDALUS, 354 00:18:47,193 --> 00:18:49,193 THE PATCHWORK OF MUSLIM-RULED KINGDOMS 355 00:18:49,229 --> 00:18:52,129 IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA. 356 00:18:52,165 --> 00:18:55,366 A CHRISTIAN KING, ALFONSO VI OF LEON, 357 00:18:55,401 --> 00:18:58,803 SEIZED THE CENTRAL SPANISH CITY OF TOLEDO FROM THE MUSLIMS. 358 00:19:00,506 --> 00:19:03,140 ACROSS THE STRAITS OF GIBRALTAR IN NORTH AFRICA, 359 00:19:03,176 --> 00:19:06,911 YUSUF IBN TASHFIN WAS NOW THE SUPREME ALMORAVID LEADER. 360 00:19:13,052 --> 00:19:15,553 BENNISON: THE MUSLIM RULERS OF THE PENINSULA 361 00:19:15,588 --> 00:19:18,723 DESPERATELY NEEDED MILITARY ASSISTANCE, 362 00:19:18,758 --> 00:19:20,758 AND THEY BEGAN TO SEND MESSAGES 363 00:19:20,793 --> 00:19:23,661 DOWN TO YUSUF IBN TASHFIN IN NORTH AFRICA, SAYING, 364 00:19:23,696 --> 00:19:26,097 YOU KNOW, YOU'RE AN IMPORTANT MUSLIM RULER. 365 00:19:26,132 --> 00:19:29,133 YOU HAVE A GOOD ARMY. WE NEED MILITARY SUPPORT. 366 00:19:33,673 --> 00:19:35,406 HOST: WITH IBN TASHFIN'S HELP, 367 00:19:35,441 --> 00:19:37,275 THE ANDALUSIAN ARMY 368 00:19:37,310 --> 00:19:39,310 HALTED ALFONSO'S ADVANCE 369 00:19:39,345 --> 00:19:41,379 AT THE BLOODY BATTLE OF ZALLAQA. 370 00:19:42,915 --> 00:19:46,117 THEN, IBN TASHFIN DECIDED TO SEIZE 371 00:19:46,152 --> 00:19:48,986 THE ANDALUSIAN TERRITORIES FOR HIMSELF. 372 00:19:54,394 --> 00:19:57,328 BENNISON: THE ONLY WAY TO HOLD THE PENINSULA 373 00:19:57,363 --> 00:20:00,298 WAS TO ACTUALLY CONQUER IT AND BRING IT INTO HIS EMPIRE. 374 00:20:00,333 --> 00:20:03,734 HE FELT THAT THE KINGS OF AL ANDALUS WERE TOO WEAK, 375 00:20:03,770 --> 00:20:05,836 TOO LIKELY TO PAY TRIBUTE 376 00:20:05,872 --> 00:20:08,572 AND JOIN WITH CHRISTIANS IN ALLIANCES 377 00:20:08,608 --> 00:20:10,508 TO HOLD THE TERRITORY. 378 00:20:10,543 --> 00:20:13,444 HOST: BY THE TIME OF HIS DEATH IN 1106, 379 00:20:13,479 --> 00:20:17,148 IBN TASHFIN'S EMPIRE STRETCHED FROM CENTRAL SPAIN 380 00:20:17,183 --> 00:20:19,116 TO SOUTHERN MAURITANIA, 381 00:20:19,152 --> 00:20:21,919 AND FROM LISBON TO ALGIERS. 382 00:20:21,954 --> 00:20:24,722 [SHEEP BAA-ING] 383 00:20:24,757 --> 00:20:27,725 A FLOURISHING WORLD OF ART, SCIENCE, 384 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:29,560 COMMERCE, AND RELIGION. 385 00:20:35,134 --> 00:20:37,401 BENNISON: THE IBERIAN PENINSULA AND NORTH AFRICA 386 00:20:37,437 --> 00:20:39,136 WERE SEEN AS THE TWO SHORES 387 00:20:39,172 --> 00:20:41,706 OF A SINGLE POLITICAL ENTITY, 388 00:20:41,741 --> 00:20:44,008 THE ALMORAVID EMPIRE, AND THERE WAS 389 00:20:44,043 --> 00:20:47,311 ENORMOUS MOVEMENT BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS 390 00:20:47,347 --> 00:20:48,746 ACROSS THE STRAITS OF GIBRALTAR, 391 00:20:48,781 --> 00:20:50,481 WHICH ARE VERY MUCH A BRIDGE 392 00:20:50,516 --> 00:20:53,718 RATHER THAN A BARRIER AT THIS TIME. 393 00:20:53,753 --> 00:20:56,587 HOST: THE ALMORAVID EMPIRE HAD RAPIDLY EXPANDED, 394 00:20:56,622 --> 00:20:58,489 BUT IT WOULD PROVE TO BE SHORT-LIVED. 395 00:21:04,430 --> 00:21:08,132 IN THE 1120S, A NEW BERBER RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT AROSE 396 00:21:08,167 --> 00:21:12,837 IN REMOTE VALLEYS OF THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS. 397 00:21:12,872 --> 00:21:15,172 THEY WERE KNOWN AS THE ALMOHADS, 398 00:21:15,208 --> 00:21:17,508 A TERM DERIVED FROM THE ARABIC WORD 399 00:21:17,543 --> 00:21:19,977 FOR THE MONOTHEISTS. 400 00:21:20,012 --> 00:21:23,514 IN 1147, THEY OVERTHREW THE ALMORAVIDS 401 00:21:23,549 --> 00:21:26,183 AND FOUNDED THEIR OWN EMPIRE. 402 00:21:26,219 --> 00:21:29,086 THE ALMOHADS USED LITERACY AS A VITAL TOOL 403 00:21:29,122 --> 00:21:31,322 TO SPREAD THE WORD OF ISLAM. 404 00:21:31,357 --> 00:21:34,658 IN THE CITY OF FEZ, NORTHEAST OF MARRAKESH, 405 00:21:34,694 --> 00:21:37,795 ISLAMIC SCHOLARSHIP WOULD REACH NEW HEIGHTS. 406 00:21:41,567 --> 00:21:43,534 FEZ HAS BEEN A CENTER OF LEARNING 407 00:21:43,569 --> 00:21:47,471 SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED IN THE YEAR 789 A.D. 408 00:21:47,507 --> 00:21:51,041 BUT UNDER ALMOHAD RULE, IN THE 12TH CENTURY, 409 00:21:51,077 --> 00:21:53,944 IT BECAME A TRULY GLOBAL HUB FOR KNOWLEDGE. 410 00:21:57,049 --> 00:21:58,749 WOMAN: FEZ IS JUST A REMARKABLE CITY 411 00:21:58,785 --> 00:22:01,018 AND SUCH AN IMPORTANT CENTER. 412 00:22:01,053 --> 00:22:04,822 IT WAS ALWAYS THE INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL IN A CERTAIN SENSE. 413 00:22:04,857 --> 00:22:07,792 THE SCHOLARS' CAPITAL WITHIN MOROCCO. 414 00:22:11,764 --> 00:22:13,798 FEZ STOOD AMONG THE GREATEST CENTERS OF EDUCATION, 415 00:22:13,833 --> 00:22:15,900 NOT ONLY ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT 416 00:22:15,935 --> 00:22:18,202 BUT THROUGHOUT THE MEDIEVAL WORLD. 417 00:22:18,237 --> 00:22:20,971 HOME TO ASTONISHING BREAKTHROUGHS IN SCIENCE, 418 00:22:21,007 --> 00:22:23,207 MATHEMATICS, AND ASTRONOMY. 419 00:22:25,044 --> 00:22:27,611 FEZ, DURING EUROPE'S MIDDLE AGES, 420 00:22:27,647 --> 00:22:31,515 WAS A CITY OF MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE 421 00:22:31,551 --> 00:22:36,320 CRAMMED INTO A MAZE OF MORE THAN 9,000 TWISTING STREETS. 422 00:22:38,424 --> 00:22:41,292 TODAY, THE FEZ EL BALI WALLED MEDINA 423 00:22:41,327 --> 00:22:45,296 IS THE LARGEST URBAN PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT IN THE WORLD. 424 00:22:45,331 --> 00:22:48,065 BLOOM: YOU GO INSIDE THESE GREAT GATEWAYS 425 00:22:48,100 --> 00:22:50,468 AND SUDDENLY, THERE ARE NO MORE CARS. 426 00:22:50,503 --> 00:22:52,369 THERE ARE NO MORE WHEELED VEHICLES 427 00:22:52,405 --> 00:22:55,139 EXCEPT FOR, LIKE, LITTLE TROLLEYS OR HAND CARTS 428 00:22:55,174 --> 00:22:56,173 TO MOVE THINGS. 429 00:22:56,209 --> 00:22:59,510 IT'S ALL BEASTS OF BURDEN-- DONKEYS-- 430 00:22:59,545 --> 00:23:03,180 OR HUMANS OF BURDEN, PORTERS CARRYING IT, 431 00:23:03,216 --> 00:23:04,482 AND EVERYONE'S SCREAMING AT YOU, 432 00:23:04,517 --> 00:23:07,017 "BELAK, BELAK," "WATCH OUT, WATCH OUT, WATCH OUT," 433 00:23:07,053 --> 00:23:08,552 AND THEY'RE COMING UP BEHIND YOU. 434 00:23:08,588 --> 00:23:10,654 AND IT'S, LIKE, TOTAL CHAOS. 435 00:23:14,093 --> 00:23:16,026 HOST: IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS BUSTLING CITY 436 00:23:16,062 --> 00:23:20,197 SITS A MOSQUE BEGUN IN THE YEAR 859 A.D.-- 437 00:23:20,233 --> 00:23:21,432 THE KAIRAOUINE. 438 00:23:26,305 --> 00:23:31,075 IT'S ARGUABLY THE WORLD'S OLDEST INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING. 439 00:23:31,110 --> 00:23:34,044 TWO CENTURIES BEFORE EUROPEAN UNIVERSITIES 440 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:36,847 LIKE OXFORD AND BOLOGNA EVEN EXISTED, 441 00:23:36,883 --> 00:23:40,684 THE KAIRAOUINE WAS ISSUING MEDICAL DEGREES. 442 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:44,188 BLOOM: THE KAIRAOUINE WAS FOUNDED IN THE NINTH CENTURY, 443 00:23:44,223 --> 00:23:46,924 SUPPOSEDLY BY ONE OF TWO SISTERS 444 00:23:46,959 --> 00:23:49,260 WHO CAME FROM KAIROUAN, WHICH WAS 445 00:23:49,295 --> 00:23:51,662 THE CAPITAL OF TUNISIA. 446 00:23:51,697 --> 00:23:53,430 AND SO, IT WAS CALLED THE KAIRAOUINE, 447 00:23:53,466 --> 00:23:56,667 MEANING "THE MOSQUE FOR THE PEOPLE OF KAIROUAN." 448 00:23:56,702 --> 00:23:59,403 THIS WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT MOSQUE IN THE CITY, 449 00:23:59,438 --> 00:24:01,472 AND THE REASON WAS BECAUSE IT WAS THE CENTER 450 00:24:01,507 --> 00:24:04,141 OF MUSLIM SCHOLARSHIP, MUSLIM LEARNING 451 00:24:04,176 --> 00:24:06,610 FOR THE WHOLE REGION. 452 00:24:12,385 --> 00:24:16,754 HOST: IN 1349, THE KAIRAOUINE WAS ENDOWED WITH A LIBRARY, 453 00:24:16,789 --> 00:24:21,292 HOME TO MORE THAN 5,600 PRICELESS ARABIC MANUSCRIPTS. 454 00:24:24,730 --> 00:24:29,166 PROFESSOR SAID ENNAHID IS AN EXPERT ON ITS HISTORY. 455 00:24:29,201 --> 00:24:30,734 SAID, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GREAT 456 00:24:30,770 --> 00:24:33,504 LITERARY TREASURES HELD IN THIS LIBRARY? 457 00:24:33,539 --> 00:24:36,006 ONE GOOD EXAMPLE IS VOLUME 5 458 00:24:36,042 --> 00:24:37,908 OF IBN KHALDUN'S BOOK. 459 00:24:37,944 --> 00:24:39,977 IBN KHALDUN WAS A VERY FAMOUS SCHOLAR. 460 00:24:40,012 --> 00:24:41,845 WE THINK OF HIM AS THE FATHER OF-- 461 00:24:41,881 --> 00:24:43,647 OF--OF SOCIOLOGY. 462 00:24:43,683 --> 00:24:46,417 AND HE WROTE THIS MASTERPIECE, 463 00:24:46,452 --> 00:24:49,386 UNIVERSAL HISTORY, IN LATE 14TH CENTURY, 464 00:24:49,422 --> 00:24:51,789 AND WE HAVE THIS VOLUME NUMBER 5 465 00:24:51,824 --> 00:24:54,224 WITH HIS SIGNATURE ON IT SAYING THAT 466 00:24:54,260 --> 00:24:57,328 THIS COPY SHOULD STAY HERE AT--AT THE LIBRARY. 467 00:24:57,363 --> 00:24:58,495 HE WAS A STUDENT HERE. 468 00:24:58,531 --> 00:25:00,464 HE HAD THIS STRONG CONNECTION WITH FEZ. 469 00:25:00,499 --> 00:25:01,865 MAYBE AS A STUDENT BUT MAYBE ALSO 470 00:25:01,901 --> 00:25:03,834 AS A--AS A TEACHER, OR AT LEAST 471 00:25:03,869 --> 00:25:06,337 AS SOMEONE WHO HAD CONNECTIONS WITH 472 00:25:06,372 --> 00:25:07,972 THE ELITE OF FEZ. 473 00:25:08,007 --> 00:25:09,473 WE KNOW THAT HE WAS HERE, 474 00:25:09,508 --> 00:25:10,641 MAYBE IN THIS VERY SPOT. 475 00:25:10,676 --> 00:25:11,976 WOW. AMAZING. 476 00:25:13,746 --> 00:25:16,714 SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INTELLECTUALS OF THE MIDDLE AGES 477 00:25:16,749 --> 00:25:19,950 DID THEIR FINEST WORK HERE IN FEZ, 478 00:25:19,986 --> 00:25:22,119 AND IN THE ALMOHAD EMPIRE MORE GENERALLY. 479 00:25:23,489 --> 00:25:26,690 BLOOM: THESE ARE CULTURAL FIGURES WHO FLOURISHED 480 00:25:26,726 --> 00:25:30,961 AND THEY BECAME, IN EFFECT, THE GATEWAY FOR 481 00:25:30,997 --> 00:25:35,566 THE TRANSFER OF CLASSICAL KNOWLEDGE TO THE WEST. 482 00:25:35,601 --> 00:25:38,769 HOST: ONE ESPECIALLY BRILLIANT SCHOLAR WAS IBN RUSHD, 483 00:25:38,804 --> 00:25:43,273 ALSO KNOWN BY HIS LATINIZED NAME--AVERROES. 484 00:25:43,309 --> 00:25:47,111 AVERROES WAS CONSIDERED THE GREATEST INTERPRETER 485 00:25:47,146 --> 00:25:49,079 OF ARISTOTLE. 486 00:25:49,115 --> 00:25:51,382 SO, WHEN EUROPEANS STARTED 487 00:25:51,417 --> 00:25:53,217 WANTING TO STUDY ARISTOTLE, 488 00:25:53,252 --> 00:25:55,419 THEY TURNED TO THE ARABIC WRITINGS, 489 00:25:55,454 --> 00:25:58,255 WHICH THEY THEN TRANSLATED INTO LATIN. 490 00:25:58,290 --> 00:26:00,658 HOST: ANOTHER NOTED SCHOLAR AT THE KAIRAOUINE 491 00:26:00,693 --> 00:26:02,860 WAS HASAN WAZZAN, 492 00:26:02,895 --> 00:26:06,930 ALSO KNOWN AS LEO AFRICANUS. 493 00:26:06,966 --> 00:26:10,401 THORNTON: LEO AFRICANUS WAS A NORTH AFRICAN LEGAL SCHOLAR 494 00:26:10,436 --> 00:26:13,170 WHO WAS ACTUALLY CAPTURED BY CHRISTIAN PIRATES 495 00:26:13,205 --> 00:26:15,706 AND BECAME A SLAVE OF THE POPE FOR A WHILE. 496 00:26:15,741 --> 00:26:17,374 WHILE HE WAS A SLAVE OF THE POPE, HE WROTE 497 00:26:17,410 --> 00:26:21,245 A DESCRIPTION OF BASICALLY ALL OF NORTH AND WEST AFRICA. 498 00:26:24,483 --> 00:26:26,750 HOST: BEYOND THE WALLS OF FEZ'S KAIRAOUINE, 499 00:26:26,786 --> 00:26:30,754 INSTRUCTION TOOK PLACE IN A NETWORK OF RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS 500 00:26:30,790 --> 00:26:32,289 CALLED MADRASSAS. 501 00:26:37,930 --> 00:26:40,431 THE MADRASSAS, OR ISLAMIC SCHOOLS, 502 00:26:40,466 --> 00:26:42,299 WERE STRUCTURED LIKE THE MEDIEVAL COLLEGES 503 00:26:42,334 --> 00:26:44,034 OF OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE. 504 00:26:44,070 --> 00:26:46,937 STUDENTS COULD DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE KORAN 505 00:26:46,972 --> 00:26:49,373 AND STUDY THE MOST IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS 506 00:26:49,408 --> 00:26:51,508 IN THE SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES. 507 00:26:53,079 --> 00:26:56,480 BY THE 14TH CENTURY, 7 GREAT MADRASSAS 508 00:26:56,515 --> 00:26:58,115 THRIVED IN FEZ, 509 00:26:58,150 --> 00:26:59,650 THE MOST FAMOUS OF WHICH 510 00:26:59,685 --> 00:27:01,351 WAS THE BOU INANIA, 511 00:27:01,387 --> 00:27:04,555 FOUNDED IN THE YEAR 1350. 512 00:27:04,590 --> 00:27:06,523 [MAN CALLING IN ARABIC] 513 00:27:25,878 --> 00:27:29,313 PRESTON BLIER: THE REPETITION OF DESIGN, ON THE ONE HAND, 514 00:27:29,348 --> 00:27:33,050 THERE IS A SORT OF MATHEMATICAL QUALITY IN IT, 515 00:27:33,085 --> 00:27:36,553 OF MULTIPLES OF GEOMETRIES, OF THAT PLAY OF FORMS, 516 00:27:36,589 --> 00:27:39,022 BUT THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT TAKES ON 517 00:27:39,058 --> 00:27:40,858 AN ELEMENT OF MEDITATION 518 00:27:40,893 --> 00:27:42,760 AS YOU BEGIN TO EXPLORE A FORM 519 00:27:42,795 --> 00:27:44,661 AND IT MERGES INTO ANOTHER FORM 520 00:27:44,697 --> 00:27:47,631 AND IT SEPARATES FROM ONE INTO ANOTHER. 521 00:27:47,666 --> 00:27:50,200 YOU CAN'T REALLY GO AWAY FROM THESE 522 00:27:50,236 --> 00:27:53,036 WITHOUT JUST BEING IN AWE OF 523 00:27:53,072 --> 00:27:55,973 THE INCREDIBLE ARTISANS AND ARCHITECTS 524 00:27:56,008 --> 00:27:57,141 WHO CREATED THEM. 525 00:28:05,451 --> 00:28:07,751 HOST: WHEN FEZ WAS REACHING ITS PEAK, 526 00:28:07,787 --> 00:28:10,053 A NEW CENTER OF SCHOLARSHIP EMERGED 527 00:28:10,089 --> 00:28:12,489 1,200 MILES AWAY, 528 00:28:12,525 --> 00:28:15,659 ON THE SOUTHERN SHORE OF THE SAHARA DESERT. 529 00:28:15,694 --> 00:28:19,096 IT BECAME A KIND OF SISTER CITY TO FEZ, 530 00:28:19,131 --> 00:28:21,465 AND NO LESS LEGENDARY-- 531 00:28:21,500 --> 00:28:24,168 THE FABLED CITY OF TIMBUKTU. 532 00:28:30,409 --> 00:28:32,376 SINCE THE 14TH CENTURY, 533 00:28:32,411 --> 00:28:34,878 TIMBUKTU HAS BEEN A PLACE OF MYSTERY 534 00:28:34,914 --> 00:28:37,080 IN THE IMAGINATION OF THE WEST, 535 00:28:37,116 --> 00:28:40,217 A METAPHOR FOR THE REMOTEST PLACE ON EARTH. 536 00:28:40,252 --> 00:28:41,985 BUT TIMBUKTU WAS TO BECOME ONE OF THE GREAT 537 00:28:42,021 --> 00:28:44,021 CITIES OF THE MEDIEVAL WORLD, 538 00:28:44,056 --> 00:28:46,924 AN UNPARALLELED CENTER OF SCHOLARSHIP, 539 00:28:46,959 --> 00:28:48,859 LEARNING, AND TRADE. 540 00:28:53,599 --> 00:28:57,234 TIMBUKTU HAD ITS OWN COUNTERPART TO FEZ'S KAIRAOUINE-- 541 00:28:57,269 --> 00:28:58,902 THE SANKORE MOSQUE. 542 00:29:02,274 --> 00:29:04,241 THORNTON: TIMBUKTU REALLY ATTRACTED 543 00:29:04,276 --> 00:29:06,143 A LOT OF VERY LEARNED SCHOLARS, 544 00:29:06,178 --> 00:29:09,546 AND THE SANKORE MOSQUE IN PARTICULAR BECAME, 545 00:29:09,582 --> 00:29:14,151 REALLY, THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST AFRICA FOR MUSLIMS. 546 00:29:14,186 --> 00:29:16,587 SO, IF YOU WERE AN ISLAMIC SCHOLAR 547 00:29:16,622 --> 00:29:19,122 AND YOU WERE LIVING IN A VILLAGE IN THE GAMBIA, LET'S SAY, 548 00:29:19,158 --> 00:29:20,858 ONE OF YOUR ASPIRATIONS WOULD BE 549 00:29:20,893 --> 00:29:23,160 IF YOU--IF YOU REALLY STUDIED HARD AND YOU DID WELL, 550 00:29:23,195 --> 00:29:25,896 YOU MIGHT GO UP TO TIMBUKTU, AND THAT WAS LIKE THE PH.D. 551 00:29:28,767 --> 00:29:30,934 HOST: THE HEART OF TIMBUKTU'S INTELLECTUAL LIFE 552 00:29:30,970 --> 00:29:33,237 WAS ITS LIBRARIES. 553 00:29:33,272 --> 00:29:36,073 BETWEEN THE 14TH AND THE 17TH CENTURIES, 554 00:29:36,108 --> 00:29:39,209 THEY ACQUIRED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BOOKS, 555 00:29:39,245 --> 00:29:41,111 MOSTLY WRITTEN BY AFRICAN AUTHORS 556 00:29:41,146 --> 00:29:42,546 WORKING IN THE CITY. 557 00:29:46,118 --> 00:29:48,018 THE FIRST TIME I VISITED TIMBUKTU 558 00:29:48,053 --> 00:29:50,621 AND SAW THOSE ASTONISHING LIBRARIES 559 00:29:50,656 --> 00:29:53,423 WITH THEIR WEALTH OF SCHOLARLY TEXT, 560 00:29:53,459 --> 00:29:55,626 I WANTED TO CRY. 561 00:29:55,661 --> 00:29:58,528 I GREW UP BEING TOLD THAT AFRICANS NEVER WROTE BOOKS, 562 00:29:58,564 --> 00:30:02,232 YET HERE WAS THIS ASTONISHING TREASURE TROVE 563 00:30:02,268 --> 00:30:05,002 OF EXTRAORDINARY, HAND-WRITTEN MANUSCRIPTS. 564 00:30:05,037 --> 00:30:06,470 MANY OF THEM WERE RELIGIOUS, 565 00:30:06,505 --> 00:30:12,175 BUT THERE WERE ALSO BOOKS ABOUT MATH, ASTRONOMY, PHILOSOPHY. 566 00:30:12,211 --> 00:30:16,513 I FELT INCREDIBLE PRIDE AND VINDICATION. 567 00:30:16,548 --> 00:30:18,448 BOOKS PRODUCED IN TIMBUKTU 568 00:30:18,484 --> 00:30:21,451 BECAME VALUABLE OBJECTS IN THEMSELVES, 569 00:30:21,487 --> 00:30:24,621 PRIZED ALL OVER AFRICA AND BEYOND. 570 00:30:24,657 --> 00:30:27,958 THORNTON: LEO AFRICANUS, HE TALKS ABOUT TIMBUKTU 571 00:30:27,993 --> 00:30:30,160 AND HE MENTIONS HOW IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT CENTER 572 00:30:30,195 --> 00:30:32,896 FOR THE BOOK TRADE, AND HOW BOOKS ARE SOLD 573 00:30:32,932 --> 00:30:36,233 AND SOLD FOR VERY HIGH PRICES AND--AND SO ON. 574 00:30:37,937 --> 00:30:41,171 WARE: THERE'S A MANUAL THAT HAS EVERYTHING THAT 575 00:30:41,206 --> 00:30:43,473 A LEARNED SCHOLAR IN THE BEND OF THE NIGER RIVER 576 00:30:43,509 --> 00:30:46,476 IN THE 1400S NEEDS TO KNOW-- 577 00:30:46,512 --> 00:30:48,345 HOW TO KEEP YOUR WIFE HAPPY, 578 00:30:48,380 --> 00:30:50,180 HOW TO GET IN AND OUT OF A CANOE, 579 00:30:50,215 --> 00:30:53,550 HOW TO HELP A WOMAN WHO ISN'T PRODUCING ENOUGH MILK 580 00:30:53,585 --> 00:30:55,052 TO NURSE HER--HER CHILD. 581 00:30:55,087 --> 00:30:57,688 IT'S A WINDOW ONTO 582 00:30:57,723 --> 00:31:01,291 ALL OF THE CONCERNS AND PREOCCUPATIONS OF 583 00:31:01,327 --> 00:31:04,361 AN AFRICAN MUSLIM SOCIETY IN THE 1400S. 584 00:31:05,965 --> 00:31:09,399 HOST: TIMBUKTU BECAME ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL CITIES 585 00:31:09,435 --> 00:31:12,636 OF A RISING NEW POWER IN WEST AFRICA-- 586 00:31:12,671 --> 00:31:14,805 THE EMPIRE OF MALI. 587 00:31:19,078 --> 00:31:21,912 MALI WAS FOUNDED AROUND THE YEAR 1240 588 00:31:21,947 --> 00:31:26,283 BY A LEGENDARY WARRIOR KING CALLED SUNDIATA 589 00:31:26,318 --> 00:31:28,685 WHO GREW HIS SMALL PROVINCIAL KINGDOM 590 00:31:28,721 --> 00:31:32,856 INTO THE LARGEST STATE THAT HAS EVER EXISTED IN WEST AFRICA. 591 00:31:35,894 --> 00:31:38,462 WHEN KING SUNDIATA ASSEMBLED HIS ARMY, 592 00:31:38,497 --> 00:31:41,999 HE ORDERED HIS LOCAL CHIEFS TO SURRENDER THEIR TITLES. 593 00:31:42,034 --> 00:31:44,568 SUCH WAS THE REVERENCE ACCORDED TO THE KING 594 00:31:44,603 --> 00:31:47,904 THAT HIS SUBJECTS WERE SAID TO APPROACH HIM ON THEIR KNEES. 595 00:31:47,940 --> 00:31:49,873 MALI WOULD BECOME A GREAT EMPIRE, 596 00:31:49,908 --> 00:31:53,243 WITH POLITICAL, MILITARY, AND RELIGIOUS POWER 597 00:31:53,278 --> 00:31:55,779 CONCENTRATED IN THE FIGURE OF THE EMPEROR. 598 00:32:00,219 --> 00:32:02,719 WARE: THE EMPIRE OF MALI TAKES THE MANTLE 599 00:32:02,755 --> 00:32:04,788 FROM THE EMPIRE OF GHANA, 600 00:32:04,823 --> 00:32:07,224 INSOFAR AS IT COMES TO CONTROL 601 00:32:07,259 --> 00:32:09,593 THE GOLD TRADE FROM WEST AFRICA, 602 00:32:09,628 --> 00:32:12,129 BUT IT DOESN'T JUST TAKE OVER, IT EXPANDS. 603 00:32:12,164 --> 00:32:15,065 SO, THIS IS THE TIME WHEN THE GOLD TRADE 604 00:32:15,100 --> 00:32:17,968 REALLY REACHES ITS HEIGHT, AND WHEN THE KIND OF 605 00:32:18,003 --> 00:32:21,605 WEALTH AND OPULENCE OF THE WEST AFRICAN IMPERIAL STATES 606 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:23,073 ARE--ARE GREATEST. 607 00:32:24,843 --> 00:32:27,044 HOST: THROUGH ITS CONTROL OF THE GOLD TRADE, 608 00:32:27,079 --> 00:32:31,481 MALI BECAME THE SUPERPOWER OF THE MEDIEVAL WORLD. 609 00:32:31,517 --> 00:32:34,084 BUT GOLD WAS JUST ONE OF ITS PRODUCTS, 610 00:32:34,119 --> 00:32:36,820 EXCHANGED THROUGH A COMPLEX COMMERCIAL NETWORK 611 00:32:36,855 --> 00:32:38,388 THAT TRANSVERSED THE DESERT. 612 00:32:41,693 --> 00:32:43,960 THORNTON: EVEN THOUGH THE SAHARA DESERT LOOKS EMPTY, 613 00:32:43,996 --> 00:32:47,264 IT'S ACTUALLY--THEY HAVE GOT TRADING COMMUNITIES 614 00:32:47,299 --> 00:32:50,300 LOCATED WITHIN THE DESERT, AND THERE ARE STAGES OF TRADE 615 00:32:50,335 --> 00:32:52,669 THAT GO BACK AND FORTH. 616 00:32:52,704 --> 00:32:55,672 WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE TRANS-SAHARAN TRADE, 617 00:32:55,707 --> 00:32:58,975 IT GIVES THE SENSE OR THE IMPRESSION THAT 618 00:32:59,011 --> 00:33:02,079 GOODS WERE TRANSITING THROUGH THE SAHARA 619 00:33:02,114 --> 00:33:04,714 TO GET TO MARKETS TO THE NORTH. 620 00:33:04,750 --> 00:33:06,349 BUT THE SENSE IN WHICH THE SAHARA 621 00:33:06,385 --> 00:33:08,285 WAS A WORLD IN ITS OWN, 622 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:09,886 AND A VERY INTEGRATED WORLD. 623 00:33:11,256 --> 00:33:13,723 HOST: ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE ITEMS OF THE TRADE 624 00:33:13,759 --> 00:33:19,863 ORIGINATED WITHIN THE DESERT ITSELF--SALT. 625 00:33:19,898 --> 00:33:22,933 SALT IS THE REFRIGERATION OF THE ANCIENT WORLD, RIGHT? 626 00:33:22,968 --> 00:33:26,036 SO THAT YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, HAVE MEAT OR FISH 627 00:33:26,071 --> 00:33:28,505 OR ANY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PROTEIN PRODUCTS 628 00:33:28,540 --> 00:33:30,707 LAST MORE THAN A COUPLE OF DAYS 629 00:33:30,742 --> 00:33:33,777 UNLESS YOU SALT THEM AND SMOKE THEM. 630 00:33:33,812 --> 00:33:36,680 SALT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND 631 00:33:36,715 --> 00:33:38,582 IN SUB-SAHARAN WEST AFRICA, 632 00:33:38,617 --> 00:33:42,452 EXCEPT WHEN PEOPLE ARE MAKING SEA SALT. 633 00:33:42,488 --> 00:33:45,222 AKYEAMPONG: IN THE SAHARA, SALT WAS MINED, 634 00:33:45,257 --> 00:33:48,625 AND MINED IN FORMS THAT WERE LIKE SLABS. 635 00:33:48,660 --> 00:33:52,562 IT COULD BE CARRIED FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES 636 00:33:52,598 --> 00:33:54,431 ON THE BACK OF CAMELS. 637 00:33:54,466 --> 00:33:56,600 [CAMEL GRUNTS] 638 00:34:01,673 --> 00:34:04,341 HOST: ANOTHER COMMONLY-TRADED COMMODITY 639 00:34:04,376 --> 00:34:08,812 MADE SALT MINING EVEN MORE PROFITABLE--SLAVES. 640 00:34:12,784 --> 00:34:15,785 SLAVES WERE CAPTURED AS A RESULT OF MILITARY ACTION, 641 00:34:15,821 --> 00:34:18,221 SUCH AS WAR OR SOMETIMES RAIDS, 642 00:34:18,257 --> 00:34:20,423 THEN SOLD TO BERBER TRADERS. 643 00:34:22,427 --> 00:34:25,862 WARE: THERE WERE SOME SLAVES THAT WERE INCORPORATED 644 00:34:25,898 --> 00:34:29,199 IN THE TRANS-SAHARAN TRADE IN THE EARLY PERIOD. 645 00:34:29,234 --> 00:34:31,635 THERE'S ACTUALLY NOT JUST AN EXPORT OF TRADE-- 646 00:34:31,670 --> 00:34:34,171 OF SLAVES FROM SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA IN SMALL NUMBERS, 647 00:34:34,206 --> 00:34:35,906 BUT THERE'S ALSO AN IMPORT OF SLAVES 648 00:34:35,941 --> 00:34:38,775 INTO SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA FROM NORTH AFRICA AND EUROPE, 649 00:34:38,810 --> 00:34:40,110 ALSO IN SMALL NUMBERS. 650 00:34:42,247 --> 00:34:44,915 AKYEAMPONG: THEY WOULD SETTLE THE SLAVES AROUND OASES 651 00:34:44,950 --> 00:34:48,852 TO GROW CEREALS AND OTHER CROPS. 652 00:34:48,887 --> 00:34:52,622 SLAVES ALSO WORKED IN GOLD MINES. 653 00:34:52,658 --> 00:34:56,593 MUCH OF THE SURPLUS THAT WENT INTO LONG-DISTANCE TRADE 654 00:34:56,628 --> 00:35:00,664 WAS ACTUALLY PRODUCTION BASED ON SLAVERY. 655 00:35:00,699 --> 00:35:04,301 HOST: IT WASN'T ONLY COMMODITIES LIKE GOLD, SALT, OR SLAVES 656 00:35:04,336 --> 00:35:06,503 THAT MOVED ACROSS THE DESERT. 657 00:35:06,538 --> 00:35:09,673 TRADERS ALSO CARRIED WITH THEM TREASURED PERSONAL POSSESSIONS. 658 00:35:15,614 --> 00:35:19,749 THE BRITISH LIBRARY IN LONDON HOLDS ONE SUCH OBJECT-- 659 00:35:19,785 --> 00:35:21,418 A SADDLEBAG KORAN. 660 00:35:25,090 --> 00:35:27,424 GUS, WHAT'S A SADDLEBAG KORAN? 661 00:35:27,459 --> 00:35:30,460 A SADDLEBAG KORAN IS, IT'S LOOSE-LEAFED KORAN 662 00:35:30,495 --> 00:35:32,896 THAT WOULD FIT INTO A BAG 663 00:35:32,931 --> 00:35:34,998 SO THAT IT COULD BE-- IT COULD BE 664 00:35:35,033 --> 00:35:36,733 CARRIED WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU WENT. 665 00:35:36,768 --> 00:35:38,702 WHO WOULD'VE PRODUCED THIS, 666 00:35:38,737 --> 00:35:41,805 CREATED THIS BEAUTIFUL EDITION OF THE KORAN? 667 00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:44,574 WELL, THIS IS BY ONE HAND. 668 00:35:44,610 --> 00:35:47,344 THESE ARE BREAKS TO PARTICULAR BITS IN THE KORAN, 669 00:35:47,379 --> 00:35:49,613 AND SO, THEY HAVE ILLUSTRATIONS IN THEM, SO, 670 00:35:49,648 --> 00:35:51,982 IT'S SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS 671 00:35:52,017 --> 00:35:53,950 HAD TO BE NOT JUST ACCURATE 672 00:35:53,986 --> 00:35:55,719 BUT ALSO INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL, 673 00:35:55,754 --> 00:35:57,520 BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT UPLIFTING PEOPLE, 674 00:35:57,556 --> 00:36:02,025 NOT JUST THROUGH WORDS BUT ALSO AESTHETICALLY. 675 00:36:02,060 --> 00:36:03,693 SO, THIS WAS FOR FAMILIES, 676 00:36:03,729 --> 00:36:05,862 FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD TRAVEL ABROAD, UM, 677 00:36:05,897 --> 00:36:07,931 AND THEY WANTED TO HAVE A KORAN, 678 00:36:07,966 --> 00:36:09,666 BUT THEY ALSO WANTED SOMETHING WHERE 679 00:36:09,701 --> 00:36:11,668 THEY COULD TAKE LEAVES OUT, 680 00:36:11,703 --> 00:36:13,837 THEY COULD REFER TO IT, THEY COULD LOOK AT IT. 681 00:36:13,872 --> 00:36:16,072 AND SHARE THEM. AND SHARE THEM. EXACTLY. 682 00:36:16,108 --> 00:36:17,641 THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT 683 00:36:17,676 --> 00:36:20,343 THROUGH ITS ACCUMULATED USE 684 00:36:20,379 --> 00:36:23,246 COULD BECOME MORE IMPORTANT. 685 00:36:23,282 --> 00:36:24,714 SO, LIKE THE GATES FAMILY BIBLE, 686 00:36:24,750 --> 00:36:27,250 WHICH WAS STARTED BY MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER. 687 00:36:27,286 --> 00:36:28,218 EXACTLY. 688 00:36:31,490 --> 00:36:33,657 HOST: MERCHANTS COULD AFFORD SUCH LUXURY OBJECTS 689 00:36:33,692 --> 00:36:37,460 IN PART BECAUSE OF THE EVER-INCREASING GLOBAL DEMAND 690 00:36:37,496 --> 00:36:39,462 FOR MALI'S GOLD. 691 00:36:39,498 --> 00:36:41,331 [CAMEL GRUNTS] 692 00:36:41,366 --> 00:36:44,401 PROBABLY SOMETHING LIKE 3/4 OF THE GOLD 693 00:36:44,436 --> 00:36:47,537 THAT'S GOING INTO NORTH AFRICAN AND EUROPEAN MARKETS 694 00:36:47,572 --> 00:36:49,172 IN THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD IS COMING OUT 695 00:36:49,207 --> 00:36:50,640 OF THE EMPIRE OF MALI. 696 00:36:53,145 --> 00:36:54,744 THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE MIDDLE AGES, 697 00:36:54,780 --> 00:36:56,579 EUROPE WAS ON THE GOLD STANDARD, 698 00:36:56,615 --> 00:36:59,649 AND WITHOUT AFRICAN GOLD, THE WHOLE CURRENCY OF EUROPE 699 00:36:59,685 --> 00:37:01,685 BASICALLY WOULD FALL. 700 00:37:03,188 --> 00:37:05,021 THEY WERE ALREADY MELTING DOWN 701 00:37:05,057 --> 00:37:07,023 ROMAN COINS IN THIS PERIOD 702 00:37:07,059 --> 00:37:09,592 TO TRY TO MAKE UP IN PART FOR THIS LACK. 703 00:37:11,830 --> 00:37:14,297 HOST: MALI'S ROLE IN GLOBAL COMMERCE BROUGHT IT 704 00:37:14,333 --> 00:37:18,668 RECOGNITION, RESPECT, AND ENVY FROM AFAR. 705 00:37:18,704 --> 00:37:20,970 THIS IS THE CATALAN ATLAS, 706 00:37:21,006 --> 00:37:24,040 A MAP DATING FROM 1375, 707 00:37:24,076 --> 00:37:27,177 PROBABLY OWNED BY KING CHARLES V OF FRANCE. 708 00:37:29,414 --> 00:37:32,048 ON ITS SOUTHERN EDGE IS MALI, 709 00:37:32,084 --> 00:37:34,718 PERSONIFIED BY ITS GREATEST RULER, 710 00:37:34,753 --> 00:37:37,687 THE LEGENDARY EMPEROR MANSA MUSA. 711 00:37:39,358 --> 00:37:40,724 GUS, IT'S SUCH A SURPRISE TO SEE 712 00:37:40,759 --> 00:37:44,260 A BLACK MAN ON A MAP FROM THE 14TH CENTURY. 713 00:37:44,296 --> 00:37:47,564 HOW DID MANSA MUSA GET ON THIS ATLAS? 714 00:37:47,599 --> 00:37:50,533 THIS WAS A KNOWN FIGURE IN EUROPE. 715 00:37:50,569 --> 00:37:53,703 THIS WAS SOMEONE WHO HAD INFLUENCE, 716 00:37:53,739 --> 00:37:56,406 NOT JUST WITHIN AFRICA BUT BEYOND. 717 00:37:56,441 --> 00:38:00,043 AND HE WAS INTERESTED HIMSELF IN SEEING 718 00:38:00,078 --> 00:38:01,511 BEYOND HIS OWN KINGDOM. 719 00:38:01,546 --> 00:38:03,146 AND HE'S REPRESENTED WITH HIS-- 720 00:38:03,181 --> 00:38:06,116 THE GOLD ORB, GOLD CROWN, GOLD SCEPTER. 721 00:38:06,151 --> 00:38:08,318 YES. YES. AND IT'S A FANTASTICALLY 722 00:38:08,353 --> 00:38:09,619 WEALTHY KINGDOM. 723 00:38:09,654 --> 00:38:11,488 IT HAS SOME OF THE BIGGEST GOLD MINES 724 00:38:11,523 --> 00:38:13,156 IN THE REGION. 725 00:38:13,191 --> 00:38:15,759 IT ALSO HAS COPPER. IT ALSO HAS SALT. 726 00:38:15,794 --> 00:38:17,260 IF YOU LOOK AT THIS MAP, 727 00:38:17,295 --> 00:38:19,095 IT GIVES A SENSE OF HOW 728 00:38:19,131 --> 00:38:20,930 IT'S RIGHT AT THE CENTER 729 00:38:20,966 --> 00:38:22,932 OF A NEXUS OF TRADE ROUTES 730 00:38:22,968 --> 00:38:25,535 THAT LINK IT RIGHT ACROSS THE CONTINENT. 731 00:38:25,570 --> 00:38:27,504 IT'S NOT JUST THE CONT-- IT'S BEYOND. 732 00:38:28,707 --> 00:38:30,440 HOST: MALI'S CONTROL OF A LARGE SHARE 733 00:38:30,475 --> 00:38:33,410 OF THE WORLD'S GOLD SUPPLY, ESPECIALLY EUROPE'S, 734 00:38:33,445 --> 00:38:36,546 GAVE MANSA MUSA WEALTH BEYOND COMPARE. 735 00:38:36,581 --> 00:38:39,182 IT'S OFTEN CLAIMED THAT MANSA MUSA 736 00:38:39,217 --> 00:38:42,485 IS THE RICHEST MAN WHO HAS EVER LIVED. 737 00:38:44,423 --> 00:38:46,890 WARE: NEWSPAPERS CONSTRUCTING TOP 10 LISTS 738 00:38:46,925 --> 00:38:48,691 OF THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE OF ALL TIME, 739 00:38:48,727 --> 00:38:50,660 THEY ALMOST ALWAYS PUT MANSA MUSA FIRST, 740 00:38:50,695 --> 00:38:52,695 AND SOME OF THEM, YOU KNOW, WILL--WILL SAY THAT 741 00:38:52,731 --> 00:38:54,697 HIS NET WORTH ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION 742 00:38:54,733 --> 00:38:58,268 IS SOMETHING LIKE $400 BILLION IN TODAY'S MONEY. 743 00:38:59,738 --> 00:39:03,406 HOST: IN 1324, MANSA MUSA'S NOTORIETY 744 00:39:03,442 --> 00:39:05,175 GREW EXPONENTIALLY, 745 00:39:05,210 --> 00:39:08,278 THANKS TO REPORTS OF HIS LARGESSE AND GENEROSITY 746 00:39:08,313 --> 00:39:11,014 DURING HIS HAJJ, THE PILGRIMAGE 747 00:39:11,049 --> 00:39:13,650 TO THE MUSLIM HOLY CITY OF MECCA. 748 00:39:14,953 --> 00:39:18,521 WARE: HIS PILGRIMAGE THAT HE MAKES IN 1324, 1325, 749 00:39:18,557 --> 00:39:20,457 YOU KNOW, THERE ARE DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS, BUT THE USUAL ACCOUNT 750 00:39:20,492 --> 00:39:24,060 IS SOMETHING LIKE 300 CAMELS LADEN WITH GOLD 751 00:39:24,095 --> 00:39:27,363 IN ADDITION TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAVELING WITH HIM. 752 00:39:27,399 --> 00:39:29,732 HOST: IBN KHALDUN, THE GREAT AUTHOR 753 00:39:29,768 --> 00:39:32,202 WORKING AT FEZ'S KAIRAOUINE LIBRARY, 754 00:39:32,237 --> 00:39:33,837 WROTE AN ACCOUNT OF A PERSON 755 00:39:33,872 --> 00:39:36,806 IN MANSA MUSA'S ENTOURAGE. 756 00:39:36,842 --> 00:39:39,008 MAN AS IBN KHALDUN: "WE USED TO KEEP THE SULTAN COMPANY 757 00:39:39,044 --> 00:39:40,643 "DURING HIS PROGRESS 758 00:39:40,679 --> 00:39:43,046 "AND CONVERSE TO HIS ENJOYMENT. 759 00:39:43,081 --> 00:39:45,114 "AT EACH HALT, HE WOULD REGALE US 760 00:39:45,150 --> 00:39:47,617 "WITH RARE FOODS AND CONFECTIONERY. 761 00:39:47,652 --> 00:39:49,953 "HIS EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHINGS 762 00:39:49,988 --> 00:39:53,523 "WERE CARRIED BY 12,000 PRIVATE SLAVE WOMEN 763 00:39:53,558 --> 00:39:56,893 WEARING GOWNS OF BROCADE AND YEMENI SILK." 764 00:39:58,830 --> 00:40:00,763 HOST: MANSA MUSA AND HIS RETINUE 765 00:40:00,799 --> 00:40:04,300 STOPPED AT EVERY TOWN BETWEEN MALI AND MECCA. 766 00:40:06,304 --> 00:40:10,540 IT WAS SAID THAT MANSA MUSA'S LARGESSE KNEW NO BOUNDS. 767 00:40:10,575 --> 00:40:12,108 AS HE MADE HIS WAY TO MECCA, 768 00:40:12,143 --> 00:40:15,578 HE HANDED OUT EXTRAVAGANT AMOUNTS OF GOLD, 769 00:40:15,614 --> 00:40:18,348 TO HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS AND WORKING PEOPLE ALIKE. 770 00:40:18,383 --> 00:40:21,050 AND ACCORDING TO LEGEND, HIS GENEROSITY 771 00:40:21,086 --> 00:40:24,821 INADVERTENTLY DESTABILIZED THE ECONOMY OF CAIRO. 772 00:40:24,856 --> 00:40:28,725 HE DISTRIBUTED SO MUCH GOLD THAT ITS MARKET VALUE COLLAPSED 773 00:40:28,760 --> 00:40:30,727 AND TOOK YEARS TO RECOVER. 774 00:40:37,035 --> 00:40:40,503 AS HE TRAVELED, HE PURCHASED CAMEL-LOADS OF BOOKS 775 00:40:40,539 --> 00:40:42,639 AND RECRUITED RESPECTED SCHOLARS 776 00:40:42,674 --> 00:40:43,973 TO BRING BACK HOME. 777 00:40:45,944 --> 00:40:47,877 WARE: WHEN HE COMES BACK IS WHEN 778 00:40:47,913 --> 00:40:50,446 HE BEGINS TO INVEST, ESPECIALLY IN 779 00:40:50,482 --> 00:40:52,549 THE CONSTRUCTION OF MOSQUES AND SCHOOLS 780 00:40:52,584 --> 00:40:54,117 IN THE TOWN OF TIMBUKTU. 781 00:40:56,421 --> 00:40:58,788 MANSA MUSA, HE'S TRYING TO INVEST 782 00:40:58,823 --> 00:41:01,624 IN LEARNING AND SCHOOLING AND KNOWLEDGE 783 00:41:01,660 --> 00:41:05,962 IN ORDER TO DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BASIS 784 00:41:05,997 --> 00:41:08,031 FOR WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO DO IN THE EMPIRE OF MALI. 785 00:41:16,708 --> 00:41:18,975 HOST: 1,000 MILES ALONG THE NIGER RIVER 786 00:41:19,010 --> 00:41:20,944 IN MODERN-DAY NIGERIA, 787 00:41:20,979 --> 00:41:22,879 ANOTHER GREAT CIVILIZATION 788 00:41:22,914 --> 00:41:24,781 TRADED WITH THE EMPIRE OF MALI. 789 00:41:26,151 --> 00:41:28,685 IT WAS CALLED IFE, AND IT WAS THE SITE 790 00:41:28,720 --> 00:41:31,821 OF A REMARKABLE EXPLOSION OF CREATIVITY 791 00:41:31,856 --> 00:41:35,758 AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS MALI'S RISE. 792 00:41:35,794 --> 00:41:38,528 THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NIGERIA IN LAGOS 793 00:41:38,563 --> 00:41:41,631 HOUSES AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF IFE ART. 794 00:41:44,102 --> 00:41:46,269 THIS ASTONISHING SCULPTURE 795 00:41:46,304 --> 00:41:48,605 IS THE MASK OF THE OONI-- 796 00:41:48,640 --> 00:41:50,406 OBALUFON THE SECOND, 797 00:41:50,442 --> 00:41:52,642 MONARCH OF ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT KINGDOMS 798 00:41:52,677 --> 00:41:55,311 IN ALL OF WEST AFRICA IN THE MIDDLE AGES-- 799 00:41:55,347 --> 00:41:58,514 THE KINGDOM OF IFE. 800 00:41:58,550 --> 00:42:02,552 THIS IS ONE OF 40 OR SO BRASS AND COPPER SCULPTURES, 801 00:42:02,587 --> 00:42:05,088 EXECUTED WITH DAZZLING NATURALISM 802 00:42:05,123 --> 00:42:06,623 UNDER THE KING'S PATRONAGE. 803 00:42:10,762 --> 00:42:13,396 PRESTON BLIER: THEY ARE TECHNICALLY AMONG THE MOST 804 00:42:13,431 --> 00:42:15,398 TRULY REMARKABLE WORKS OF ART 805 00:42:15,433 --> 00:42:17,867 CREATED ANY PLACE IN THE WORLD. 806 00:42:17,902 --> 00:42:21,904 THESE ARE STRIKING HEADS THAT ARE QUITE NATURALISTIC, 807 00:42:21,940 --> 00:42:24,874 BUT THEY'RE ALSO THIS IDEALIZED NATURALISM, 808 00:42:24,909 --> 00:42:29,712 SO THAT NONE OF THE WARTS AND WRINKLES OF THE FACE ARE SHOWN. 809 00:42:29,748 --> 00:42:31,781 IF YOU LOOK AT THEM, THERE'S ALMOST THIS 810 00:42:31,816 --> 00:42:34,017 SERENITY AND CALMNESS IN THEM, 811 00:42:34,052 --> 00:42:36,419 AND GIVE A SENSE OF-- OF TIMELESSNESS, 812 00:42:36,454 --> 00:42:38,921 WHICH ARE REALLY, REALLY BEAUTIFUL. 813 00:42:41,960 --> 00:42:43,393 WHILE EUROPEAN ARTISTS WERE STILL 814 00:42:43,428 --> 00:42:45,294 GRAPPLING WITH PERSPECTIVE, 815 00:42:45,330 --> 00:42:47,964 AND OFTEN STRUGGLING WITH THE HUMAN FORM, 816 00:42:47,999 --> 00:42:50,633 THESE AFRICAN ARTISTS WERE MAKING MAGNIFICENT, 817 00:42:50,669 --> 00:42:52,935 LIFE-LIKE SCULPTURES. 818 00:42:52,971 --> 00:42:54,771 IT'S NOT JUST THE TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT 819 00:42:54,806 --> 00:42:57,073 OF THESE SCULPTURES THAT'S SO IMPRESSIVE. 820 00:42:57,108 --> 00:42:59,842 IT'S ALSO THEIR SHEER ARTISTRY, 821 00:42:59,878 --> 00:43:03,379 THEIR CAPACITY TO CAPTURE THE HUMAN SPIRIT. 822 00:43:06,017 --> 00:43:08,551 THESE CLASSIC MASTERWORKS OF WORLD ART 823 00:43:08,586 --> 00:43:13,656 DATE FROM THE LATE 13TH AND EARLY 14TH CENTURIES. 824 00:43:13,692 --> 00:43:15,358 THE ARTISTS THAT PRODUCED THEM 825 00:43:15,393 --> 00:43:18,327 LIVED IN A POWERFUL AND HANDSOME CITY-STATE. 826 00:43:21,166 --> 00:43:23,366 PRESTON BLIER: IT JUST MUST HAVE BEEN AN AMAZINGLY THRILLING 827 00:43:23,401 --> 00:43:25,134 CITY TO LIVE IN, 828 00:43:25,170 --> 00:43:26,903 A CITY OF GREAT HIERARCHY. 829 00:43:26,938 --> 00:43:28,771 THE KING AND OTHERS IN THE COURT 830 00:43:28,807 --> 00:43:31,407 BEING VERY DISTINGUISHED BY THE KINDS OF 831 00:43:31,443 --> 00:43:35,144 ATTIRE THAT THEY WOULD WEAR, CROWNS OF GLASS BEADS 832 00:43:35,180 --> 00:43:36,979 AND--AND OTHER THINGS THAT--THAT 833 00:43:37,015 --> 00:43:39,515 WOULD HAVE MADE IT A REALLY REMARKABLE PLACE. 834 00:43:39,551 --> 00:43:43,086 HOST: IFE, OR ILE IFE AS IT'S PROPERLY KNOWN, 835 00:43:43,121 --> 00:43:44,954 HAD PAVED COURTYARDS 836 00:43:44,989 --> 00:43:48,524 AND A FLOURISHING TRADE IN HIGH-VALUE MANUFACTURED GOODS, 837 00:43:48,560 --> 00:43:51,194 LIKE TEXTILES AND GLASS BEADS, 838 00:43:51,229 --> 00:43:52,862 WHICH WERE A SYMBOL OF AUTHORITY 839 00:43:52,897 --> 00:43:55,198 THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AT THAT TIME. 840 00:43:55,233 --> 00:43:57,233 PRESTON BLIER: I WOULD SAY IF THERE'S ONE PLACE IN THE WORLD 841 00:43:57,268 --> 00:43:59,502 THAT I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO VISIT, 842 00:43:59,537 --> 00:44:01,838 CIRCA 1300, IT WOULD BE IFE. 843 00:44:05,076 --> 00:44:08,444 HOST: IFE'S ROLE IS SO IMPORTANT IN WEST AFRICAN HISTORY 844 00:44:08,480 --> 00:44:10,847 THAT TODAY, THE YORUBA, 845 00:44:10,882 --> 00:44:13,516 A 40-MILLION-STRONG ETHNIC GROUP IN THE REGION, 846 00:44:13,551 --> 00:44:16,419 REGARD IFE AS THEIR SPIRITUAL CAPITAL. 847 00:44:19,090 --> 00:44:22,492 THE NOBEL LAUREATE FOR LITERATURE, WOLE SOYINKA, 848 00:44:22,527 --> 00:44:25,595 IS AN EXPERT ON YORUBA CULTURE AND ART. 849 00:44:27,298 --> 00:44:31,400 WHAT IS THE ROLE OF ILE IFE HISTORICALLY 850 00:44:31,436 --> 00:44:32,835 FOR THE YORUBA PEOPLE? 851 00:44:32,871 --> 00:44:36,205 IFE IS ACKNOWLEDGED UNIVERSALLY AS 852 00:44:36,241 --> 00:44:39,275 THE ORIGIN OF THE BLACK PEOPLES. 853 00:44:39,310 --> 00:44:40,777 MM-MM. THE WHITE PEOPLE, 854 00:44:40,812 --> 00:44:42,745 THE YELLOW PEOPLES, THEY CAN DECIDE WHICH IS THEIR OWN ORIGIN. 855 00:44:42,781 --> 00:44:44,447 WE HAVE DECIDED THAT ILE IFE 856 00:44:44,482 --> 00:44:46,315 IS WHERE WE ALL CAME FROM. 857 00:44:46,351 --> 00:44:48,017 THAT'S OUR SPIRITUAL HOME. 858 00:44:48,052 --> 00:44:51,087 IT'S--IT'S WHERE-- THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN REINCARNATION, 859 00:44:51,122 --> 00:44:53,790 OR REVITALIZATION, 860 00:44:53,825 --> 00:44:56,292 THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL COME BACK TO IFE. 861 00:44:56,327 --> 00:44:59,395 [CHUCKLES] AND THAT'S ENOUGH FOR US. 862 00:45:01,032 --> 00:45:04,233 HOST: THIS ORIGIN MYTH LIES AT THE HEART OF YORUBA CULTURE. 863 00:45:06,504 --> 00:45:10,206 AFTER DEATH, THE OONIS WERE WORSHIPPED AS GODS, 864 00:45:10,241 --> 00:45:12,708 AND THE ARTWORKS THAT WE CALL IFE HEADS 865 00:45:12,744 --> 00:45:15,812 WERE PROBABLY USED AS ICONS OF POWER. 866 00:45:15,847 --> 00:45:18,347 IFE SCULPTURES ARE SO NATURALISTIC, 867 00:45:18,383 --> 00:45:20,183 SO...HUMANLIKE. 868 00:45:20,218 --> 00:45:22,118 AND THOSE WHO ENCOUNTER 869 00:45:22,153 --> 00:45:23,753 IT FOR THE FIRST TIME, 870 00:45:23,788 --> 00:45:25,521 YOU KNOW, IT'S MIND-BLOWING 871 00:45:25,557 --> 00:45:28,624 THAT--WITH THAT KIND OF COMPLEXITY 872 00:45:28,660 --> 00:45:30,393 IN THE USE OF THE MATERIAL, WHICH IS-- 873 00:45:30,428 --> 00:45:33,930 AND YET, WHAT COMES OUT IS SO, 874 00:45:33,965 --> 00:45:36,299 UM, IT'S JUST SO BEAUTIFUL, 875 00:45:36,334 --> 00:45:37,366 JUST SO BEAUTIFUL. 876 00:45:39,537 --> 00:45:43,940 HOST: IFE'S GREATEST OONI WAS OBALUFON THE SECOND, 877 00:45:43,975 --> 00:45:47,410 WHO CAME TO POWER FOLLOWING A BRUTAL CIVIL WAR. 878 00:45:47,445 --> 00:45:50,246 HE REBUILT THE CITY AND SPONSORED THE RENAISSANCE 879 00:45:50,281 --> 00:45:52,248 THAT PRODUCED THE IFE HEADS 880 00:45:52,283 --> 00:45:55,117 WITHIN A SINGLE GENERATION. 881 00:45:55,153 --> 00:45:57,687 OBALUFON THE SECOND IS ONE OF THOSE 882 00:45:57,722 --> 00:46:00,890 REMARKABLE FIGURES IN WORLD HISTORY 883 00:46:00,925 --> 00:46:06,028 WHO CAME INTO POWER UNDER REALLY QUITE 884 00:46:06,064 --> 00:46:07,997 UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES. 885 00:46:08,032 --> 00:46:10,867 HIS FATHER HAD DIED IN--IN A CIVIL WAR 886 00:46:10,902 --> 00:46:13,569 THAT HAD HIT THE CITY, 887 00:46:13,605 --> 00:46:15,838 BUT OBALUFON SEEMED TO HAVE HAD 888 00:46:15,874 --> 00:46:17,740 THE SUPPORT OF THE POPULATION 889 00:46:17,775 --> 00:46:20,843 TO COME BACK ONTO THE THRONE TO REALLY CREATE A CENTER 890 00:46:20,879 --> 00:46:23,512 THAT--THAT WOULD STAND ON ITS OWN 891 00:46:23,548 --> 00:46:26,382 AS A REMARKABLE PLACE FOR CENTURIES TO COME. 892 00:46:28,753 --> 00:46:30,319 HOST: UNTIL THE 20TH CENTURY, 893 00:46:30,355 --> 00:46:32,421 MOST OF THE WORLD HAD LITTLE IDEA 894 00:46:32,457 --> 00:46:34,590 THAT THE IFE HEADS EVEN EXISTED. 895 00:46:35,760 --> 00:46:39,195 SEVERAL WERE FOUND ACCIDENTALLY IN 1938 896 00:46:39,230 --> 00:46:41,664 BY BUILDERS REMODELING A HOUSE, 897 00:46:41,699 --> 00:46:44,367 BUT THE FIRST EUROPEAN TO UNEARTH THESE HEADS 898 00:46:44,402 --> 00:46:47,837 WAS A GERMAN ETHNOGRAPHER CALLED LEO FROBENIUS. 899 00:46:52,076 --> 00:46:54,844 IN FACT, HE TOOK THESE PHOTOGRAPHS. 900 00:47:02,720 --> 00:47:04,987 PRESTON BLIER: WHEN LEO FROBENIUS 901 00:47:05,023 --> 00:47:06,956 FELL UPON THESE WORKS, 902 00:47:06,991 --> 00:47:08,791 NOT ONLY WAS HE STUNNED BY THEM 903 00:47:08,826 --> 00:47:11,093 BUT HE TRIED TO REFERENCE THEM 904 00:47:11,129 --> 00:47:15,264 WITH HIS--HIS OWN SENSE OF THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. 905 00:47:15,300 --> 00:47:17,566 AT THAT POINT, THEY HAD ASSUMED THAT AFRICA, 906 00:47:17,602 --> 00:47:19,769 REALLY, THERE WAS NO COMPLEXITY, NO WEALTH. 907 00:47:19,804 --> 00:47:23,139 THIS WAS THE HIGH ERA OF THE INTRODUCTION OF COLONIALISM. 908 00:47:25,143 --> 00:47:27,810 HOST: INCREDIBLY, FROBENIUS FOUND IT EASIER TO BELIEVE 909 00:47:27,845 --> 00:47:31,047 THAT THEY CAME FROM THE LOST CITY OF ATLANTIS 910 00:47:31,082 --> 00:47:33,549 THAN THAT BLACK PEOPLE COULD HAVE CREATED THEM. 911 00:47:35,820 --> 00:47:37,453 PRESTON BLIER: HE WANTED TO MAKE HIMSELF FAMOUS 912 00:47:37,488 --> 00:47:40,122 AND CLAIMED HE'D FOUND THE LOST ATLANTIS 913 00:47:40,158 --> 00:47:44,460 AND TELEGRAPHED THIS OFF TO THE "NEW YORK TIMES." 914 00:47:44,495 --> 00:47:46,295 THE ONLY THING THAT HE COULD THINK ABOUT 915 00:47:46,331 --> 00:47:48,297 WAS THAT THEY MUST HAVE BEEN MADE 916 00:47:48,333 --> 00:47:51,600 BY SOME KIND OF LOST COLONY OF GREEKS 917 00:47:51,636 --> 00:47:54,670 WHO SOMEHOW HAD MADE THEIR WAY HERE. 918 00:47:54,706 --> 00:47:57,173 HOST: FROBENIUS' THEORY OF ATLANTIS 919 00:47:57,208 --> 00:47:59,742 WAS QUICKLY CHALLENGED BY OTHER SCHOLARS, 920 00:47:59,777 --> 00:48:01,978 WHO UNDERSTOOD THAT THE IFE HEADS 921 00:48:02,013 --> 00:48:05,247 COULD ONLY HAVE BEEN MADE BY AFRICANS. 922 00:48:05,283 --> 00:48:08,651 THE REDISCOVERY OF THE IFE HEADS IN THE 20TH CENTURY 923 00:48:08,686 --> 00:48:12,121 CHANGED HOW MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD 924 00:48:12,156 --> 00:48:14,657 REGARDED BOTH AFRICAN ART 925 00:48:14,692 --> 00:48:16,859 AND THE AFRICAN PEOPLE THEMSELVES. 926 00:48:19,530 --> 00:48:21,597 PRESTON BLIER: YOU REALLY CAN'T KNOW AFRICAN HISTORY 927 00:48:21,632 --> 00:48:23,232 UNLESS YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT THE ART, 928 00:48:23,267 --> 00:48:26,702 BECAUSE THEY COMPLICATE, ENRICH, AND--AND INFORM IN NEW WAYS 929 00:48:26,738 --> 00:48:28,671 SO MUCH OF WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE PAST. 930 00:48:31,976 --> 00:48:34,010 HOST: THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NIGERIA'S 931 00:48:34,045 --> 00:48:37,046 COLLECTION OF IFE ART GIVES US SOME INSIGHT 932 00:48:37,081 --> 00:48:39,749 INTO OBALUFON THE SECOND'S ROYAL COURT. 933 00:48:41,619 --> 00:48:44,687 WOMAN: NORMALLY, YOU DO NOT SEE THE FACE OF AN OONI, 934 00:48:44,722 --> 00:48:46,856 AND THEY USE BEADS, STRINGED BEADS 935 00:48:46,891 --> 00:48:48,557 TO COVER THE MOUTH AS WELL AS 936 00:48:48,593 --> 00:48:50,092 PART OF THE FACE. 937 00:48:50,128 --> 00:48:52,528 SO, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE THE HOLES ALL THERE. 938 00:48:53,798 --> 00:48:55,664 THIS IS A MASK THAT CAN BE WORN, 939 00:48:55,700 --> 00:48:57,333 AND IT HAS A SLIT. 940 00:48:58,736 --> 00:49:00,803 WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT OUT OF IFE, 941 00:49:00,838 --> 00:49:03,606 WE HAD GOLD DUSTING BY THE EYES 942 00:49:03,641 --> 00:49:05,808 AND RED PIGMENTS ALL OVER IT. 943 00:49:08,713 --> 00:49:10,212 THIS ONE IS THAT OF THE KING. 944 00:49:10,248 --> 00:49:12,748 YOU SEE THE CROWN, THE BEADED CROWN ON THE HEAD. 945 00:49:18,689 --> 00:49:20,189 HOST: ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT CRAFTS 946 00:49:20,224 --> 00:49:22,224 THAT IFE ARTISANS MASTERED 947 00:49:22,260 --> 00:49:23,459 WAS METALWORK. 948 00:49:24,862 --> 00:49:26,429 WAS THERE A CLASS OF ARTISTS 949 00:49:26,464 --> 00:49:29,665 WORKING FOR THE KING WHO MADE THESE PIECES? 950 00:49:29,700 --> 00:49:31,500 WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS TIME, 951 00:49:31,536 --> 00:49:34,437 IT'S LIKE THEY ARE FROM A COMMON ARTIST. 952 00:49:34,472 --> 00:49:37,540 WHO THE ARTIST WAS, HOW THEY WERE GROUPED, 953 00:49:37,575 --> 00:49:38,641 WE DO NOT KNOW. 954 00:49:40,912 --> 00:49:43,412 THE CONCEPTION OF AFRICANS THAT, UM, 955 00:49:43,448 --> 00:49:45,514 WE ARE NOT THAT INTELLIGENT. 956 00:49:45,550 --> 00:49:48,684 IT SHOWS THE INGENUITY OF THE AFRICANS. 957 00:49:48,719 --> 00:49:49,752 IT SHOWS GENIUS. 958 00:49:49,787 --> 00:49:50,953 GENIUS. 959 00:50:04,969 --> 00:50:09,171 HOST: FROM ILE IFE TO TIMBUKTU TO MARRAKESH, 960 00:50:09,207 --> 00:50:11,841 THIS WAS AN EXTRAORDINARILY RICH PERIOD 961 00:50:11,876 --> 00:50:13,542 WHEN MERCHANTS AND RULERS 962 00:50:13,578 --> 00:50:17,079 AND ARTISANS AND SCHOLARS THRIVED. 963 00:50:17,115 --> 00:50:19,715 AND KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR RICHES AND CULTURAL TREASURES 964 00:50:19,750 --> 00:50:21,417 SPREAD ACROSS THE WORLD. 965 00:50:26,090 --> 00:50:29,391 THE GREAT SAHARA DESERT WAS, FOR MILLENNIA, 966 00:50:29,427 --> 00:50:33,896 A VAST OCEAN, A SEEMINGLY IMPASSABLE BARRIER, 967 00:50:33,931 --> 00:50:36,632 BUT REALLY, FOR THOSE WHO MASTERED IT, 968 00:50:36,667 --> 00:50:39,201 IT WAS A CONDUIT BETWEEN LANDS TO ITS SOUTH 969 00:50:39,237 --> 00:50:40,970 AND LANDS TO ITS NORTH. 970 00:50:43,474 --> 00:50:45,207 ON THE SHORES OF THIS DESERT, 971 00:50:45,243 --> 00:50:47,443 GREAT CITIES AROSE TO PROMINENCE, 972 00:50:47,478 --> 00:50:49,812 DRIVEN BY TRADE, RELIGIOUS DEVOTION, 973 00:50:49,847 --> 00:50:51,247 AND A LOVE OF LEARNING. 974 00:50:53,117 --> 00:50:55,885 KINGDOMS WERE LINKED FOR CENTURIES TO EACH OTHER 975 00:50:55,920 --> 00:51:00,756 BY TRADING NETWORKS ACROSS VAST REGIONS OF AFRICA, 976 00:51:00,791 --> 00:51:03,292 REMINDING US THAT THIS CONTINENT 977 00:51:03,327 --> 00:51:06,762 HAS ALWAYS BEEN DYNAMIC, INTERCONNECTED, 978 00:51:06,797 --> 00:51:09,365 AND AN INTEGRAL PART OF WORLD HISTORY. 979 00:51:12,069 --> 00:51:14,470 AS EUROPE'S MIDDLE AGES PROGRESS, 980 00:51:14,505 --> 00:51:17,673 KEY REGIONS IN AFRICA ENTER A GOLDEN AGE. 981 00:51:20,077 --> 00:51:23,112 IN THE EAST, THE SWAHILI COAST WILL BLOSSOM 982 00:51:23,147 --> 00:51:26,782 AS A NEW COSMOPOLITAN CENTER OF ISLAMIC CULTURE. 983 00:51:27,852 --> 00:51:30,219 IN THE WEST, THE KINGDOM OF BENIN 984 00:51:30,254 --> 00:51:32,221 WILL TAKE ART AND ROYAL AUTHORITY 985 00:51:32,256 --> 00:51:34,123 TO EVER-GREATER HEIGHTS. 986 00:51:38,763 --> 00:51:41,397 AND IN THE SOUTH, GREAT ZIMBABWE 987 00:51:41,432 --> 00:51:45,000 WILL GROW FABULOUSLY WEALTHY THROUGH TRADE. 988 00:51:45,036 --> 00:51:47,303 WHILE THESE KEY AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS 989 00:51:47,338 --> 00:51:51,240 WOULD EXPERIENCE UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH AND PROSPERITY, 990 00:51:51,275 --> 00:51:54,476 THEY WOULD ALSO ENCOUNTER NEW CONFLICT-- 991 00:51:54,512 --> 00:51:58,180 WITH EACH OTHER AND, INCREASINGLY, 992 00:51:58,216 --> 00:52:00,082 WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. 993 00:52:02,118 --> 00:52:04,153 ANNOUNCER: ON "AFRICA'S GREAT CIVILIZATIONS"... 994 00:52:04,222 --> 00:52:04,853 DR. HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.: THE WHEEL IS ABOUT TO TURN 995 00:52:04,922 --> 00:52:07,223 ONCE MORE FOR AFRICA. 996 00:52:07,291 --> 00:52:10,292 CIVILIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE AFRICAN CONTINENT 997 00:52:10,361 --> 00:52:12,695 EXPERIENCE SOMETHING OF A GOLDEN AGE 998 00:52:12,763 --> 00:52:14,363 DURING EUROPE'S MIDDLE AGES. 999 00:52:14,432 --> 00:52:17,433 SUBLIME ARTISTRY, ASTUTE POLITICAL MANEUVERING, 1000 00:52:17,501 --> 00:52:19,868 AND DARING COMMERCIAL ENDEAVORS 1001 00:52:19,937 --> 00:52:22,571 REDEFINE NOT ONLY HOW THE WORLD SEES AFRICA, 1002 00:52:22,640 --> 00:52:25,207 BUT HOW AFRICA SEES ITSELF. 1003 00:52:25,276 --> 00:52:27,209 ANNOUNCER: "AFRICA'S GREAT CIVILIZATIONS, 1004 00:52:27,278 --> 00:52:29,311 COMING UP NEXT, ONLY ON PBS. 1005 00:52:40,798 --> 00:52:43,432 HOST: BETWEEN THE 11TH AND THE 17TH CENTURIES, 1006 00:52:43,467 --> 00:52:46,401 CIVILIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE AFRICAN CONTINENT 1007 00:52:46,437 --> 00:52:49,071 EXPERIENCED SOMETHING OF A GOLDEN AGE. 1008 00:52:51,308 --> 00:52:54,109 AFRICA, DURING EUROPE'S MIDDLE AGES, 1009 00:52:54,144 --> 00:52:56,445 WAS DOTTED WITH POWERFUL CITIES 1010 00:52:56,480 --> 00:52:58,113 BUILT ON THE TRADE OF THE RICHES 1011 00:52:58,148 --> 00:53:00,682 OF THE CONTINENT'S NATURAL RESOURCES 1012 00:53:00,718 --> 00:53:02,150 WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. 1013 00:53:04,088 --> 00:53:07,189 GOODS AND IDEAS FLOWED IN AND OUT OF AFRICA 1014 00:53:07,224 --> 00:53:08,924 ALONG ITS TRADE ROUTES, 1015 00:53:08,959 --> 00:53:11,493 RESULTING IN SOPHISTICATED SOCIETIES 1016 00:53:11,528 --> 00:53:13,662 THAT WERE TRULY COSMOPOLITAN. 1017 00:53:18,335 --> 00:53:22,270 WITH EXPANSION AND WEALTH CAME TENSIONS 1018 00:53:22,306 --> 00:53:25,674 THAT, INEVITABLY, WOULD LEAD TO CONFLICT. 1019 00:53:28,512 --> 00:53:32,147 THIS PERIOD REMAINS DEFINED BY SUBLIME ARTISTRY, 1020 00:53:32,182 --> 00:53:33,815 ASTUTE POLITICAL MANEUVERING, 1021 00:53:33,851 --> 00:53:36,518 AND DARING COMMERCIAL ENDEAVORS, 1022 00:53:36,553 --> 00:53:38,954 WHICH TAKEN TOGETHER WOULD REDEFINE 1023 00:53:38,989 --> 00:53:41,623 NOT ONLY HOW THE WORLD SAW AFRICA 1024 00:53:41,658 --> 00:53:45,060 BUT ALSO HOW AFRICA WOULD SEE ITSELF. 1025 00:53:46,764 --> 00:53:48,463 [THUNDER] 1026 00:54:06,373 --> 00:54:09,040 OUR STORY BEGINS ON THE SHORES OF EAST AFRICA, 1027 00:54:09,076 --> 00:54:13,178 ON THE SWAHILI COAST, ONCE KNOWN AS AZANIA. 1028 00:54:13,213 --> 00:54:15,981 FOR OVER 1,000 YEARS, AFRICAN MERCHANTS 1029 00:54:16,016 --> 00:54:18,917 HAVE GATHERED ON THIS COAST TO EXCHANGE THEIR WARES 1030 00:54:18,952 --> 00:54:22,220 WITH OTHER MERCHANTS FROM EUROPE, FROM PERSIA, 1031 00:54:22,256 --> 00:54:25,590 ARABIA, EVEN AS FAR EAST AS CHINA... 1032 00:54:26,760 --> 00:54:29,594 CREATING A COSMOPOLITAN SOCIETY 1033 00:54:29,630 --> 00:54:31,897 AS WELL-CONNECTED AS ANY 1034 00:54:31,932 --> 00:54:33,532 IN LATE MEDIEVAL EUROPE. 1035 00:54:36,103 --> 00:54:38,870 THE ISLAND OF ZANZIBAR SITS 45 MILES 1036 00:54:38,906 --> 00:54:42,941 OFF PRESENT-DAY TANZANIA IN THE INDIAN OCEAN. 1037 00:54:42,976 --> 00:54:45,043 HERE IN THE DARAJANI MARKET, 1038 00:54:45,078 --> 00:54:46,912 IN THE CAPITAL, STONE TOWN, 1039 00:54:46,947 --> 00:54:48,747 THE LEGACY OF COMMERCE THAT HELPED MAKE 1040 00:54:48,782 --> 00:54:52,017 THE SWAHILI COAST SO PROSPEROUS ENDURES. 1041 00:54:54,154 --> 00:54:56,121 [SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] 1042 00:54:56,156 --> 00:54:59,791 SPICES, STILL, BUT ONCE ALSO IVORY AND GOLD. 1043 00:55:04,865 --> 00:55:07,532 BETWEEN 800 AND 1600 A.D., 1044 00:55:07,568 --> 00:55:09,801 EAST AFRICA EXPORTED AN ESTIMATED 1045 00:55:09,837 --> 00:55:14,005 500 TONS OF GOLD, AT A VALUE TODAY 1046 00:55:14,041 --> 00:55:16,141 OF $25 BILLION. 1047 00:55:19,880 --> 00:55:23,348 WOMAN: SWAHILI CULTURE WAS BASICALLY A RESULT OF 1048 00:55:23,383 --> 00:55:28,253 DEEP AFRICAN TRADITIONS THAT ARE SOAKED IN THE INDIAN OCEAN 1049 00:55:28,288 --> 00:55:32,290 WITH SURROUNDING CULTURES AND GIVE BIRTH 1050 00:55:32,326 --> 00:55:37,229 TO THIS EXTRAORDINARY AND FAIRLY DISTINCT CULTURE. 1051 00:55:39,233 --> 00:55:41,533 HOST: THIS FERTILE STRIP OF EAST AFRICAN COAST 1052 00:55:41,568 --> 00:55:45,103 EXTENDS 1,800 MILES FROM MODERN-DAY SOMALIA 1053 00:55:45,138 --> 00:55:46,738 DOWN TO MOZAMBIQUE. 1054 00:55:46,773 --> 00:55:48,440 THE MAJORITY OF ITS INHABITANTS 1055 00:55:48,475 --> 00:55:50,742 ENGAGED IN FISHING AND FARMING. 1056 00:55:50,777 --> 00:55:55,547 ONE METROPOLIS, RHAPTA, TRADED WITH MERCHANTS FROM ARABIA. 1057 00:55:55,582 --> 00:55:57,983 AND BY THE END OF THE FIRST MILLENNIUM, 1058 00:55:58,018 --> 00:56:01,219 A SERIES OF OTHER COASTAL CITIES HAD EMERGED. 1059 00:56:01,255 --> 00:56:03,722 WOMAN: THE HEIGHT OF THE SWAHILI AGE, 1060 00:56:03,757 --> 00:56:05,824 1000 TO 1500, IS WHERE YOU GET 1061 00:56:05,859 --> 00:56:09,995 THE PHYSICAL COAST LOOKING THE WAY WE THINK OF IT. 1062 00:56:10,030 --> 00:56:12,531 THE MERCHANT ELITE HAD A LEVEL OF WEALTH 1063 00:56:12,566 --> 00:56:15,333 THAT IS PROBABLY NEW AT THAT TIME. 1064 00:56:15,369 --> 00:56:18,103 HOST: A FASCINATING NATURAL PHENOMENON 1065 00:56:18,138 --> 00:56:21,439 THAT SAILORS ALONG THE COAST HAD BEEN USING FOR CENTURIES 1066 00:56:21,475 --> 00:56:24,843 FUELED THE GROWTH OF THESE CITIES. 1067 00:56:24,878 --> 00:56:28,413 IN THE FIRST CENTURY B.C., A GREEK NAVIGATOR NAMED HIPPALUS 1068 00:56:28,448 --> 00:56:31,216 NOTICED THAT BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF NOVEMBER AND MARCH, 1069 00:56:31,251 --> 00:56:34,986 THE MONSOON WINDS BLOW FROM INDIA TOWARDS AFRICA. 1070 00:56:35,022 --> 00:56:37,222 THAT IS SOUTHWEST. 1071 00:56:37,257 --> 00:56:40,091 THEN IN APRIL, MIRACULOUSLY, 1072 00:56:40,127 --> 00:56:41,793 THE WINDS WOULD REVERSE, 1073 00:56:41,828 --> 00:56:44,496 SO, BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF APRIL AND OCTOBER, 1074 00:56:44,531 --> 00:56:46,765 THE WINDS BLOW FROM THE SWAHILI COAST 1075 00:56:46,800 --> 00:56:49,668 BACK NORTHEAST TOWARDS INDIA. 1076 00:56:55,609 --> 00:56:57,676 WORKING WITH THE MONSOON WIND SHIFTS 1077 00:56:57,711 --> 00:56:59,511 DRAMATICALLY REDUCED THE TIME IT TOOK 1078 00:56:59,546 --> 00:57:01,246 TO CROSS THE INDIAN OCEAN... 1079 00:57:04,251 --> 00:57:07,919 CONNECTING THE EAST COAST OF AFRICA SINCE ANCIENT TIMES 1080 00:57:07,955 --> 00:57:10,522 WITH CIVILIZATIONS ON THE ARABIAN GULF, 1081 00:57:10,557 --> 00:57:13,625 IN INDIA, AND EVEN FAR-AWAY CHINA. 1082 00:57:16,129 --> 00:57:17,963 AND USING THIS PRINCIPLE, 1083 00:57:17,998 --> 00:57:20,699 MERCHANTS HAVE SINCE THE TIME OF CHRIST 1084 00:57:20,734 --> 00:57:22,567 BEEN COMING TO THE SWAHILI COAST 1085 00:57:22,603 --> 00:57:27,672 TO EXCHANGE GOODS, IDEAS, AND YES, EVEN GENES. 1086 00:57:27,708 --> 00:57:29,708 BY HARNESSING THESE WINDS, 1087 00:57:29,743 --> 00:57:32,811 TRADERS COULD MAKE THE 3,000-MILE JOURNEY 1088 00:57:32,846 --> 00:57:34,913 FROM INDIA TO EAST AFRICA 1089 00:57:34,948 --> 00:57:38,083 IN AS LITTLE AS 25 DAYS 1090 00:57:38,118 --> 00:57:42,020 IN WOODEN BOATS KNOWN AS DHOWS. 1091 00:57:42,055 --> 00:57:45,323 CLASSIC DHOWS ARE STILL BUILT BY HAND 1092 00:57:45,359 --> 00:57:47,192 AT THE NUNGWI BOAT YARD 1093 00:57:47,227 --> 00:57:49,527 ON THE NORTHERN TIP OF ZANZIBAR. 1094 00:57:49,563 --> 00:57:52,831 MAN: THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION STYLE. 1095 00:57:52,866 --> 00:57:57,035 THERE'S DHOW, WITH BIG STOMACH, THAT CAN CARRY 1096 00:57:57,070 --> 00:57:59,104 LOT OF THINGS INSIDE, 1097 00:57:59,139 --> 00:58:01,406 CAN FLOAT IN VERY SHALLOW WATER, 1098 00:58:01,441 --> 00:58:04,809 BUT NOT VERY GOOD FOR LONG WAY JOURNEY. 1099 00:58:04,845 --> 00:58:07,712 SO, OTHER TYPE OF DHOW IS NARROW AT THE END. 1100 00:58:07,748 --> 00:58:09,648 THEY CALL THEM TAPER-STYLE DHOW. 1101 00:58:09,683 --> 00:58:12,684 THIS CAN CUT THE MOVEMENT OF THE WAVES 1102 00:58:12,719 --> 00:58:16,688 AND MAKE EASY TO CROSS FROM THE DEEP SEA OR ROUGH SEA. 1103 00:58:18,125 --> 00:58:20,992 HOST: DHOWS CARRY FAR MORE THAN JUST TRADED GOODS 1104 00:58:21,028 --> 00:58:23,128 BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE OCEAN. 1105 00:58:24,898 --> 00:58:28,933 PROSPERITY BRED COMPETITION BETWEEN CULTURES AND RELIGIONS. 1106 00:58:28,969 --> 00:58:31,136 [SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] 1107 00:58:31,171 --> 00:58:34,239 THROUGH THIS LONG HISTORY OF TRADE AND INTERMARRIAGE, 1108 00:58:34,274 --> 00:58:37,242 A CROSS-POLLINATION OF CULTURES AND BELIEFS TOOK PLACE, 1109 00:58:37,277 --> 00:58:39,811 AND IN FACT, THE MOST ENDURING CONTRIBUTION 1110 00:58:39,846 --> 00:58:42,714 THAT THE ARAB IMMIGRANTS AND TRADERS MADE 1111 00:58:42,749 --> 00:58:46,384 WAS THEIR RELIGION--ISLAM. 1112 00:58:46,420 --> 00:58:49,587 AS EARLY AS THE NINTH CENTURY A.D., 1113 00:58:49,623 --> 00:58:51,723 ARABIAN TRADERS BROUGHT ISLAM 1114 00:58:51,758 --> 00:58:53,725 TO THE PEOPLE OF THE SWAHILI COAST. 1115 00:58:55,395 --> 00:58:57,829 WOMAN: IT'S NOT THAT THEY BECOME ARABS 1116 00:58:57,864 --> 00:58:59,898 BUT THAT THEY ARE SWAHILI PEOPLE 1117 00:58:59,933 --> 00:59:03,334 WHO ARE PRACTITIONERS OF THE ISLAMIC FAITH. 1118 00:59:03,370 --> 00:59:06,571 THE SWAHILI DID ADOPT ISLAM AND THEY AFRICANIZE IT, 1119 00:59:06,606 --> 00:59:08,406 THEY SWAHILI-IZE IT. 1120 00:59:08,442 --> 00:59:10,375 [INDISTINCT CHATTER] 1121 00:59:13,513 --> 00:59:16,347 MAN: WE DO KNOW THAT THE ISLAM THAT EMERGES ON THE COAST 1122 00:59:16,383 --> 00:59:19,217 IS A VERY DISTINCTIVE TYPE OF ISLAM. 1123 00:59:19,252 --> 00:59:22,887 SO, THE WAY THAT THEY TREAT THE DEAD, 1124 00:59:22,923 --> 00:59:26,124 THE WAY THEY MARK BURIALS, THE WAY THEY CONSTRUCT ANCESTORS. 1125 00:59:26,159 --> 00:59:28,560 THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL SPACE OF THE MOSQUE 1126 00:59:28,595 --> 00:59:30,428 AND THE THINGS THAT THEY PUT IN THE MOSQUE, 1127 00:59:30,464 --> 00:59:33,264 THOSE ARE ALL VERY LOCALLY FASHIONED. 1128 00:59:33,300 --> 00:59:36,134 HOST: ISLAM GAVE THE SWAHILI ELITE 1129 00:59:36,169 --> 00:59:39,037 ADDED ENTRY TO THE VAST COMMON MARKET 1130 00:59:39,072 --> 00:59:41,072 OF THE INDIAN OCEAN. 1131 00:59:41,108 --> 00:59:43,274 FOURSHEY: THE SWAHILI DID SEE ISLAM 1132 00:59:43,310 --> 00:59:45,076 IN TERMS OF ITS RELIGIOUS VALUE 1133 00:59:45,112 --> 00:59:47,846 BUT THEY ALSO SAW THAT IT HELPED TO IMPROVE 1134 00:59:47,881 --> 00:59:50,248 THE TERMS OF TRADE, AND THAT 1135 00:59:50,283 --> 00:59:52,417 BEING PART OF THIS ISLAMIC BROTHERHOOD 1136 00:59:52,452 --> 00:59:56,221 ALLOWED THEM ACCESS TO CERTAIN NETWORKS. 1137 00:59:56,256 --> 00:59:57,555 [HORN HONKING] 1138 00:59:57,591 --> 00:59:59,758 HOST: ALONGSIDE THIS GROWTH IN TRADE, 1139 00:59:59,793 --> 01:00:02,927 THE PEOPLE ALONG THE COAST DEVELOPED THEIR OWN LANGUAGE, 1140 01:00:02,963 --> 01:00:05,597 CALLED KISWAHILI, 1141 01:00:05,632 --> 01:00:09,167 AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE WITH LOAN WORDS FROM ARABIC, 1142 01:00:09,202 --> 01:00:11,770 A LINGUA FRANCA THAT UNIFIED THE CULTURES 1143 01:00:11,805 --> 01:00:13,505 ALONG THE COAST STILL FURTHER. 1144 01:00:13,540 --> 01:00:15,473 [MAN SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] 1145 01:00:19,146 --> 01:00:24,215 HOST: ISLAM ALSO BROUGHT LITERACY IN ARABIC. 1146 01:00:24,251 --> 01:00:28,052 MAN: BECAUSE OF THE NECESSITY TO READ THE KORAN, 1147 01:00:28,088 --> 01:00:34,092 YOU BEGIN TO HAVE KORAN CLASSES WHERE THE ALPHABET WAS TAUGHT, 1148 01:00:34,127 --> 01:00:38,830 AND THE SWAHILI USED THAT ALPHABET TO WRITE POETRY, 1149 01:00:38,865 --> 01:00:42,333 TO WRITE HISTORY OF THEIR OWN TOWNS, 1150 01:00:42,369 --> 01:00:50,008 AND THIS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CULTURE. 1151 01:00:50,043 --> 01:00:52,076 WHAT WE CALL SWAHILI CULTURE 1152 01:00:52,112 --> 01:00:54,879 IS A PEAK OF TRADITION 1153 01:00:54,915 --> 01:00:59,384 RATHER THAN SOMETHING NEW JUST MUSHROOMING. 1154 01:00:59,419 --> 01:01:03,087 TRADITIONS WHICH WILL STILL BE PRACTICED TODAY, 1155 01:01:03,123 --> 01:01:06,324 WHICH ARE ACTUALLY, UM, 1156 01:01:06,359 --> 01:01:08,593 ORIGINALLY FROM A DIFFERENT RELIGION, BUT 1157 01:01:08,628 --> 01:01:11,496 IN THE INDIGENOUS TRADITION HAVE BEEN ABSORBED. 1158 01:01:11,531 --> 01:01:13,464 [CHILDREN SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] 1159 01:01:15,335 --> 01:01:18,503 HOST: CIVILIZATION THRIVED ALONG THE SWAHILI COAST, 1160 01:01:18,538 --> 01:01:22,273 EXEMPLIFIED BY THE LEGENDARY CITY-STATE OF KILWA, 1161 01:01:22,309 --> 01:01:25,677 LOCATED 200 MILES SOUTH OF ZANZIBAR. 1162 01:01:25,712 --> 01:01:27,512 ITS AUTHORITY AT ITS HEIGHT 1163 01:01:27,547 --> 01:01:30,949 STRETCHED THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE SWAHILI COAST. 1164 01:01:33,553 --> 01:01:37,088 IN THE YEAR 1331, IBN BATTUTA, 1165 01:01:37,123 --> 01:01:40,024 THE MUSLIM WORLD'S GREAT EXPLORER AND CHRONICLER, 1166 01:01:40,060 --> 01:01:42,293 WROTE THAT KILWA WAS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL 1167 01:01:42,329 --> 01:01:45,897 AND WELL-CONSTRUCTED TOWNS IN THE WHOLE WORLD, 1168 01:01:45,932 --> 01:01:49,701 AND THESE RUINS TESTIFY TO ITS PAST SPLENDOR. 1169 01:01:51,538 --> 01:01:54,839 KILWA'S FAME WAS LEGENDARY AND FAR-REACHING. 1170 01:01:54,875 --> 01:01:58,543 IN 1667, THE ENGLISH POET JOHN MILTON 1171 01:01:58,578 --> 01:02:02,280 REFERRED TO KILWA AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT KINGDOMS 1172 01:02:02,315 --> 01:02:05,917 IN HIS EPIC POEM "PARADISE LOST." 1173 01:02:05,952 --> 01:02:11,489 ITS REMARKABLE RISE STEMMED FROM ITS IDEAL LOCATION. 1174 01:02:11,524 --> 01:02:14,726 MAN: KILWA HAPPENS TO BE THE EDGE WHERE 1175 01:02:14,761 --> 01:02:17,729 THE MONSOON WINDS THAT WERE BRINGING 1176 01:02:17,764 --> 01:02:21,866 THE VESSELS FROM INDIA, ARABIA, 1177 01:02:21,902 --> 01:02:24,235 THIS IS ABOUT THE FURTHEST SOUTH 1178 01:02:24,271 --> 01:02:27,038 THAT THEY COULD DIRECTLY COME. 1179 01:02:27,073 --> 01:02:30,575 BUT IF YOU LIVED FURTHER SOUTH OF KILWA, YOU WERE TOAST. 1180 01:02:30,610 --> 01:02:32,443 EXACTLY. SO, KILWA HA HA! 1181 01:02:32,479 --> 01:02:34,612 PLAYED THE MIDDLE, AND AS YOU KNOW, 1182 01:02:34,648 --> 01:02:36,481 IN COMMERCE, THE MIDDLEMAN 1183 01:02:36,516 --> 01:02:39,617 IS THE ONE WHO REAPS THE PROFIT. YEAH. 1184 01:02:39,653 --> 01:02:40,985 SAY, MAN, YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK 1185 01:02:41,021 --> 01:02:42,020 TO GET THIS GOLD HERE? 1186 01:02:42,055 --> 01:02:43,154 YOU GOT TO PAY. 1187 01:02:43,189 --> 01:02:45,056 HUH? YES, EXACTLY. 1188 01:02:45,091 --> 01:02:47,725 AND--AND THESE GUYS WOULD COME HERE 1189 01:02:47,761 --> 01:02:50,862 AND SAY, NO, NO, YOU CAN'T EVEN GET YOURSELVES THERE. 1190 01:02:50,897 --> 01:02:53,398 GET SOUTH OF KILWA, YOU ARE GOING TO DIE. 1191 01:02:53,433 --> 01:02:55,466 [LAUGHS] SO, ALL THOSE GUYS WOULD COME HERE 1192 01:02:55,502 --> 01:02:57,902 AND STOP AND WAIT FOR, UH-- 1193 01:02:57,938 --> 01:02:58,903 WAIT FOR THE WIND TO CHANGE. 1194 01:02:58,939 --> 01:03:00,338 YES, EXACTLY. 1195 01:03:00,373 --> 01:03:02,473 HOST: CONSTRUCTED IN THE 10TH CENTURY 1196 01:03:02,509 --> 01:03:04,275 AND SUBSEQUENTLY REBUILT, 1197 01:03:04,311 --> 01:03:06,177 KILWA'S GREAT MOSQUE WOULD BECOME 1198 01:03:06,212 --> 01:03:08,046 ONE OF THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND 1199 01:03:08,081 --> 01:03:10,782 IN THE WHOLE OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. 1200 01:03:10,817 --> 01:03:12,250 THIS IS STUNNING. 1201 01:03:12,285 --> 01:03:13,584 STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL. 1202 01:03:13,620 --> 01:03:15,186 IT IS. IT IS. 1203 01:03:17,390 --> 01:03:19,257 HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO BUILD? DO WE KNOW? 1204 01:03:19,292 --> 01:03:23,394 IN SOME SOURCES IT SHOWS, LIKE, 10 YEARS TO FINISH. 1205 01:03:23,430 --> 01:03:25,296 THIS PART WHERE WE ARE NOW 1206 01:03:25,332 --> 01:03:28,066 WAS BUILT IN THE 14TH CENTURY. 1207 01:03:28,101 --> 01:03:30,601 THIS WAS JUST AT THE TIME WHEN KILWA 1208 01:03:30,637 --> 01:03:33,905 WAS AT ITS APEX OF COMMERCIAL STRENGTH. 1209 01:03:36,609 --> 01:03:40,044 AND I JUST MARVEL AT THE DOMES, AS YOU SEE. 1210 01:03:40,080 --> 01:03:42,580 YEAH. EXTRAORDINARY. 1211 01:03:42,615 --> 01:03:44,349 IT'S AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL. 1212 01:03:47,887 --> 01:03:51,255 THIS IS WHAT THEY CALL THE FRIDAY MOSQUE, 1213 01:03:51,291 --> 01:03:53,624 WHICH TENDS TO BE BIGGER, WHERE 1214 01:03:53,660 --> 01:03:55,093 ALL PEOPLE WOULD COME HERE. 1215 01:03:55,128 --> 01:03:56,828 IT'S LIKE SUNDAY CHURCH. EXACTLY. 1216 01:03:56,863 --> 01:03:58,896 AND IT SYMBOLIZES THE GLORY THAT WAS KILWA. 1217 01:03:58,932 --> 01:04:01,432 EXACTLY. EXACTLY. 1218 01:04:03,370 --> 01:04:05,603 HOST: KILWA'S MOST AMBITIOUS RULER 1219 01:04:05,638 --> 01:04:07,338 GREATLY EXTENDED THE MOSQUE 1220 01:04:07,374 --> 01:04:09,340 IN THE 14TH CENTURY 1221 01:04:09,376 --> 01:04:12,010 ALONG WITH A SPECTACULAR PALACE. 1222 01:04:14,547 --> 01:04:15,847 SO, BERTRAM, WHO LIVED IN 1223 01:04:15,882 --> 01:04:17,815 THIS MODEST, LITTLE COTTAGE BY THE SEA? [LAUGHS] 1224 01:04:17,851 --> 01:04:22,086 [LAUGHS] THIS WAS THE PLACE WHERE 1225 01:04:22,122 --> 01:04:24,389 THE GREAT SULTAN 1226 01:04:24,424 --> 01:04:27,058 AL-HASAN IBN SULAIMAN LIVED. 1227 01:04:27,093 --> 01:04:29,827 THIS WAS HIS PERSONAL HOUSE. 1228 01:04:29,863 --> 01:04:34,499 THIS IS WHERE HIS CLOSE FAMILY WOULD BE, BUT 1229 01:04:34,534 --> 01:04:37,435 IT IS ALSO A PLACE BUILT IN SUCH A WAY 1230 01:04:37,470 --> 01:04:40,371 THAT HE WOULD RECEIVE ALL THOSE 1231 01:04:40,407 --> 01:04:41,739 IMPORTANT PEOPLE, 1232 01:04:41,775 --> 01:04:44,609 BECAUSE HE WOULD RECEIVE THEM HERE. 1233 01:04:44,644 --> 01:04:48,279 HOST: SULTAN SULAIMAN WAS ONE OF A LONG LINE OF SULTANS 1234 01:04:48,314 --> 01:04:51,849 WHO EMBELLISHED KILWA WITH MAGNIFICENT BUILDINGS. 1235 01:04:51,885 --> 01:04:55,186 HIS PALACE, KNOWN AS HUSUNI KUBWA, 1236 01:04:55,221 --> 01:04:59,223 WAS BUILT BETWEEN 1315 AND 1330. 1237 01:04:59,259 --> 01:05:02,460 IT WAS EXQUISITE, COVERING 5 ACRES 1238 01:05:02,495 --> 01:05:05,263 AND CONTAINING 70 ROOMS. 1239 01:05:05,298 --> 01:05:08,299 FLEISHER: HUSUNI KUBWA IS AN INCREDIBLE PIECE OF ARCHITECTURE. 1240 01:05:08,334 --> 01:05:10,268 IT WAS PROBABLY GLEAMING WHITE, 1241 01:05:10,303 --> 01:05:12,236 AND AS YOU PULLED INTO THE HARBOR, 1242 01:05:12,272 --> 01:05:15,339 YOU WOULD SEE THIS PHENOMENAL PALACE. 1243 01:05:15,375 --> 01:05:17,075 AND IF YOU WANTED TO APPROACH IT, 1244 01:05:17,110 --> 01:05:19,177 YOU'D WALK UP SORT OF WINDING YOUR WAY 1245 01:05:19,212 --> 01:05:23,581 UP INTO THIS MASSIVE FORMAL AUDIENCE COURT. 1246 01:05:23,616 --> 01:05:26,417 THERE WAS A SENSE THAT THE SULTAN WAS BUILDING INTO THE STRUCTURE 1247 01:05:26,453 --> 01:05:28,453 A SENSE OF DRAMA, A SENSE OF GREATNESS 1248 01:05:28,488 --> 01:05:31,189 THAT HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE IN EAST AFRICA. 1249 01:05:35,829 --> 01:05:38,229 SO, THIS WAS THE PUBLIC FACE OF THE PALACE 1250 01:05:38,264 --> 01:05:41,766 WHERE AFFAIRS OF STATE AND GENERAL HOSPITALITY 1251 01:05:41,801 --> 01:05:42,934 WOULD BOTH BE... 1252 01:05:42,969 --> 01:05:44,936 YEAH. SULTAN SULAIMAN 1253 01:05:44,971 --> 01:05:48,573 IS SAID TO BE THE FATHER OF GIFTS. 1254 01:05:48,608 --> 01:05:49,574 WHAT'S THAT MEAN? 1255 01:05:49,609 --> 01:05:52,977 WE ARE TOLD THAT EVERYONE WHO WOULD COME 1256 01:05:53,012 --> 01:05:56,314 AND BE RECEIVED HERE WOULD NOT LEAVE WITHOUT 1257 01:05:56,349 --> 01:05:59,750 A TINY, LITTLE SOMETHING TO TELL THE STORY. 1258 01:05:59,786 --> 01:06:02,120 A LITTLE GOLD NUGGET? [LAUGHTER] 1259 01:06:02,155 --> 01:06:04,155 OF COURSE. 1260 01:06:04,190 --> 01:06:05,590 A SMALL, LITTLE LEOPARD SKIN? 1261 01:06:05,625 --> 01:06:07,892 YES, EXACTLY. 1262 01:06:07,927 --> 01:06:12,230 HOST: THE MEDIEVAL MOROCCAN SCHOLAR AND TRAVELER IBN BATTUTA 1263 01:06:12,265 --> 01:06:14,365 TELLS US THAT SULTAN SULAIMAN 1264 01:06:14,400 --> 01:06:18,369 WAS RENOWNED AS A PIOUS AND HUMBLE MAN, 1265 01:06:18,404 --> 01:06:20,838 KNOWN TO SHARE HIS FOOD WITH BEGGARS 1266 01:06:20,874 --> 01:06:23,474 AND EVEN GIVE THEM HIS CLOTHES. 1267 01:06:23,510 --> 01:06:27,044 BUT THE SULTAN WAS NOT ABOVE EARTHLY PLEASURES. 1268 01:06:27,080 --> 01:06:29,380 AMIDST THE RUINS OF HUSUNI KUBWA 1269 01:06:29,415 --> 01:06:32,850 RESTS ONE OF THE PALACE'S MOST LUXURIOUS FEATURES-- 1270 01:06:32,886 --> 01:06:34,852 A HEXAGONAL SWIMMING POOL. 1271 01:06:34,888 --> 01:06:36,487 SO, LIKE A JACUZZI. 1272 01:06:36,523 --> 01:06:37,955 EXACTLY. WITH THESE STEPS 1273 01:06:37,991 --> 01:06:39,924 ON WHICH YOU COULD SIT. YES. 1274 01:06:39,959 --> 01:06:41,692 HOW MUCH WATER WOULD IT HOLD? 1275 01:06:41,728 --> 01:06:45,229 SOMETHING LIKE 80 CUBIC METERS OF WATER. 1276 01:06:45,265 --> 01:06:47,031 A LOT OF WATER. YES. 1277 01:06:47,066 --> 01:06:49,800 YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW MANY PEOPLE 1278 01:06:49,836 --> 01:06:53,004 FILLING ONE BUCKET AFTER ANOTHER UNTIL 1279 01:06:53,039 --> 01:06:55,239 YOU FILL THIS POOL. 1280 01:06:55,275 --> 01:06:57,208 HOST: IT'S A LOT OF BUCKETS. MAPUNDA: EXACTLY. 1281 01:06:57,243 --> 01:06:59,043 AND THIS WAS A PLACE OF RECREATION. 1282 01:06:59,078 --> 01:07:00,011 YES. 1283 01:07:01,614 --> 01:07:05,249 HOST: THE SULTAN'S COURT HOSTED A REGULAR TRAFFIC OF TRADERS 1284 01:07:05,285 --> 01:07:07,351 FROM ACROSS THE INDIAN OCEAN, 1285 01:07:07,387 --> 01:07:08,953 AND ON THE CITY STREETS, 1286 01:07:08,988 --> 01:07:11,055 A COSMOPOLITAN MIX OF PEOPLE 1287 01:07:11,090 --> 01:07:13,224 REFLECTED BOTH ITS MODERNITY 1288 01:07:13,259 --> 01:07:16,160 AND ITS COMMERCIAL SIGNIFICANCE. 1289 01:07:16,196 --> 01:07:18,563 FLEISHER: IF YOU'RE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AT A PLACE LIKE KILWA, 1290 01:07:18,598 --> 01:07:21,499 YOU WOULD SEE TRADERS THAT HAD COME FROM THE INTERIOR 1291 01:07:21,534 --> 01:07:24,835 MEETING PEOPLE WITH SCARIFICATION, WITH PIERCINGS. 1292 01:07:24,871 --> 01:07:28,773 YOU'D SEE RELIGIOUS TEACHERS FROM ACROSS THE INDIAN OCEAN. 1293 01:07:28,808 --> 01:07:31,442 YOU WOULD SEE CRAFTSPEOPLE WORKING. 1294 01:07:31,477 --> 01:07:33,010 PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF WEALTH. 1295 01:07:33,046 --> 01:07:35,413 SOME WITH THE ABILITY TO BUILD AN EARTHEN HOUSE, 1296 01:07:35,448 --> 01:07:37,114 SOME WITH THE ABILITY TO BUILD A STONE HOUSE, 1297 01:07:37,150 --> 01:07:40,451 SOME WITH THE ABILITY TO BUILD A STONE PALACE. 1298 01:07:40,486 --> 01:07:42,119 WHAT UNITES ALL OF THEM IS 1299 01:07:42,155 --> 01:07:44,422 A SORT OF SENSE OF URBAN DWELLING. 1300 01:07:44,457 --> 01:07:46,490 HOST: SULTAN SULAIMAN'S PROSPERITY, 1301 01:07:46,526 --> 01:07:48,259 AND THAT OF KILWA, WAS BUILT 1302 01:07:48,294 --> 01:07:51,462 ON A MONOPOLY ON THE TRADE IN GOLD AND IVORY 1303 01:07:51,497 --> 01:07:53,197 FROM THE AFRICAN INTERIOR. 1304 01:07:55,101 --> 01:07:57,368 AND THOSE VERY PRECIOUS RESOURCES 1305 01:07:57,403 --> 01:08:01,138 ORIGINATED 400 MILES INLAND TO THE SOUTH, 1306 01:08:01,174 --> 01:08:03,374 ON THE ZIMBABWE PLATEAU. 1307 01:08:03,409 --> 01:08:05,209 ONE AFRICAN KINGDOM DOMINATED 1308 01:08:05,245 --> 01:08:07,478 THE FLOW OF GOLD FROM THE WEST, 1309 01:08:07,513 --> 01:08:09,714 AND THE RULERS ON THE SWAHILI COAST 1310 01:08:09,749 --> 01:08:13,017 BECAME ITS INTERNATIONAL BROKERS. 1311 01:08:13,052 --> 01:08:15,620 THIS EXTRAORDINARY AFRICAN KINGDOM 1312 01:08:15,655 --> 01:08:17,855 WAS EXTREMELY WELL PLACED 1313 01:08:17,890 --> 01:08:22,093 TO PROFIT FROM THE GREAT RESOURCES IT CONTROLLED. 1314 01:08:22,128 --> 01:08:26,530 THAT WAY, TO THE WEST, PEOPLE MINED THE GOLD. 1315 01:08:26,566 --> 01:08:30,868 AND THAT WAY, TO THE NORTHEAST, PEOPLE BOUGHT THE GOLD. 1316 01:08:30,903 --> 01:08:35,706 AND SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN SAT GREAT ZIMBABWE. 1317 01:08:35,742 --> 01:08:39,310 LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. 1318 01:08:40,613 --> 01:08:42,780 GREAT ZIMBABWE LIES CLOSE 1319 01:08:42,815 --> 01:08:44,882 TO THE MOST EXTENSIVE GOLD WORKINGS 1320 01:08:44,917 --> 01:08:46,851 IN THE ANCIENT WORLD. 1321 01:08:46,886 --> 01:08:50,588 AT ITS PEAK, AS MUCH AS A TON OF GOLD A YEAR 1322 01:08:50,623 --> 01:08:52,890 WAS EXTRACTED FROM THIS REGION. 1323 01:08:52,925 --> 01:08:56,661 INCREDIBLY, HALF THE GOLD COINS IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE 1324 01:08:56,696 --> 01:08:59,463 WERE STRUCK FROM AFRICAN GOLD. 1325 01:08:59,499 --> 01:09:01,098 BUT IT WASN'T JUST GOLD THAT MADE 1326 01:09:01,134 --> 01:09:03,501 THE RULERS OF GREAT ZIMBABWE WEALTHY. 1327 01:09:05,405 --> 01:09:06,904 YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO MINE THE GOLD 1328 01:09:06,939 --> 01:09:08,272 TO BECOME WEALTHY. 1329 01:09:08,308 --> 01:09:10,574 TRADE COULD BE A GOLD MINE, TOO. 1330 01:09:12,045 --> 01:09:14,879 GREAT ZIMBABWE WAS KNOWN FAR AND WIDE 1331 01:09:14,914 --> 01:09:17,181 AS AFRICA'S EL DORADO, 1332 01:09:17,216 --> 01:09:19,116 A PLACE SHROUDED IN MYSTERY 1333 01:09:19,152 --> 01:09:21,752 AND WRAPPED IN TALES LADEN WITH GOLD. 1334 01:09:26,059 --> 01:09:29,226 THE ORIGINAL SITE, WHICH BECAME THE KING'S PALACE, 1335 01:09:29,262 --> 01:09:33,631 BEGAN ON THE ROCKY PRECIPICE AROUND 1200 A.D. 1336 01:09:33,666 --> 01:09:36,867 FROM HERE, HIS KINGDOM UNFOLDED BEFORE HIM, 1337 01:09:36,903 --> 01:09:39,970 AS FAR AS THE EYE COULD SEE. 1338 01:09:40,006 --> 01:09:41,672 OVER THE FOLLOWING CENTURY, 1339 01:09:41,708 --> 01:09:42,973 THE CITY SPREAD 1340 01:09:43,009 --> 01:09:45,710 INTO THE VALLEY BELOW. 1341 01:09:45,745 --> 01:09:49,180 THE CITY OF GREAT ZIMBABWE FILLED THIS ENTIRE VALLEY. 1342 01:09:49,215 --> 01:09:51,282 THOUSANDS OF ADOBE BUILDINGS, 1343 01:09:51,317 --> 01:09:54,051 CLUSTERED AROUND LARGER STONE ENCLOSURES, 1344 01:09:54,087 --> 01:09:57,088 HOUSED MORE THAN 15,000 PEOPLE. 1345 01:09:57,123 --> 01:10:00,424 WHO WERE THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED THIS GREAT CIVILIZATION 1346 01:10:00,460 --> 01:10:02,626 THAT PROSPERED AND FLOURISHED HERE 1347 01:10:02,662 --> 01:10:04,795 FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS? 1348 01:10:11,270 --> 01:10:15,039 ITS BUILDERS ALMOST CERTAINLY WERE SHONA SPEAKERS, 1349 01:10:15,074 --> 01:10:18,376 ANCESTORS OF MANY OF TODAY'S ZIMBABWEANS, 1350 01:10:18,411 --> 01:10:20,911 AND HEIRS TO AN OLDER CIVILIZATION 1351 01:10:20,947 --> 01:10:23,447 THAT STRETCHED BACK TO 900 A.D. 1352 01:10:27,286 --> 01:10:29,520 MAN: COMING INTO THE CITY FROM THE COUNTRYSIDE, 1353 01:10:29,555 --> 01:10:31,956 WE FIRST GO THROUGH AREAS OF FIELDS. 1354 01:10:31,991 --> 01:10:34,892 WOMEN WOULD BE THE FARMERS DOING MOST OF THE FARMING. 1355 01:10:34,927 --> 01:10:37,495 AND THEN AS YOU COME INTO THE CITY, 1356 01:10:37,530 --> 01:10:40,865 YOU'D BE WALKING IN AMONG HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF HOUSES, 1357 01:10:40,900 --> 01:10:43,434 AND AS YOU WEND YOUR WAY PAST ALL THESE HOUSES, 1358 01:10:43,469 --> 01:10:46,437 YOU MIGHT EVENTUALLY SEE THE GREAT BUILDINGS THEMSELVES, 1359 01:10:46,472 --> 01:10:48,672 AND THE MOST NOTABLE IS THE GREAT ENCLOSURE. 1360 01:10:52,111 --> 01:10:54,645 HOST: THE GREAT ENCLOSURE SAT AT THE HEART OF A CITY 1361 01:10:54,680 --> 01:10:57,448 THAT COVERED NEARLY 1,800 ACRES. 1362 01:10:59,051 --> 01:11:00,684 ITS RULER CONTROLLED A KINGDOM 1363 01:11:00,720 --> 01:11:03,287 THAT SPANNED MUCH OF PRESENT-DAY ZIMBABWE 1364 01:11:03,322 --> 01:11:04,955 AND SURROUNDING COUNTRIES. 1365 01:11:06,993 --> 01:11:09,627 THIS IS THE LARGEST PRE-COLONIAL STRUCTURE 1366 01:11:09,662 --> 01:11:12,430 IN THE WHOLE OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. 1367 01:11:12,465 --> 01:11:16,767 IT WAS A STATEMENT OF MAJESTY AND POWER, 1368 01:11:16,803 --> 01:11:20,538 WEALTH BUT ALSO ARCHITECTURAL GENIUS. 1369 01:11:27,146 --> 01:11:28,512 FEW PEOPLE KNOW THIS SITE 1370 01:11:28,548 --> 01:11:30,314 AS WELL AS ITS FORMER DIRECTOR-- 1371 01:11:30,349 --> 01:11:31,949 DR. EDWARD MATENGA. 1372 01:11:33,619 --> 01:11:36,854 MY GOD, THIS IS ASTONISHINGLY BEAUTIFUL, IS IT NOT? 1373 01:11:36,889 --> 01:11:40,491 ABSOLUTELY. AND IT'S THE PRIDE OF ALL AFRICANS. 1374 01:11:40,526 --> 01:11:43,427 THE KING AND HIS FAMILY, WOULD THEY HAVE LIVED HERE, OR 1375 01:11:43,463 --> 01:11:46,397 WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED HERE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS? 1376 01:11:46,432 --> 01:11:48,666 ORDINARILY, THE KING WOULD HAVE LIVED 1377 01:11:48,701 --> 01:11:50,668 ON TOP OF THE HILL, ON THE SUMMIT. 1378 01:11:50,703 --> 01:11:53,737 THE KING'S GREAT WIFE LIVED IN THIS ENCLOSURE. 1379 01:11:53,773 --> 01:11:55,739 NUMBER-ONE WIFE. YES. MM-HMM. 1380 01:11:55,775 --> 01:11:57,274 SO, THE QUEEN HAD HER PALACE 1381 01:11:57,310 --> 01:11:58,542 AND THE KING HAD HIS. 1382 01:11:58,578 --> 01:11:59,643 ABSOLUTELY. 1383 01:12:01,781 --> 01:12:03,547 WHY DID THEY NEED THE WALL, DO YOU THINK? 1384 01:12:03,583 --> 01:12:04,715 PRESTIGE. 1385 01:12:04,750 --> 01:12:06,550 THE PERSON WHO IS LIVING IN THIS ENCLOSURE 1386 01:12:06,586 --> 01:12:07,618 IS VERY IMPORTANT. 1387 01:12:07,653 --> 01:12:10,054 SO, A WALL IS THE SIGNATURE OF POWER, 1388 01:12:10,089 --> 01:12:12,122 OF AUTHORITY, OF DIGNITY. 1389 01:12:12,158 --> 01:12:13,591 YES. 1390 01:12:13,626 --> 01:12:15,559 HOST: THE GREAT ENCLOSURE IS COMPRISED OF 1391 01:12:15,595 --> 01:12:18,095 OVER ONE MILLION STONE BLOCKS, 1392 01:12:18,130 --> 01:12:22,700 BUT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BINDS THESE WALLS TOGETHER. 1393 01:12:22,735 --> 01:12:26,804 MIRE: THOSE HIGH WALLS ARE CONNECTED TOGETHER 1394 01:12:26,839 --> 01:12:28,405 WITHOUT ANY MORTAR. 1395 01:12:28,441 --> 01:12:31,909 IT SHOWED AN INDIGENOUS, DISTINCT ARCHITECTURAL DEVELOPMENT 1396 01:12:31,944 --> 01:12:33,677 IN SOUTHERN AFRICA. 1397 01:12:35,014 --> 01:12:36,580 HOST: THE MASSIVE OUTER WALL 1398 01:12:36,616 --> 01:12:38,716 IS OVER 800 FEET LONG... 1399 01:12:40,286 --> 01:12:42,653 RISING IN PLACES TO THE HEIGHT 1400 01:12:42,688 --> 01:12:44,555 OF A 4-STORY BUILDING. 1401 01:12:48,661 --> 01:12:52,096 AND INGENIOUSLY, IT COMBINES WITH AN INNER WALL 1402 01:12:52,131 --> 01:12:55,466 TO FORM AN INTIMIDATING PASSAGEWAY. 1403 01:12:55,501 --> 01:12:58,302 I LOVE THESE CURVED WALLS. 1404 01:12:58,337 --> 01:12:59,503 THE THEORY IS THAT 1405 01:12:59,539 --> 01:13:02,706 BECAUSE OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION, 1406 01:13:02,742 --> 01:13:04,775 THESE PASSAGES WOULD FORCE PEOPLE 1407 01:13:04,810 --> 01:13:06,110 TO MOVE IN SINGLE FILE. 1408 01:13:06,145 --> 01:13:07,077 UH-HUH. 1409 01:13:08,814 --> 01:13:10,247 TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. 1410 01:13:10,283 --> 01:13:12,316 OH, YEAH. ABSOLUTELY. 1411 01:13:12,351 --> 01:13:15,352 HOST: THE COMBINED EFFECT OF THIS MONUMENTAL ARCHITECTURE 1412 01:13:15,388 --> 01:13:17,488 REMAINS A MARVEL TO BEHOLD, 1413 01:13:17,523 --> 01:13:19,957 ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT WONDERS. 1414 01:13:19,992 --> 01:13:21,892 EHRET: THE KINGS HAVE THE WEALTH 1415 01:13:21,928 --> 01:13:23,961 TO HIRE SKILLED MASONS, 1416 01:13:23,996 --> 01:13:26,864 AND WE CAN SEE AS THE YEARS GO ON AT GREAT ZIMBABWE, 1417 01:13:26,899 --> 01:13:29,166 THE MASONS GET MORE AND MORE SKILLED. 1418 01:13:29,201 --> 01:13:31,335 THE LATEST BUILDINGS ARE THE MOST MAGNIFICENT, 1419 01:13:31,370 --> 01:13:33,704 THE MOST WONDERFULLY PUT TOGETHER. 1420 01:13:33,739 --> 01:13:36,273 AND THE LIVING AREAS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY 1421 01:13:36,309 --> 01:13:40,244 WOULD'VE MOSTLY HAVE BEEN MORE WITHIN THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS. 1422 01:13:41,647 --> 01:13:42,913 THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN RIGHT OUT 1423 01:13:42,949 --> 01:13:46,183 WITH THE HOI POLLOI OF THE SOCIETY. 1424 01:13:46,218 --> 01:13:48,018 THIS WOULD'VE BEEN A PLACE OF 1425 01:13:48,054 --> 01:13:49,820 HAVING TO GET ACCESS 1426 01:13:49,855 --> 01:13:51,488 TO BE ABLE TO EVEN TO GO IN THERE. 1427 01:13:53,159 --> 01:13:54,925 HOST: LIFE IN THE STONE ENCLOSURES 1428 01:13:54,961 --> 01:13:58,195 WAS A WORLD APART FROM THE EVERYDAY REALITY 1429 01:13:58,230 --> 01:14:01,365 OF THOSE LIVING IN THE CROWDED STREETS BEYOND. 1430 01:14:01,400 --> 01:14:03,300 THIS VALLEY WOULD'VE BEEN BUSTLING 1431 01:14:03,336 --> 01:14:05,669 WITH THE KING'S ENTERPRISING SUBJECTS 1432 01:14:05,705 --> 01:14:07,404 AND FILLED WITH THE SMOG 1433 01:14:07,440 --> 01:14:10,074 FROM THOUSANDS OF COOKING FIRES. 1434 01:14:10,109 --> 01:14:13,844 HERDS OF LIVESTOCK GRAZED IN THE VALLEY. 1435 01:14:13,879 --> 01:14:15,613 ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE DISCOVERED 1436 01:14:15,648 --> 01:14:18,048 SO MANY BONES OF CATTLE IN THIS VALLEY 1437 01:14:18,084 --> 01:14:21,952 THAT IT COULD BE NICKNAMED THE VALLEY OF THE DRY BONES. 1438 01:14:21,988 --> 01:14:24,221 AND THAT SHOULDN'T SURPRISE US, REALLY, BECAUSE 1439 01:14:24,256 --> 01:14:26,423 CATTLE SUSTAINED THIS SOCIETY. 1440 01:14:26,459 --> 01:14:27,524 [COW MOOS] 1441 01:14:27,560 --> 01:14:30,761 SURPRISINGLY, HOWEVER, ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS 1442 01:14:30,796 --> 01:14:33,330 SUGGEST THAT ONLY THE RULING ELITE 1443 01:14:33,366 --> 01:14:35,265 ATE THE BEEF FROM THE CATTLE. 1444 01:14:35,301 --> 01:14:37,901 LIVESTOCK SERVED AS A SIGN OF STATUS. 1445 01:14:40,806 --> 01:14:43,173 EHRET: THESE INSTITUTIONS WERE ORGANIZED AROUND 1446 01:14:43,209 --> 01:14:45,242 OWNERSHIP OF GREAT HERDS OF CATTLE, 1447 01:14:45,277 --> 01:14:48,012 AND THE CHIEFS WHO GREW INTO PEDI KINGS 1448 01:14:48,047 --> 01:14:50,914 WERE PEOPLE WHO CONTROLLED ENORMOUS HERDS OF CATTLE. 1449 01:14:50,950 --> 01:14:52,883 THEY COULD LEND THESE CATTLE OUT, 1450 01:14:52,918 --> 01:14:55,653 AND SO, THEY BUILT UP A SYSTEM OF SUBORDINATE CHIEFS 1451 01:14:55,688 --> 01:14:57,554 WITHIN SMALL KINGDOMS. 1452 01:14:57,590 --> 01:14:59,823 HOST: CATTLE BECAME THE BANKING SYSTEM 1453 01:14:59,859 --> 01:15:03,260 FOR THE WEALTH ACCRUED FROM BROKERING THE TRADE IN GOLD 1454 01:15:03,295 --> 01:15:06,063 WITH THE MERCHANTS ON THE SWAHILI COAST. 1455 01:15:06,098 --> 01:15:09,266 IN ADDITION TO GOLD, THE ZIMBABWE PLATEAU 1456 01:15:09,301 --> 01:15:12,169 WAS ALSO RICH IN ANOTHER NATURAL COMMODITY 1457 01:15:12,204 --> 01:15:14,772 COVETED BY THOSE TRADERS FROM THE COAST. 1458 01:15:14,807 --> 01:15:16,473 THERE'S ONE VERY IMPORTANT PRODUCT 1459 01:15:16,509 --> 01:15:18,075 ALONG THE LIMPOPO RIVER. 1460 01:15:18,110 --> 01:15:20,878 IT WAS A GREAT AREA OF ELEPHANT HERDS. 1461 01:15:20,913 --> 01:15:22,746 AND SWAHILI MERCHANTS COMING SOUTH 1462 01:15:22,782 --> 01:15:25,282 DISCOVERED THAT THEY COULD GET IVORY THERE. 1463 01:15:25,317 --> 01:15:27,351 HOST: AS LATE AS THE 16TH CENTURY, 1464 01:15:27,386 --> 01:15:31,321 ABOUT 40 TONS OF IVORY WERE BEING EXPORTED EVERY YEAR 1465 01:15:31,357 --> 01:15:33,057 FROM THE SWAHILI COAST. 1466 01:15:33,092 --> 01:15:34,625 SIMILAR AMOUNTS WERE EXPORTED 1467 01:15:34,660 --> 01:15:36,860 DURING THE HEYDAY OF GREAT ZIMBABWE, 1468 01:15:36,896 --> 01:15:39,863 AND ON EVERY LOAD TRANSPORTED ACROSS THE KINGDOM, 1469 01:15:39,899 --> 01:15:43,701 GREAT ZIMBABWE'S RULERS TOOK A 50% CUT. 1470 01:15:43,736 --> 01:15:46,770 EHRET: THE HUNTERS WENT OUT TO DO THE KILLING OF THE ELEPHANT. 1471 01:15:46,806 --> 01:15:49,606 ONE TUSK HAD TO GO TO THE CHIEF OR THE KING. 1472 01:15:49,642 --> 01:15:51,642 THEY KEPT THE OTHER TUSK. 1473 01:15:51,677 --> 01:15:54,378 AND THEN IT STARTS HAPPENING WITH THE GOLD. 1474 01:15:54,413 --> 01:15:56,246 SO, WITH HALF OF THE GOLD PROFITS 1475 01:15:56,282 --> 01:15:58,749 AND HALF OF THE IVORY PROFITS GOING TO THE KING, 1476 01:15:58,784 --> 01:16:01,618 THAT GIVES THE KING ALL KINDS OF POWER. 1477 01:16:01,654 --> 01:16:04,054 NOW IT BECOMES A TOOL OF STATE-BUILDING. 1478 01:16:05,991 --> 01:16:08,292 HOST: GREAT ZIMBABWE'S ENORMOUS SIGNIFICANCE 1479 01:16:08,327 --> 01:16:11,128 CAN BE GLEANED NOT JUST FROM THE GOODS IT EXPORTED 1480 01:16:11,163 --> 01:16:15,365 BUT FROM THOSE IT IMPORTED INTO AFRICA AS WELL. 1481 01:16:15,401 --> 01:16:17,935 SHARDS OF MING DYNASTY PORCELAIN 1482 01:16:17,970 --> 01:16:20,671 FROM FAR-AWAY CHINA HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED HERE, 1483 01:16:20,706 --> 01:16:22,773 SUGGESTING THAT GREAT ZIMBABWEANS 1484 01:16:22,808 --> 01:16:25,676 LIKED TO DINE IN STYLE. 1485 01:16:25,711 --> 01:16:28,879 MATENGA: DURING THE MING DYNASTY, THEY WERE GETTING 1486 01:16:28,914 --> 01:16:30,614 BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN. 1487 01:16:30,649 --> 01:16:33,317 REALLY? YEAH. WHICH WAS USED FOR MAKING PLATES. 1488 01:16:33,352 --> 01:16:35,119 IF YOU HAD SAID THIS WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, 1489 01:16:35,154 --> 01:16:37,254 NO ONE WOULD HAVE BELIEVED IT. 1490 01:16:37,289 --> 01:16:39,456 THE MYTH OF AFRICA WAS THAT 1491 01:16:39,492 --> 01:16:41,759 ALL THESE AFRICANS ARE RUNNING AROUND, 1492 01:16:41,794 --> 01:16:44,228 NOT BEING VERY BRIGHT, WAITING FOR SOME 1493 01:16:44,263 --> 01:16:46,430 EUROPEAN TO DISCOVER THEM. HA HA HA! 1494 01:16:46,465 --> 01:16:48,165 BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S TOTAL RUBBISH. 1495 01:16:48,200 --> 01:16:50,801 THE SO-CALLED MYTH OF A DARK CONTINENT 1496 01:16:50,836 --> 01:16:52,636 DOES NOT HOLD WATER. 1497 01:16:52,671 --> 01:16:55,773 IF YOU LOOK AT 1,000 YEARS OF EXCHANGE 1498 01:16:55,808 --> 01:16:57,641 BETWEEN THIS PART OF THE CONTINENT 1499 01:16:57,676 --> 01:16:59,943 WITH THE INDIAN OCEAN, ACROSS, 1500 01:16:59,979 --> 01:17:02,579 AND THEN, OF COURSE, BEYOND TO THE MIDDLE EAST, 1501 01:17:02,615 --> 01:17:03,847 INDIA AND CHINA. IN OTHER WORDS, 1502 01:17:03,883 --> 01:17:05,582 THE WORLD WAS MULTICULTURAL 1503 01:17:05,618 --> 01:17:07,251 OVER 1,000 YEARS AGO. 1504 01:17:07,286 --> 01:17:08,919 ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. 1505 01:17:08,954 --> 01:17:12,656 HOST: BY THE 1420S, GREAT ZIMBABWE WAS IN DECLINE. 1506 01:17:12,691 --> 01:17:15,392 A NEW TRADE ROUTE ALLOWED SWAHILI MERCHANTS 1507 01:17:15,427 --> 01:17:17,594 TO CIRCUMVENT THE OLD ROUTES, 1508 01:17:17,630 --> 01:17:20,464 DIVERTING GOLD BEFORE IT EVER REACHED GREAT ZIMBABWE, 1509 01:17:20,499 --> 01:17:23,834 LEADING TO ITS DECLINE AND KILWA'S AS WELL. 1510 01:17:23,869 --> 01:17:26,670 BUT THESE TOWERING RUINS BEAR WITNESS 1511 01:17:26,705 --> 01:17:30,340 TO THE CIVILIZATION THAT DWELLED HERE SO REGALLY 1512 01:17:30,376 --> 01:17:31,742 FOR CENTURIES. 1513 01:17:31,777 --> 01:17:34,311 MAN: IT TELLS US THAT AFRICANS WERE BUILDING CITIES 1514 01:17:34,346 --> 01:17:37,214 IN THE 13TH CENTURY AND 14TH CENTURY AND 15TH CENTURY, 1515 01:17:37,249 --> 01:17:40,017 CONTRARY TO THIS NOTION THAT AFRICA IS, 1516 01:17:40,052 --> 01:17:42,352 TO SOME PEOPLE, IT'S A PLACE WHERE 1517 01:17:42,388 --> 01:17:45,289 THERE ARE ANIMALS AND YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF VILLAGES. 1518 01:17:45,324 --> 01:17:47,825 BUT IT SHOWS THAT THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL 1519 01:17:47,860 --> 01:17:50,694 TECHNOLOGICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND THAT 1520 01:17:50,729 --> 01:17:54,198 ALL THESE EXPLOITS WERE THE WORK OF AFRICANS. 1521 01:17:54,233 --> 01:17:55,599 MATENGA: THERE HAS BEEN DEBATE ABOUT 1522 01:17:55,634 --> 01:17:57,234 WHAT IS A CIVILIZATION. 1523 01:17:57,269 --> 01:18:00,704 CIVILIZATION HAS BEEN RATHER SORT OF WRONGLY DEFINED AS 1524 01:18:00,739 --> 01:18:04,441 THE ABILITY TO WRITE, LEAVE TEXT. 1525 01:18:04,476 --> 01:18:06,243 I BELIEVE IN ITS OWN WAY, 1526 01:18:06,278 --> 01:18:07,578 THIS PLACE IS A TEXT. 1527 01:18:07,613 --> 01:18:09,880 IT IS A TEXT. IT IS A TEXT BECAUSE 1528 01:18:09,915 --> 01:18:11,849 A TEXT IS ABOUT COMMUNICATING MESSAGES. 1529 01:18:11,884 --> 01:18:15,052 MM-HMM. SO, THIS IS A MEDIUM THROUGH WHICH 1530 01:18:15,087 --> 01:18:17,020 YOU CAN COMMUNICATE MESSAGES. 1531 01:18:17,056 --> 01:18:18,755 THIS IS A SUBLIME MANIFESTATION 1532 01:18:18,791 --> 01:18:20,123 OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT. 1533 01:18:20,159 --> 01:18:21,358 ABSOLUTELY. 1534 01:18:27,666 --> 01:18:29,933 HOST: AT THE SAME TIME THAT GREAT ZIMBABWE 1535 01:18:29,969 --> 01:18:31,802 AND THE SWAHILI COAST 1536 01:18:31,837 --> 01:18:34,238 WERE FLOURISHING IN EAST AFRICA, 1537 01:18:34,273 --> 01:18:36,707 CIVILIZATIONS IN WEST AFRICA 1538 01:18:36,742 --> 01:18:40,978 WERE IGNITING AN ARTISTIC REVOLUTION. 1539 01:18:41,013 --> 01:18:44,581 TODAY, BENIN CITY IS PART OF NIGERIA, 1540 01:18:44,617 --> 01:18:48,118 COMPLETELY REBUILT AFTER IT WAS BURNED AND LOOTED 1541 01:18:48,153 --> 01:18:52,556 BY BRITAIN'S INVADING ARMY IN 1897. 1542 01:18:52,591 --> 01:18:55,692 BUT AT ITS PEAK, IT WAS AT THE CENTER OF A KINGDOM 1543 01:18:55,728 --> 01:18:59,796 THAT CONTROLLED OVER 20,000 SQUARE MILES. 1544 01:18:59,832 --> 01:19:05,002 AND AT ITS HEART SAT THE ROYAL PALACE OF THE OBA, THE KING. 1545 01:19:05,037 --> 01:19:07,871 THE SUBLIME ART THAT BENIN'S ARTISTS CREATED 1546 01:19:07,907 --> 01:19:10,707 REVEALS AN URBAN SOCIETY THAT WAS BOTH 1547 01:19:10,743 --> 01:19:12,943 COMPLEX AND SOPHISTICATED. 1548 01:19:14,780 --> 01:19:17,314 THESE TREASURES OF CLASSIC WORLD ART 1549 01:19:17,349 --> 01:19:22,119 ARE KNOWN TODAY AS THE BENIN BRONZES. 1550 01:19:22,154 --> 01:19:23,253 WHEN I LOOK AT THAT, I SEE 1551 01:19:23,289 --> 01:19:26,156 A BROTHER WITH DREADLOCKS WEARING A TURTLENECK. 1552 01:19:26,191 --> 01:19:28,358 HA HA! WHAT DO YOU SEE, ART HISTORIAN? 1553 01:19:28,394 --> 01:19:30,227 THAT'S A GREAT COMMENTARY ON IT. 1554 01:19:30,262 --> 01:19:32,396 IT'S AN IDEALIZED PORTRAIT OF 1555 01:19:32,431 --> 01:19:34,031 ONE OF THE KINGS OF BENIN, 1556 01:19:34,066 --> 01:19:36,466 AND THE DREADLOCKS, AS YOU ARE CALLING THEM, 1557 01:19:36,502 --> 01:19:38,902 ARE ACTUALLY STRINGS OF CORAL. 1558 01:19:38,938 --> 01:19:41,538 WHAT WAS THE FUNCTION OF THE HEAD OF THE OBA? 1559 01:19:41,573 --> 01:19:44,007 WELL, THESE WERE PLACED ON A ROYAL ALTAR 1560 01:19:44,043 --> 01:19:45,742 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PALACE. 1561 01:19:45,778 --> 01:19:47,377 EACH KING, ONCE HE DIED, 1562 01:19:47,413 --> 01:19:49,246 HAD AN ALTAR MADE FOR HIM. 1563 01:19:49,281 --> 01:19:51,481 THEY WOULD'VE BEEN MADE BY A PATRON 1564 01:19:51,517 --> 01:19:53,050 WHO WOULD'VE BEEN A LATER KING 1565 01:19:53,085 --> 01:19:54,818 HONORING HIS PREDECESSOR. 1566 01:19:54,853 --> 01:19:56,119 MM. 1567 01:19:56,155 --> 01:19:57,854 THE MAN CHIEFLY RESPONSIBLE 1568 01:19:57,890 --> 01:20:00,590 FOR INITIATING THIS ARTISTIC TRADITION 1569 01:20:00,626 --> 01:20:02,826 WAS A 15TH-CENTURY OBA 1570 01:20:02,861 --> 01:20:05,829 KNOWN AS EWUARE THE GREAT. 1571 01:20:05,864 --> 01:20:07,531 ACCORDING TO ORAL TRADITION, 1572 01:20:07,566 --> 01:20:10,534 EWUARE SEIZED POWER FROM HIS BROTHER 1573 01:20:10,569 --> 01:20:13,503 AFTER YEARS OF CIVIL WAR. 1574 01:20:13,539 --> 01:20:16,106 WOMAN: EWUARE THE GREAT IS ONE OF THESE 1575 01:20:16,141 --> 01:20:18,709 REMARKABLE FIGURES IN HUMAN HISTORY 1576 01:20:18,744 --> 01:20:22,746 WHO IS SEEN TO HAVE DONE A LOT FOR THE KINGDOM. 1577 01:20:22,781 --> 01:20:27,217 THERE ARE MANY TRADITIONS THAT ARE CREDITED BACK TO HIS REIGN. 1578 01:20:27,252 --> 01:20:29,353 I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT 1579 01:20:29,388 --> 01:20:32,689 HE REBUILDS THE CITY AND A PALACE IN IT. 1580 01:20:32,725 --> 01:20:35,325 HOST: FROM THE YEAR 900, THE EDO PEOPLE 1581 01:20:35,361 --> 01:20:37,127 HAD BEGUN TO CARVE A HOME 1582 01:20:37,162 --> 01:20:40,063 OUT OF THE WEST AFRICAN RAINFOREST. 1583 01:20:40,099 --> 01:20:43,600 THE PEOPLE REMAINED WITHIN SMALL VILLAGE CHIEFDOMS, 1584 01:20:43,635 --> 01:20:47,104 BUT OVER TIME, A CENTRALIZED CITY-STATE EMERGED 1585 01:20:47,139 --> 01:20:50,107 THAT BY THE 15TH CENTURY WAS ABOUT TO UNDERGO 1586 01:20:50,142 --> 01:20:53,110 A REMARKABLE TRANSFORMATION. 1587 01:20:53,145 --> 01:20:56,246 WHEN EWUARE BECAME OBA IN 1440, 1588 01:20:56,281 --> 01:20:59,816 HE ORDERED AN EXTRAORDINARY ENGINEERING PROJECT-- 1589 01:20:59,852 --> 01:21:02,285 TO REBUILD THE CITY AS A STRONGHOLD 1590 01:21:02,321 --> 01:21:04,955 FROM WHICH HE COULD EXPAND HIS KINGDOM. 1591 01:21:04,990 --> 01:21:09,459 MAN: BENIN HAD A VERY ELABORATE SYSTEM OF EARTHWORKS 1592 01:21:09,495 --> 01:21:11,862 THAT WENT NOT JUST AROUND THE CITY ITSELF, 1593 01:21:11,897 --> 01:21:15,132 AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRYSIDE, TOO. 1594 01:21:15,167 --> 01:21:17,567 I THINK IT'S THE LONGEST EARTHWORKS SYSTEM 1595 01:21:17,603 --> 01:21:19,069 IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. 1596 01:21:19,104 --> 01:21:22,439 HOST: ESTIMATED TO BE LONGER THAN THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, 1597 01:21:22,474 --> 01:21:26,710 THE WALLS ENCOMPASSED OVER 500 SURROUNDING VILLAGES 1598 01:21:26,745 --> 01:21:31,148 AND HAVE BEEN CALLED THE WORLD'S LARGEST ANCIENT MONUMENT. 1599 01:21:31,183 --> 01:21:33,884 THEIR PURPOSE WAS NOT ONLY TO KEEP OUT ENEMIES 1600 01:21:33,919 --> 01:21:36,119 BUT TO KEEP OUT THE FOREST AS WELL. 1601 01:21:36,155 --> 01:21:38,055 BOUNDARIES ARE VERY IMPORTANT 1602 01:21:38,090 --> 01:21:41,992 IN MANY INDIGENOUS WEST AFRICAN SOCIETIES. 1603 01:21:42,027 --> 01:21:44,327 IN BENIN, THERE'S A SENSE IN WHICH 1604 01:21:44,363 --> 01:21:46,063 THE SPACE OF HUMAN SETTLEMENT 1605 01:21:46,098 --> 01:21:48,865 WAS MAINTAINED THROUGH CONSTANT WORK 1606 01:21:48,901 --> 01:21:51,501 TO KEEP THE FOREST AT BAY. 1607 01:21:51,537 --> 01:21:53,703 HOST: BUT FOR EWUARE THE GREAT, 1608 01:21:53,739 --> 01:21:56,807 THE CITY'S WALLS SERVED STILL ANOTHER PURPOSE. 1609 01:21:56,842 --> 01:21:58,542 THORNTON: WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT ALL OF THOSE 1610 01:21:58,577 --> 01:22:00,143 EARTHWORKS AROUND BENIN 1611 01:22:00,179 --> 01:22:01,778 IS THAT THEIR PURPOSE IS TO KEEP 1612 01:22:01,814 --> 01:22:05,715 PEOPLE FROM MOVING ANYWHERE EXCEPT THROUGH DESIGNATED AREAS. 1613 01:22:05,751 --> 01:22:08,251 YOU COULDN'T GO ANYWHERE IN BENIN 1614 01:22:08,287 --> 01:22:09,786 WITHOUT PASSING THROUGH A GATE, 1615 01:22:09,822 --> 01:22:11,021 AND THERE WOULD BE A GUARD THERE 1616 01:22:11,056 --> 01:22:12,289 AND HE WOULD INQUIRE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS 1617 01:22:12,324 --> 01:22:14,057 AND SO ON, SO, EVERYTHING WAS CHANNELED THROUGH 1618 01:22:14,093 --> 01:22:16,426 THIS VERY ELABORATE BUREAUCRACY. 1619 01:22:16,462 --> 01:22:19,963 HOST: BENIN CITY BECAME A MILITARY FORTRESS. 1620 01:22:19,998 --> 01:22:24,234 RESIDENTS UNHAPPY WITH EWUARE'S RESTRUCTURING OF BENIN SOCIETY 1621 01:22:24,269 --> 01:22:26,703 WERE PREVENTED FROM FLEEING. 1622 01:22:26,738 --> 01:22:29,973 OBEDIENCE AND CONTROL, EWUARE BELIEVED, 1623 01:22:30,008 --> 01:22:32,609 ENCOURAGED STABILITY AND STRENGTH. 1624 01:22:32,644 --> 01:22:34,478 BUT HE ALSO KNEW OTHER WAYS 1625 01:22:34,513 --> 01:22:36,746 TO INSPIRE HIS SUBJECTS' LOYALTY. 1626 01:22:38,884 --> 01:22:41,952 AKYEAMPONG: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS NOTABLY SIGNIFICANT 1627 01:22:41,987 --> 01:22:43,620 WAS THAT WITHIN THE PALACE 1628 01:22:43,655 --> 01:22:45,755 HE BUILDS QUARTERS FOR CRAFTSMEN, 1629 01:22:45,791 --> 01:22:47,524 AND THAT IS ALSO CONNECTED 1630 01:22:47,559 --> 01:22:49,693 TO HIS PATRONAGE OF THE ARTS 1631 01:22:49,728 --> 01:22:51,862 AND THE FLOURISH OF THE ARTS. 1632 01:22:51,897 --> 01:22:53,396 HOST: THOSE CRAFTSMEN WERE KNOWN 1633 01:22:53,432 --> 01:22:55,565 AS SERVANTS OF THE OBA. 1634 01:22:55,601 --> 01:22:58,435 IN RETURN FOR HIS PATRONAGE AND PROTECTION, 1635 01:22:58,470 --> 01:23:00,804 THEY PRODUCED ELABORATELY DETAILED 1636 01:23:00,839 --> 01:23:03,907 METAL PLAQUES THAT DECORATED THE INTERIOR 1637 01:23:03,942 --> 01:23:05,976 OF THE OBA'S PALACE. 1638 01:23:06,011 --> 01:23:08,178 AKYEAMPONG: FROM THAT PERIOD, WE SEE 1639 01:23:08,213 --> 01:23:10,747 MILITARISM BECOME IMPORTANT 1640 01:23:10,782 --> 01:23:12,849 AND THE ANNEXATION OF TERRITORY, 1641 01:23:12,885 --> 01:23:14,818 AND THESE THEN ARE REFLECTED 1642 01:23:14,853 --> 01:23:17,587 IN THE PLAQUES THAT ARE MADE. 1643 01:23:19,424 --> 01:23:21,091 PRESTON BLIER: THEY'RE INCREDIBLY DETAILED 1644 01:23:21,126 --> 01:23:24,294 IN TERMS OF THE PORTRAYAL OF VARIOUS FIGURES 1645 01:23:24,329 --> 01:23:26,830 IN RICH KINDS OF REGALIA, 1646 01:23:26,865 --> 01:23:28,732 ENGAGED IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES. 1647 01:23:28,767 --> 01:23:31,735 YOU CAN SEE THE OBA OR KING. IN A NUMBER OF THEM, 1648 01:23:31,770 --> 01:23:36,606 YOU SEE VARIOUS OF HIS MINISTERS AND SERVANTS AND PRIESTS. 1649 01:23:36,642 --> 01:23:39,009 THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PORTRAYALS OF 1650 01:23:39,044 --> 01:23:42,212 SITUATIONS OF WAR WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO WAR 1651 01:23:42,247 --> 01:23:46,183 OR COMING BACK AFTER A MILITARY VICTORY. 1652 01:23:46,218 --> 01:23:50,120 HOST: EWUARE, THE FIRST OF 5 GREAT WARRIOR KINGS, 1653 01:23:50,155 --> 01:23:52,522 COULD MOBILIZE 20,000 SOLDIERS 1654 01:23:52,558 --> 01:23:54,157 IN A SINGLE DAY. 1655 01:23:54,193 --> 01:23:56,226 DURING THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURIES, 1656 01:23:56,261 --> 01:23:58,094 EWUARE AND HIS SUCCESSORS 1657 01:23:58,130 --> 01:24:01,565 WAGED A SERIES OF WARS AGAINST NEIGHBORING STATES 1658 01:24:01,600 --> 01:24:03,433 AND THEY COMMEMORATED THEIR VICTORIES 1659 01:24:03,468 --> 01:24:06,069 IN A MOST UNUSUAL FASHION. 1660 01:24:06,104 --> 01:24:08,505 SUZANNE, WHO IS THIS GENTLEMAN? 1661 01:24:08,540 --> 01:24:10,607 ONE OF THE THEORIES ABOUT THIS WORK 1662 01:24:10,642 --> 01:24:13,376 IS IT REPRESENTS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL FROM BENIN 1663 01:24:13,412 --> 01:24:15,979 BUT RATHER A DEFEATED ENEMY OF SOME SORT. 1664 01:24:16,014 --> 01:24:17,447 I THINK ONE OF THE STRIKING THINGS 1665 01:24:17,482 --> 01:24:19,783 IN MANY AFRICAN ART CONTEXTS 1666 01:24:19,818 --> 01:24:22,619 IS THERE'S OFTEN AS MUCH EMPHASIS GIVEN 1667 01:24:22,654 --> 01:24:24,988 TO HONORING SOMEBODY OF IMPORTANCE 1668 01:24:25,023 --> 01:24:26,923 WHOM ONE DEFEATED 1669 01:24:26,959 --> 01:24:28,658 AS THERE IS IN PORTRAYING 1670 01:24:28,694 --> 01:24:31,328 IMPORTANT INDIVIDUALS IN ONE'S OWN SOCIETY. 1671 01:24:31,363 --> 01:24:33,330 SO, IF YOU SHOW YOUR ENEMY AS BRAVE 1672 01:24:33,365 --> 01:24:35,398 AND STRONG AND REGAL, 1673 01:24:35,434 --> 01:24:36,633 AND YOU DEFEATED HIM, 1674 01:24:36,668 --> 01:24:38,401 THEN YOU ARE BRAVE AND STRONG AND REGAL. 1675 01:24:38,437 --> 01:24:40,470 EXACTLY, AND THAT'S IN PART THE POINT. 1676 01:24:40,505 --> 01:24:42,973 YOU'RE SAYING, "WHO'S THE MAN? ME, BECAUSE I DEFEATED HIM." 1677 01:24:43,008 --> 01:24:45,208 EXACTLY. WOULD HE HAVE BEEN BEHEADED? 1678 01:24:45,244 --> 01:24:46,476 MOST LIKELY. THAT WAS ONE OF 1679 01:24:46,511 --> 01:24:49,179 THE MAIN MEANS OF EXECUTION, SO, 1680 01:24:49,214 --> 01:24:52,115 THAT IDEA OF AN HONORIFIC PORTRAIT HEAD 1681 01:24:52,150 --> 01:24:55,018 AND A TROPHY HEAD, THEY SOMETIMES MERGE. 1682 01:24:56,088 --> 01:24:58,955 BUT DOES IT LOOK LIKE THE DEFEATED KING? 1683 01:24:58,991 --> 01:25:02,592 NO. THE IDEA OF AN EXACT REPRESENTATION 1684 01:25:02,628 --> 01:25:03,927 IS SOMETHING THAT FOR THE MOST PART 1685 01:25:03,962 --> 01:25:05,161 WAS NOT DONE IN AFRICA. 1686 01:25:05,197 --> 01:25:07,397 THERE'S MUCH GREATER SENSE ON TIMELESSNESS 1687 01:25:07,432 --> 01:25:08,832 AND MONUMENTALITY, 1688 01:25:08,867 --> 01:25:10,767 WHICH COMES WHEN ONE IS CREATING 1689 01:25:10,802 --> 01:25:13,303 AN IDEALIZED PORTRAIT. 1690 01:25:13,338 --> 01:25:15,438 HOST: ALTHOUGH THEY'RE CALLED BRONZES, 1691 01:25:15,474 --> 01:25:19,776 THESE HEADS ARE IN FACT CAST FROM BRASS. 1692 01:25:19,811 --> 01:25:23,146 THE INTRICATE SKILL INVOLVED IN MEMORIALIZING THEIR KINGS, 1693 01:25:23,181 --> 01:25:24,781 AND THEIR CONQUERED OPPONENTS, 1694 01:25:24,816 --> 01:25:27,050 SPEAKS TO A SOCIETY THAT WAS BOTH 1695 01:25:27,085 --> 01:25:30,587 SUBLIMELY SELF-CONFIDENT AND EXTREMELY PROUD. 1696 01:25:33,158 --> 01:25:34,658 WHERE DOES THIS PIECE STAND 1697 01:25:34,693 --> 01:25:37,060 IN THE CANON OF LATE 15TH-CENTURY ART 1698 01:25:37,095 --> 01:25:38,328 THROUGHOUT THE WORLD? 1699 01:25:38,363 --> 01:25:39,729 THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY WORK, 1700 01:25:39,765 --> 01:25:42,032 BOTH IN THE EFFECT OF ITS PRESENCE 1701 01:25:42,067 --> 01:25:44,367 AND ITS TECHNOLOGY. 1702 01:25:44,403 --> 01:25:46,002 AND AT THIS TIME, THE CASTING IS 1703 01:25:46,038 --> 01:25:49,306 REALLY JUST VERY, VERY THIN AND VERY PRECISE. 1704 01:25:49,341 --> 01:25:51,374 AS A WORK OF ART, IT REALLY STANDS 1705 01:25:51,410 --> 01:25:52,976 RIGHT UP THERE AMONG 1706 01:25:53,011 --> 01:25:55,512 THE REAL CANON OF ART HISTORY. 1707 01:25:59,384 --> 01:26:01,518 HOST: REMARKABLY, THESE BRONZES 1708 01:26:01,553 --> 01:26:04,154 CAPTURE A MOMENT THAT WOULD ALTER THE COURSE 1709 01:26:04,189 --> 01:26:06,256 OF AFRICAN HISTORY-- 1710 01:26:06,291 --> 01:26:08,858 THE ARRIVAL OF THE PORTUGUESE. 1711 01:26:08,894 --> 01:26:11,828 TO THE PEOPLE OF BENIN, THE PORTUGUESE 1712 01:26:11,863 --> 01:26:14,931 INITIALLY REPRESENTED A NEW MARKET, 1713 01:26:14,966 --> 01:26:17,801 JUST ANOTHER GROUP WITH WHICH TO TRADE. 1714 01:26:17,836 --> 01:26:19,669 WHAT'S COMING FROM EUROPE? 1715 01:26:19,705 --> 01:26:22,205 BY THIS TIME, THE METAL IS COMING FROM EUROPE 1716 01:26:22,240 --> 01:26:24,974 AND THERE IS AN EXCHANGE OF INDIVIDUALS, 1717 01:26:25,010 --> 01:26:26,943 IDEAS, AND MATERIALS. 1718 01:26:26,978 --> 01:26:29,145 SO, WAS IT A RELATIONSHIP OF EQUALITY? 1719 01:26:29,181 --> 01:26:31,247 EACH WAS OFFERING DIFFERENT ELEMENTS 1720 01:26:31,283 --> 01:26:32,582 TO THE RELATIONSHIP. 1721 01:26:32,617 --> 01:26:33,817 FOR THE PORTUGUESE, THIS WAS 1722 01:26:33,852 --> 01:26:35,652 A CENTER FOR EXCHANGE. 1723 01:26:35,687 --> 01:26:38,355 FOR THE EDO OF BENIN CITY, 1724 01:26:38,390 --> 01:26:40,557 THEY USED THE PORTUGUESE AS SOLDIERS, 1725 01:26:40,592 --> 01:26:41,958 AND SO, IN A CERTAIN SENSE, 1726 01:26:41,993 --> 01:26:43,326 IT WAS AN EQUAL EXCHANGE. 1727 01:26:43,362 --> 01:26:44,594 SO, THE KING WAS HIRING 1728 01:26:44,629 --> 01:26:46,296 PORTUGUESE SOLDIERS AS MERCENARIES. 1729 01:26:46,331 --> 01:26:48,264 YES. THEY WERE HIRED AS MERCENARIES. 1730 01:26:48,300 --> 01:26:50,800 IT HELPED THEM TO EXPAND THE DOMAIN 1731 01:26:50,836 --> 01:26:53,103 OF THE EMPIRE OF BENIN. 1732 01:26:56,508 --> 01:26:58,141 HOST: THE PORTUGUESE, HOWEVER, 1733 01:26:58,176 --> 01:27:00,643 HAD EXPANSIONIST AMBITIONS OF THEIR OWN. 1734 01:27:08,887 --> 01:27:10,954 BACK ON THE EAST COAST OF AFRICA, 1735 01:27:10,989 --> 01:27:12,922 BY THE END OF THE 15TH CENTURY, 1736 01:27:12,958 --> 01:27:16,693 THE SWAHILI STONE CITIES WERE STILL THRIVING. 1737 01:27:16,728 --> 01:27:21,131 KILWA, NOW HOME TO AS MANY AS 12,000 INHABITANTS, 1738 01:27:21,166 --> 01:27:23,933 HAD LONG MINTED ITS OWN GOLD COINS. 1739 01:27:25,670 --> 01:27:28,438 LITTLE DID THEY REALIZE THAT THEIR DOMINANCE 1740 01:27:28,473 --> 01:27:30,640 WAS ABOUT TO BE FATALLY CHALLENGED 1741 01:27:30,675 --> 01:27:32,876 BY PORTUGUESE FORTUNE HUNTERS. 1742 01:27:34,446 --> 01:27:38,314 TOPAN: THE PORTUGUESE CAME WITH AN AGENDA OF THEIR OWN 1743 01:27:38,350 --> 01:27:43,787 AND THEY WERE VERY MUCH THERE TO TAKE AND TO SUBDUE. 1744 01:27:43,822 --> 01:27:45,922 LAVIOLETTE: THE PORTUGUESE WERE ESSENTIALLY PIRATES IN MANY WAYS. 1745 01:27:45,957 --> 01:27:47,757 I MEAN, THEY ARE-- THEY WERE A PIRATE CULTURE 1746 01:27:47,793 --> 01:27:50,293 INTO A VERY THRIVING, EXISTING SYSTEM. 1747 01:27:50,328 --> 01:27:52,495 THEY WANTED TO CO-OPT EXISTING TRADE ROUTES 1748 01:27:52,531 --> 01:27:53,663 AND MAKE THEM THEIR OWN. 1749 01:27:53,698 --> 01:27:55,231 THEY WANTED TO SEIZE PORTS. 1750 01:27:55,267 --> 01:27:56,933 THEY WANTED TO TAX PORTS. 1751 01:27:56,968 --> 01:27:59,602 THEY DISRUPTED A WORLD IN WHICH THEY HAD NO PART. 1752 01:27:59,638 --> 01:28:01,438 THEY INSERTED THEMSELVES IN THAT. 1753 01:28:01,473 --> 01:28:03,740 THEY WERE LOOKING FOR ECONOMIC TOEHOLDS IN DIFFERENT PLACES 1754 01:28:03,775 --> 01:28:05,975 AND TO DISRUPT AND TO EXPLOIT. 1755 01:28:08,447 --> 01:28:11,047 HOST: THE PORTUGUESE BELIEVED THAT KILWA 1756 01:28:11,082 --> 01:28:12,816 WAS THE KEY TO THE GOLD TRADE 1757 01:28:12,851 --> 01:28:15,318 AND EAGERLY DESIRED TO CONQUER THE CITY 1758 01:28:15,353 --> 01:28:17,487 TO CONTROL THAT LUCRATIVE TRADE. 1759 01:28:21,560 --> 01:28:24,260 BOLD IN AMBITION, RUTHLESS IN METHOD, 1760 01:28:24,296 --> 01:28:27,564 THE PORTUGUESE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASY TO DEFEAT THE SULTAN 1761 01:28:27,599 --> 01:28:30,600 AND THEN TAKE CONTROL OF THIS SOPHISTICATED 1762 01:28:30,635 --> 01:28:32,802 MARKET ECONOMY. 1763 01:28:32,838 --> 01:28:38,041 IN 1505, A FLEET OF 11 HEAVILY-ARMED PORTUGUESE SHIPS 1764 01:28:38,076 --> 01:28:41,511 CARRYING 500 MEN DOCKED AT KILWA. 1765 01:28:41,546 --> 01:28:44,347 THEIR CAPTAIN WAS FRANCISCO ALMEIDA, 1766 01:28:44,382 --> 01:28:46,683 A PROUD AND EXPERIENCED MAN, 1767 01:28:46,718 --> 01:28:50,019 RECENTLY APPOINTED THE PORTUGUESE VICEROY OF INDIA. 1768 01:28:50,055 --> 01:28:52,355 WHEN THE SULTAN REFUSED TO SURRENDER, 1769 01:28:52,390 --> 01:28:54,858 ALMEIDA'S RESPONSE WAS SWIFT. 1770 01:28:57,863 --> 01:29:00,964 ALMEIDA AND HIS MEN RESORTED TO FORCE. 1771 01:29:00,999 --> 01:29:03,600 THEY BOMBARDED THE CITY WITH CANNON. 1772 01:29:03,635 --> 01:29:06,336 THE CORAL BUILDINGS WERE NO MATCH 1773 01:29:06,371 --> 01:29:08,638 FOR ALL THAT PORTUGUESE FIREPOWER. 1774 01:29:10,075 --> 01:29:13,977 WEAKENED BY INFIGHTING AND LOCAL RIVALRIES, 1775 01:29:14,012 --> 01:29:16,846 KILWA WAS HARD PRESSED TO DEFEND ITSELF. 1776 01:29:20,819 --> 01:29:23,987 THE PORTUGUESE ATTACK DELIVERED THE FINAL BLOW 1777 01:29:24,022 --> 01:29:26,155 TO THIS ONCE-GREAT CITY. 1778 01:29:26,191 --> 01:29:29,259 AS A CONSEQUENCE, ALMEIDA AND HIS MEN 1779 01:29:29,294 --> 01:29:32,061 SECURED A VITAL STRATEGIC STRONGHOLD 1780 01:29:32,097 --> 01:29:34,998 ON THE SWAHILI COAST. 1781 01:29:35,033 --> 01:29:37,200 BUT THEY MADE A FUNDAMENTAL MISTAKE. 1782 01:29:39,137 --> 01:29:40,803 ARROGANTLY, THEY INTERFERED 1783 01:29:40,839 --> 01:29:42,539 WITH A TRADING ECONOMY 1784 01:29:42,574 --> 01:29:45,074 THAT HAD EVOLVED OVER CENTURIES. 1785 01:29:45,110 --> 01:29:47,377 MAPUNDA: FROM THAT MOMENT, EAST AFRICA 1786 01:29:47,412 --> 01:29:50,613 IS FALLING IN THE HANDS OF THE EUROPEANS. 1787 01:29:50,649 --> 01:29:52,181 MM-HMM. THEIR INTEREST 1788 01:29:52,217 --> 01:29:55,818 IS NOT TO ACTUALLY PROMOTE TRADE. 1789 01:29:55,854 --> 01:29:58,555 HAD THEY BEEN SMART, ACTUALLY, WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE DONE, 1790 01:29:58,590 --> 01:30:01,491 JUST TO TAKE CONTROL POLITICALLY, 1791 01:30:01,526 --> 01:30:03,760 AND THEN LET THE BUSINESS GO ON. 1792 01:30:03,795 --> 01:30:04,861 AND TAKE THEIR CUT. 1793 01:30:04,896 --> 01:30:06,095 [LAUGHS] EXACTLY. 1794 01:30:06,131 --> 01:30:07,363 BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT. 1795 01:30:07,399 --> 01:30:09,832 LEAVE THE POLITICAL PARTS, THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED, 1796 01:30:09,868 --> 01:30:11,701 BUT JUST THE COMMERCE. 1797 01:30:11,736 --> 01:30:14,103 NOW, THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS COMMERCE 1798 01:30:14,139 --> 01:30:17,307 HAS BEEN THERE GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME 1799 01:30:17,342 --> 01:30:20,043 AND IT WAS A SYSTEM. 1800 01:30:20,078 --> 01:30:22,445 HOST: FOLLOWING THE SACKING OF KILWA, 1801 01:30:22,480 --> 01:30:26,416 THE PORTUGUESE CONTINUE TO UPSET TRADE ON THE SWAHILI COAST 1802 01:30:26,451 --> 01:30:29,352 IN THEIR AGGRESSIVE PURSUIT OF PROFITS. 1803 01:30:29,387 --> 01:30:30,720 LAVIOLETTE: THE EFFECT OF THE PORTUGUESE 1804 01:30:30,755 --> 01:30:34,691 ON THE INDIAN OCEAN TRADING SYSTEM IS UNDENIABLE. 1805 01:30:36,161 --> 01:30:38,094 THEY CAME IN TO DISRUPT AND TO EXPLOIT, 1806 01:30:38,129 --> 01:30:39,862 AND IT'S THE WHOLE INDIAN OCEAN SYSTEM 1807 01:30:39,898 --> 01:30:41,164 THAT THEY ENDED UP DISRUPTING. 1808 01:30:41,199 --> 01:30:44,300 SO, IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE DECLINE OF A SYSTEM. 1809 01:30:46,137 --> 01:30:48,471 HOST: BUT IT WAS MORE THAN GOLD AND THE SPICE TRADE 1810 01:30:48,506 --> 01:30:50,440 THAT THE PORTUGUESE HAD BEEN SEEKING. 1811 01:30:52,043 --> 01:30:54,344 THEIR NAVIGATORS CARRIED A LETTER 1812 01:30:54,379 --> 01:30:57,513 WRITTEN BY THE KING OF PORTUGAL HIMSELF, 1813 01:30:57,549 --> 01:30:59,449 ADDRESSED TO AN INDIVIDUAL 1814 01:30:59,484 --> 01:31:03,486 WHO HAD FASCINATED EUROPEANS FOR CENTURIES. 1815 01:31:03,521 --> 01:31:05,488 THEIR SEARCH WOULD LEAD THEM 1816 01:31:05,523 --> 01:31:08,925 TO THE ANCIENT CHRISTIAN KINGDOM OF ETHIOPIA. 1817 01:31:08,960 --> 01:31:12,395 ETHIOPIA WAS REPLETE WITH BIBLICAL MYTH-- 1818 01:31:12,430 --> 01:31:16,833 A LINE OF KINGS DESCENDED FROM SOLOMON AND THE QUEEN OF SHEBA. 1819 01:31:16,868 --> 01:31:21,904 THE HOME, LEGENDARILY, OF THE ARK OF THE COVENANT ITSELF. 1820 01:31:21,940 --> 01:31:23,806 BUT WHAT THE PORTUGUESE WERE SEEKING 1821 01:31:23,842 --> 01:31:26,576 WAS A SUPERHERO, A WEALTHY AFRICAN KING 1822 01:31:26,611 --> 01:31:30,647 WHOSE SUPERNATURAL POWERS WOULD TURN OUT TO BE A FANTASY 1823 01:31:30,682 --> 01:31:33,983 OF THE EUROPEAN IMAGINATION. 1824 01:31:34,019 --> 01:31:36,386 A LEGENDARY ETHIOPIAN KING 1825 01:31:36,421 --> 01:31:38,254 BECAME A POWERFUL SYMBOL 1826 01:31:38,289 --> 01:31:40,456 OF THE GLORIES OF AFRICA. 1827 01:31:40,492 --> 01:31:43,593 THE EMBODIMENT OF THE RICHES, ROMANCE, AND MYSTERY 1828 01:31:43,628 --> 01:31:46,162 THAT EUROPE IMAGINED THE CONTINENT TO HOLD. 1829 01:31:46,197 --> 01:31:47,730 HIS NAME WAS PRESTER JOHN. 1830 01:31:49,934 --> 01:31:51,634 THE LEGEND OF PRESTER JOHN 1831 01:31:51,670 --> 01:31:55,004 AROSE DURING THE CRUSADES OF THE 12TH CENTURY. 1832 01:31:55,040 --> 01:31:59,342 THE IDEA OF A MIGHTY CHRISTIAN ALLY LOCATED IN THE EAST 1833 01:31:59,377 --> 01:32:01,477 CAPTURED CHRISTENDOM'S FANCY. 1834 01:32:01,513 --> 01:32:04,347 HE WAS, IT WAS SAID, RICH AND POWERFUL, 1835 01:32:04,382 --> 01:32:06,916 DESCENDED FROM ONE OF THE 3 MAGI 1836 01:32:06,951 --> 01:32:08,484 AND IMMORTAL. 1837 01:32:08,520 --> 01:32:11,054 THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH WAS LOCATED IN HIS KINGDOM, 1838 01:32:11,089 --> 01:32:13,389 WHICH EXPLAINED WHY HE WAS STILL AROUND 1839 01:32:13,425 --> 01:32:14,991 ALL THESE CENTURIES LATER. 1840 01:32:16,194 --> 01:32:20,063 THIS GREATEST OF KINGS, PRESTER JOHN, 1841 01:32:20,098 --> 01:32:24,467 HAD THUS FAR ELUDED HIS EUROPEAN PURSUERS. 1842 01:32:24,502 --> 01:32:26,202 EUROPEAN MONARCHS BELIEVED THAT 1843 01:32:26,237 --> 01:32:28,271 IF THEY COULD LOCATE THIS GREAT KING 1844 01:32:28,306 --> 01:32:31,074 AND FORGE MILITARY ALLIANCES WITH HIM, 1845 01:32:31,109 --> 01:32:33,042 THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO REVERSE THE PROGRESS 1846 01:32:33,078 --> 01:32:36,179 OF THE MUSLIM FORCES THAT HAD CONQUERED THE HOLY LAND. 1847 01:32:40,452 --> 01:32:42,852 EUROPE'S QUEST FOR PRESTER JOHN 1848 01:32:42,887 --> 01:32:46,189 HAD A CERTAIN APPEAL FOR THE ETHIOPIANS. 1849 01:32:46,224 --> 01:32:49,859 WOMAN: THE LOCATION OF PRESTER JOHN KEPT ON MOVING. 1850 01:32:49,894 --> 01:32:53,863 WAS HE IN ASIA? WAS HE--WHO KNEW WHERE HE WAS? 1851 01:32:53,898 --> 01:32:56,065 AND THE ETHIOPIANS CAME TO EUROPE 1852 01:32:56,101 --> 01:32:59,402 AND WHEN THEY HEARD THIS MYTH, THEY SAID, "YEAH, THAT'S US. 1853 01:32:59,437 --> 01:33:03,139 WE ARE THOSE PEOPLE. OUR KING IS THE PRESTER JOHN." 1854 01:33:03,174 --> 01:33:06,275 SO, THEY CORRALLED THIS EUROPEAN MYTH 1855 01:33:06,311 --> 01:33:09,879 FOR THEIR OWN USES, AS IT WERE. 1856 01:33:09,914 --> 01:33:12,248 HOST: THE ETHIOPIANS HAD THEIR OWN REASONS 1857 01:33:12,283 --> 01:33:15,885 FOR CLAIMING PRESTER JOHN AS THEIR OWN. 1858 01:33:15,920 --> 01:33:21,624 IN 1306, ETHIOPIA DISPATCHED AN EMBASSY TO THE KING OF SPAIN, 1859 01:33:21,659 --> 01:33:24,160 REQUESTING AID AGAINST THEIR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS. 1860 01:33:25,897 --> 01:33:28,998 100 YEARS LATER, A GROUP OF ETHIOPIAN MONKS 1861 01:33:29,033 --> 01:33:32,702 CONSTITUTED AN OFFICIAL DELEGATION TO THE PAPACY. 1862 01:33:32,737 --> 01:33:35,505 BELCHER: WE OFTEN THINK OF EUROPEANS DISCOVERING AFRICA, 1863 01:33:35,540 --> 01:33:36,773 BUT OF COURSE, IN THIS CASE, 1864 01:33:36,808 --> 01:33:38,608 THE ETHIOPIANS WERE DISCOVERING EUROPE. 1865 01:33:38,643 --> 01:33:40,643 THE ETHIOPIANS WENT TO EUROPE 1866 01:33:40,678 --> 01:33:43,246 IN ORDER TO MAKE RELIGIOUS CONNECTIONS, 1867 01:33:43,281 --> 01:33:46,783 BUT OF COURSE, THE POLITICAL WAS VERY MUCH A PART OF IT AS WELL 1868 01:33:46,818 --> 01:33:49,752 BECAUSE ETHIOPIA WAS SURROUNDED BY ISLAM, 1869 01:33:49,788 --> 01:33:52,555 AND THEY WERE ANXIOUS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. 1870 01:33:54,626 --> 01:33:57,960 HOST: ETHIOPIA HAD LIVED IN A STATE OF UNEASY TENSION 1871 01:33:57,996 --> 01:34:01,063 WITH ITS ISLAMIC NEIGHBORS FOR CENTURIES. 1872 01:34:01,099 --> 01:34:03,633 BUT IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 14TH CENTURY, 1873 01:34:03,668 --> 01:34:07,537 CHRISTIAN ETHIOPIA BECAME AGGRESSIVELY EXPANSIONIST, 1874 01:34:07,572 --> 01:34:11,774 SEIZING THE LAND OF NEIGHBORING MUSLIM SULTANATES. 1875 01:34:11,810 --> 01:34:14,977 BUT THEN THOSE NEIGHBORS FOUGHT BACK. 1876 01:34:17,682 --> 01:34:19,715 MAN: BY THE END OF THE 14TH CENTURY, 1877 01:34:19,751 --> 01:34:22,585 A STRONG ISLAMIC STATE EMERGED 1878 01:34:22,620 --> 01:34:25,021 IN THE EASTERN HIGHLANDS OF ETHIOPIA. 1879 01:34:25,056 --> 01:34:27,256 THAT WAS THE SULTANATE OF ADAL. 1880 01:34:27,292 --> 01:34:29,859 MM-HMM. SO, THE SULTANATE OF ADAL 1881 01:34:29,894 --> 01:34:31,527 AND THE CHRISTIAN KINGDOM 1882 01:34:31,563 --> 01:34:32,995 WERE IN CONTINUOUS CONFLICT. 1883 01:34:33,031 --> 01:34:36,032 THE MAIN REASON WAS CONTROL OF THE TRADE ROUTE 1884 01:34:36,067 --> 01:34:38,968 THAT GOES TO SOUTHWESTERN PARTS OF ETHIOPIA. 1885 01:34:39,003 --> 01:34:39,969 IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. 1886 01:34:40,004 --> 01:34:40,970 YEAH. 1887 01:34:41,005 --> 01:34:44,006 SO, THE ISLAMIC MONARCHY IS EXPANDING. 1888 01:34:44,042 --> 01:34:46,242 EXPANDING. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 16TH CENTURY. 1889 01:34:46,277 --> 01:34:47,243 YEAH. 1890 01:34:49,113 --> 01:34:50,980 HOST: IT SEEMED THAT ETHIOPIANS HAD FOUND 1891 01:34:51,015 --> 01:34:54,217 THE CHRISTIAN ALLY THEY'D BEEN LOOKING FOR. 1892 01:34:55,920 --> 01:34:58,020 THE KING SENT LETTERS TO PORTUGAL 1893 01:34:58,056 --> 01:34:59,255 AND HE WAS EXPECTING... 1894 01:34:59,290 --> 01:35:01,724 REINFORCEMENTS. YEAH, THE PORTUGUESE 1895 01:35:01,759 --> 01:35:03,593 CAME TO ASSIST THE CHRISTIAN KING, 1896 01:35:03,628 --> 01:35:05,228 BUT BY THE TIME THAT THE PORTUGUESE CAME, 1897 01:35:05,263 --> 01:35:07,196 HE WAS ALREADY DEAD AND HE WAS SUCCEEDED BY 1898 01:35:07,232 --> 01:35:08,698 HIS SON GELAWDEWOS, 1899 01:35:08,733 --> 01:35:10,299 AND THEN IN THAT SAME YEAR, 1900 01:35:10,335 --> 01:35:12,235 THE PORTUGUESE ARRIVED AT THE... 1901 01:35:12,270 --> 01:35:13,236 AT MASSAWA. 1902 01:35:13,271 --> 01:35:14,303 AT MASSAWA. 1903 01:35:16,474 --> 01:35:19,275 HOST: THE COMMANDER OF THE PORTUGUESE MUSKETEERS 1904 01:35:19,310 --> 01:35:21,644 WAS CHRISTOPHER DA GAMA. 1905 01:35:21,679 --> 01:35:23,813 HE JOINED FORCES WITH THE ETHIOPIANS 1906 01:35:23,848 --> 01:35:26,048 UNDER THEIR LEADER GELAWDEWOS. 1907 01:35:28,086 --> 01:35:30,853 IN THE YEAR 1543, THE ETHIOPIANS, 1908 01:35:30,889 --> 01:35:33,389 ASSISTED BY PORTUGUESE REINFORCEMENTS, 1909 01:35:33,424 --> 01:35:36,726 INFLICTED A SHARP DEFEAT ON THE ATTACKING ARMY 1910 01:35:36,761 --> 01:35:38,427 FROM THE SULTANATE OF ADAL. 1911 01:35:38,463 --> 01:35:41,397 THEY HAD MANAGED TO SAVE THE CHRISTIAN KINGDOM. 1912 01:35:41,432 --> 01:35:43,366 [PEOPLE SINGING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE] 1913 01:35:45,403 --> 01:35:47,570 HOST: BUT THIS NEW ALLIANCE WITH THE PORTUGUESE 1914 01:35:47,605 --> 01:35:51,440 WOULD HAVE PROFOUND AND DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES FOR ETHIOPIA. 1915 01:35:53,478 --> 01:35:57,146 AT ITS ROOT LAY A FUNDAMENTAL MISUNDERSTANDING. 1916 01:35:57,181 --> 01:35:59,882 WOMAN: GELAWDEWOS BELIEVED THAT HE WAS RECEIVING 1917 01:35:59,918 --> 01:36:03,319 MILITARY AID OUT OF CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIP. 1918 01:36:03,354 --> 01:36:05,021 ON THE OTHER SIDE, IN PORTUGAL, 1919 01:36:05,056 --> 01:36:06,756 THEY BELIEVED THE MILITARY ASSISTANCE 1920 01:36:06,791 --> 01:36:10,893 WAS GIVEN IN EXCHANGE FOR A VOW OF OBEDIENCE TO THE POPE. 1921 01:36:10,929 --> 01:36:12,561 SO, SOMETHING VERY, VERY IMPORTANT 1922 01:36:12,597 --> 01:36:14,297 HAD BEEN LOST IN TRANSLATION THERE. 1923 01:36:14,332 --> 01:36:15,765 [PEOPLE CHANTING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE] 1924 01:36:15,800 --> 01:36:17,633 HOST: WITH THE PORTUGUESE MERCENARIES 1925 01:36:17,669 --> 01:36:22,071 CAME A DIFFERENT KIND OF ARMY-- THE JESUITS. 1926 01:36:22,106 --> 01:36:26,275 THEY WERE ROMAN CATHOLICS IN SEARCH OF CONVERTS. 1927 01:36:26,311 --> 01:36:28,678 WINDMULLER-LUNA: THE ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH 1928 01:36:28,713 --> 01:36:32,381 IS ONE OF THE OLDEST CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN THE WORLD, 1929 01:36:32,417 --> 01:36:34,250 AND THE CATHOLICS ADMIRED THAT, 1930 01:36:34,285 --> 01:36:37,286 BUT THEY ALSO BELIEVED THAT IT WAS FULL OF ERRORS 1931 01:36:37,322 --> 01:36:39,555 AND THAT IT HAD BECOME HERETICAL. 1932 01:36:41,793 --> 01:36:44,293 BELCHER: THEY SENT THESE PRIESTS TO ETHIOPIA 1933 01:36:44,329 --> 01:36:46,829 IN ORDER TO CONVERT THEM, AND THIS IS 1934 01:36:46,864 --> 01:36:50,366 ONE OF THE MORE BIZARRE OF ALL HISTORICAL MOMENTS 1935 01:36:50,401 --> 01:36:54,603 WHEN CHRISTIANS GO TO CONVERT CHRISTIANS TO CHRISTIANITY. 1936 01:36:54,639 --> 01:36:59,976 HOST: BY 1606, ETHIOPIA HAD A NEW EMPEROR--SUSENYOS. 1937 01:37:00,011 --> 01:37:03,646 SEEKING TO COUNTER THE POWER OF THE ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, 1938 01:37:03,681 --> 01:37:07,483 SUSENYOS DEVELOPED AN INTEREST IN CATHOLICISM. 1939 01:37:07,518 --> 01:37:11,220 WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT THERE WAS A JESUIT 1940 01:37:11,255 --> 01:37:12,822 WHO LOVED ETHIOPIA. 1941 01:37:12,857 --> 01:37:15,558 HE SAID TO THE EMPEROR, LOOK, THE CHURCH IS WONDERFUL. 1942 01:37:15,593 --> 01:37:16,993 CHRISTIANITY IS WONDERFUL. 1943 01:37:17,028 --> 01:37:18,694 YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE ANYTHING. 1944 01:37:18,730 --> 01:37:20,529 THIS IS REALLY ABOUT POLITICS. 1945 01:37:20,565 --> 01:37:22,765 IF YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, 1946 01:37:22,800 --> 01:37:25,301 AGREEING TO BE A PART OF THE POPE'S KINGDOM, 1947 01:37:25,336 --> 01:37:27,470 THAT JUST HELPS US ALL TO FIGHT ISLAM. 1948 01:37:28,973 --> 01:37:31,040 HOST: SUSENYOS CONVERTED. 1949 01:37:31,075 --> 01:37:33,676 DETERMINED TO GAIN TOTAL CONTROL OF HIS KINGDOM, 1950 01:37:33,711 --> 01:37:36,645 HE OUTLAWED THE ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, 1951 01:37:36,681 --> 01:37:41,283 WHICH WAS SUPPORTED BY POWERFUL AND RIVAL NOBLES. 1952 01:37:41,319 --> 01:37:43,419 THE PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA DIDN'T TAKE KINDLY 1953 01:37:43,454 --> 01:37:45,287 TO THE OUTLAWING OF THEIR FAITH, 1954 01:37:45,323 --> 01:37:47,423 A FAITH, AFTER ALL, THAT THEY HAD PRACTICED 1955 01:37:47,458 --> 01:37:50,092 FOR OVER 1,000 YEARS. 1956 01:37:50,128 --> 01:37:52,161 ORDINARY PEOPLE, THE NOBILITY, 1957 01:37:52,196 --> 01:37:55,097 THE CLERGY OF THE ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH 1958 01:37:55,133 --> 01:37:58,534 ALL REFUSED TO CONVERT TO ROMAN CATHOLICISM. 1959 01:37:58,569 --> 01:38:01,837 AND WHAT FOLLOWED WAS A CATASTROPHE FOR ETHIOPIA. 1960 01:38:04,709 --> 01:38:07,343 IN THE WAKE OF SUSENYOS' CONVERSION, 1961 01:38:07,378 --> 01:38:10,046 ETHIOPIA PLUNGED INTO A CIVIL WAR 1962 01:38:10,081 --> 01:38:11,814 THAT LASTED 5 YEARS. 1963 01:38:15,319 --> 01:38:17,887 IN THE FIGHTING BETWEEN THE FORCES OF SUSENYOS 1964 01:38:17,922 --> 01:38:19,922 AND THOSE WHO RESISTED CONVERSION, 1965 01:38:19,957 --> 01:38:22,358 THE DEATH TOLL WAS ENORMOUS. 1966 01:38:22,393 --> 01:38:24,427 ON THE LAST DAY OF FIGHTING ALONE, 1967 01:38:24,462 --> 01:38:26,429 8,000 PEOPLE WERE KILLED. 1968 01:38:26,464 --> 01:38:31,200 BY 1632, SUSENYOS WAS A BROKEN MAN. 1969 01:38:31,235 --> 01:38:33,335 HE HAD LITTLE CHOICE BUT TO ABDICATE 1970 01:38:33,371 --> 01:38:36,705 IN FAVOR OF HIS SON FASILIDES. 1971 01:38:36,741 --> 01:38:39,942 WINDMULLER-LUNA: FASILIDES WAS ADAMANTLY PRO-ORTHODOX, 1972 01:38:39,977 --> 01:38:44,680 AND THE VERY FIRST THING HE DID WAS TO TURN THE KINGDOM'S FAITH 1973 01:38:44,715 --> 01:38:46,482 BACK INTO ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX. 1974 01:38:46,517 --> 01:38:48,150 THE SECOND THING HE DID WAS TO EXPEL 1975 01:38:48,186 --> 01:38:49,885 THE JESUITS FROM THE COURT, 1976 01:38:49,921 --> 01:38:53,489 AND VERY SOON AFTER, HE EXPELLED THEM FROM THE COUNTRY. 1977 01:38:53,524 --> 01:38:56,725 BELCHER: THIS FAILED ATTEMPT OF THE JESUITS IN ETHIOPIA 1978 01:38:56,761 --> 01:39:00,262 TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT BLESSING TO THE ETHIOPIANS, 1979 01:39:00,298 --> 01:39:02,531 AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEY HAD AN EARLY EXPERIENCE 1980 01:39:02,567 --> 01:39:05,000 OF EXACTLY WHAT COLONIALISM WOULD BE. 1981 01:39:05,036 --> 01:39:08,971 THE ETHIOPIANS DECIDED THAT THIS WAS NOT FOR THEM 1982 01:39:09,006 --> 01:39:11,707 AND THEY WERE NEVER COLONIZED AGAIN. 1983 01:39:12,944 --> 01:39:15,177 HOST: SUSENYOS' PLOY, HOWEVER, 1984 01:39:15,213 --> 01:39:17,113 HAD OPENED UP DEEP RIFTS 1985 01:39:17,148 --> 01:39:19,381 IN ETHIOPIAN SOCIETY. 1986 01:39:19,417 --> 01:39:22,485 FASILIDES FACED A HUGE CHALLENGE. 1987 01:39:22,520 --> 01:39:25,588 BUT HE WAS A MAN WHO UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF SYMBOLISM, AND SO, 1988 01:39:25,623 --> 01:39:27,623 HE TURNED TO ARCHITECTURE. 1989 01:39:27,658 --> 01:39:30,726 HE BELIEVED THAT BY BUILDING A GREAT, NEW CAPITAL CITY, 1990 01:39:30,761 --> 01:39:33,395 HE COULD PROVIDE A UNIFYING FOCAL POINT 1991 01:39:33,431 --> 01:39:36,132 FOR A NATION THAT HAD SPENT YEARS 1992 01:39:36,167 --> 01:39:40,035 RIVEN BY RELIGIOUS DIVISION AND ANARCHY. 1993 01:39:40,071 --> 01:39:42,538 ORAL TRADITION STATES THAT A BUFFALO 1994 01:39:42,573 --> 01:39:46,408 LED FASILIDES TO A SPOT NORTH OF LAKE TANA, 1995 01:39:46,444 --> 01:39:48,744 WHERE A HERMIT TOLD HIM HE SHOULD BUILD A CITY. 1996 01:39:50,181 --> 01:39:53,249 4 YEARS AFTER FASILIDES ASCENDED THE THRONE, 1997 01:39:53,284 --> 01:39:56,318 HE COMMENCED WORK ON A PERMANENT STONE CAPITAL 1998 01:39:56,354 --> 01:39:58,954 FOR HIS ANCIENT COUNTRY, 1999 01:39:58,990 --> 01:40:02,024 PERCHED HIGH ON A VOLCANIC RIDGE 2000 01:40:02,059 --> 01:40:03,459 AT GONDAR. 2001 01:40:12,837 --> 01:40:15,571 WINDMULLER-LUNA: PRIOR TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GONDAR, 2002 01:40:15,606 --> 01:40:18,407 THE CAPITALS OF ETHIOPIA WERE ROVING. 2003 01:40:18,442 --> 01:40:21,043 THEY MOVED FROM PLACE TO PLACE SEASONALLY. 2004 01:40:21,078 --> 01:40:23,212 BUT IN GONDAR, YOU HAD SETTLEMENT 2005 01:40:23,247 --> 01:40:25,915 AT THE SAME PLACE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, 2006 01:40:25,950 --> 01:40:28,717 GOING ALL THE WAY INTO THE 18TH CENTURY. 2007 01:40:28,753 --> 01:40:31,954 SO, GIVEN THIS STABILITY IN TERMS OF PLACE, 2008 01:40:31,989 --> 01:40:34,356 THE EMPIRE'S POWER WAS CONSOLIDATED. 2009 01:40:34,392 --> 01:40:37,993 HOST: AT THE HEART OF THE CITY SAT FASILIDES' CASTLE. 2010 01:40:38,029 --> 01:40:41,197 THE CASTLE ENCLOSURE, KNOWN AS FASIL GHEBBI, 2011 01:40:41,232 --> 01:40:43,933 COVERED 70,000 SQUARE METERS 2012 01:40:43,968 --> 01:40:46,802 AND WAS SURROUNDED BY AN IMPOSING WALL 2013 01:40:46,837 --> 01:40:49,305 MORE THAN HALF A MILE LONG. 2014 01:40:49,340 --> 01:40:52,007 ITS DESIGN WAS A BOLD STATEMENT 2015 01:40:52,043 --> 01:40:54,510 OF IMPERIAL INTENT. 2016 01:40:54,545 --> 01:40:57,713 WINDMULLER-LUNA: THE GONDARINE STYLE IS CHARACTERIZED 2017 01:40:57,748 --> 01:41:02,318 BY LARGE TOWERS TOPPED BY THESE EGG-SHAPED DOMES 2018 01:41:02,353 --> 01:41:05,888 AND GRAND STAIRCASES ON THE OUTSIDE. 2019 01:41:05,923 --> 01:41:09,024 YOU ALSO HAVE THESE SORT OF CRENELLATIONS AT THE TOP. 2020 01:41:09,060 --> 01:41:10,960 GIVES IT A BIT OF A FORTIFIED LOOK. 2021 01:41:13,030 --> 01:41:15,898 HOST: WITHIN 20 YEARS, GONDAR HAD EXPANDED 2022 01:41:15,933 --> 01:41:19,468 TO BECOME THE LARGEST CITY IN THE ETHIOPIAN EMPIRE. 2023 01:41:19,503 --> 01:41:22,805 WITH A POPULATION JUST OVER 25,000, 2024 01:41:22,840 --> 01:41:25,507 AND A REMARKABLE 44 CHURCHES, 2025 01:41:25,543 --> 01:41:29,678 GONDAR BECAME A FLOURISHING CENTER FOR THE ARTS. 2026 01:41:29,714 --> 01:41:31,814 WINDMULLER-LUNA: UNDER THE GONDARINE KINGS, 2027 01:41:31,849 --> 01:41:33,716 THERE WAS A CULTURAL EXPLOSION. 2028 01:41:33,751 --> 01:41:36,986 YOU HAD A ROYAL COURT CENTERED IN A CITY 2029 01:41:37,021 --> 01:41:39,622 WHERE THERE WERE WORKSHOPS OF PAINTERS 2030 01:41:39,657 --> 01:41:44,026 AS WELL AS MONKS PRODUCING ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS, 2031 01:41:44,061 --> 01:41:46,495 AND IT REALLY ALLOWED ART TO FLOURISH. 2032 01:41:50,001 --> 01:41:51,300 HOST: COMING OUT OF A TIME OF 2033 01:41:51,335 --> 01:41:53,535 BITTER DIVISION WITHIN THE COUNTRY, 2034 01:41:53,571 --> 01:41:56,872 GONDAR WAS FASILIDES' REASSERTION 2035 01:41:56,907 --> 01:41:59,275 OF THE SUPREMACY OF THE EMPEROR, 2036 01:41:59,310 --> 01:42:02,311 AS WELL AS A VISION OF OPTIMISM AND CONFIDENCE 2037 01:42:02,346 --> 01:42:06,582 FOR THE FUTURE OF THE ETHIOPIAN EMPIRE. 2038 01:42:06,617 --> 01:42:10,286 FASILIDES HAD REDEEMED THE CATASTROPHIC ERROR 2039 01:42:10,321 --> 01:42:11,887 OF HIS FATHER'S PLAN. 2040 01:42:14,025 --> 01:42:17,526 AND EVEN TODAY, HIS LEGACY LIVES ON. 2041 01:42:17,561 --> 01:42:20,129 FASILIDES' BATH IN GONDAR 2042 01:42:20,164 --> 01:42:22,398 IS FILLED WITH WATER ONCE A YEAR 2043 01:42:22,433 --> 01:42:24,533 FOR THE TIMKAT FESTIVAL, 2044 01:42:24,568 --> 01:42:26,201 WHEN ETHIOPIANS GATHER 2045 01:42:26,237 --> 01:42:28,070 TO CELEBRATE JESUS' BAPTISM. 2046 01:42:28,105 --> 01:42:30,039 [ALL CHEERING] 2047 01:42:36,113 --> 01:42:38,247 BELCHER: THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT AFRICA, 2048 01:42:38,282 --> 01:42:41,083 IS THAT THERE WERE THESE AMAZING CITIES 2049 01:42:41,118 --> 01:42:43,485 THAT WERE EFFERVESCENT. 2050 01:42:43,521 --> 01:42:46,155 PEOPLE WERE WRITING, PEOPLE WERE CREATING THINGS, 2051 01:42:46,190 --> 01:42:50,426 PEOPLE WERE DOING INNOVATIONS IN LAW, IN TRADE, 2052 01:42:50,461 --> 01:42:52,828 AND GONDAR WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT. 2053 01:42:52,863 --> 01:42:54,730 HOST: THE RISE OF THESE SOPHISTICATED 2054 01:42:54,765 --> 01:42:56,899 AND AMBITIOUS CIVILIZATIONS 2055 01:42:56,934 --> 01:42:59,535 ON THE SWAHILI COAST, IN GREAT ZIMBABWE, 2056 01:42:59,570 --> 01:43:01,904 AT BENIN CITY, AND AT GONDAR 2057 01:43:01,939 --> 01:43:05,474 WAS AN INDICATION OF AFRICA'S CONTINUING ENGAGEMENT 2058 01:43:05,509 --> 01:43:07,910 WITH EUROPE, THE MIDDLE EAST, AND ASIA, 2059 01:43:07,945 --> 01:43:10,012 ABSORBING FOREIGN INFLUENCES 2060 01:43:10,047 --> 01:43:12,881 AND TRANSFORMING THEM INTO SOMETHING 2061 01:43:12,917 --> 01:43:14,650 UNIQUELY AFRICAN. 2062 01:43:14,685 --> 01:43:16,852 THIS PERIOD OF INGENUITY, CREATIVITY, 2063 01:43:16,887 --> 01:43:18,821 AND DARING COMMERCIAL AMBITION 2064 01:43:18,856 --> 01:43:21,924 WOULD FUEL THE WORLD'S CURIOSITY ABOUT AFRICA 2065 01:43:21,959 --> 01:43:24,493 FOR CENTURIES TO COME. 2066 01:43:24,528 --> 01:43:28,063 BUT THE WHEEL WAS ABOUT TO TURN ONCE MORE. 2067 01:43:29,767 --> 01:43:33,669 KINGDOMS IN WEST AFRICA WOULD UNDERGO PROFOUND CHANGES 2068 01:43:33,704 --> 01:43:36,071 AS THEY WERE DRAWN EVER MORE DEEPLY 2069 01:43:36,107 --> 01:43:40,476 INTO THE POLITICAL ECONOMIES OF THE ATLANTIC WORLD. 2070 01:43:40,511 --> 01:43:43,712 THESE LINKS WOULD GENERATE GREAT WEALTH AND POWER 2071 01:43:43,748 --> 01:43:47,516 BUT ALSO DISRUPTION, TEARING 12 MILLION PEOPLE 2072 01:43:47,551 --> 01:43:49,385 FROM ITS SHORES. 2073 01:43:49,420 --> 01:43:52,354 [THUNDER] WHILE A REVOLUTION BASED ON FAITH 2074 01:43:52,390 --> 01:43:53,989 WOULD LAY THE FOUNDATIONS 2075 01:43:54,024 --> 01:43:55,524 OF ONE OF THE LARGEST 2076 01:43:55,559 --> 01:43:57,926 AND MOST CULTURALLY VIBRANT EMPIRES 2077 01:43:57,962 --> 01:43:59,862 IN THE HISTORY OF AFRICA. 2078 01:44:02,241 --> 01:44:04,509 ANNOUNCER: ON "AFRICA'S GREAT CIVILIZATIONS"... 2079 01:44:04,578 --> 01:44:05,677 DR. HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.: EUROPE'S EXPLORATION OF THE AMERICAS 2080 01:44:05,746 --> 01:44:09,047 IGNITES A RACE FOR RICHES THAT TURNS THE WORLD 2081 01:44:09,116 --> 01:44:10,248 UPSIDE DOWN. 2082 01:44:10,317 --> 01:44:12,984 THIS NEW WORLD BECOMES SYNONYMOUS WITH TRADE, 2083 01:44:13,053 --> 01:44:14,419 AND A CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF TRADE 2084 01:44:14,488 --> 01:44:16,621 IS THE SHIPPING ACROSS THE ATLANTIC 2085 01:44:16,690 --> 01:44:19,491 OF 12 1/2 MILLION AFRICANS AS SLAVES. 2086 01:44:19,560 --> 01:44:21,893 POWERFUL EMPIRES RISE AND FALL 2087 01:44:21,962 --> 01:44:25,230 DURING THIS TIME OF SEISMIC GLOBAL CHANGE. 2088 01:44:25,299 --> 01:44:27,232 ANNOUNCER: "AFRICA'S GREAT CIVILIZATIONS," 2089 01:44:27,301 --> 01:44:30,168 COMING UP NEXT, ONLY ON PBS. 2090 01:44:40,780 --> 01:44:44,816 AFRICA'S GREAT CIVILIZATIONS IS AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY AND DVD. 2091 01:44:44,852 --> 01:44:50,088 TO ORDER VISIT shopPBS.org OR CALL 1-800-PLAY-PBS. 2092 01:44:50,123 --> 01:44:54,125 THIS SERIES IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD FROM ITUNES.