Ancient Chinese Historian Describes The Roman Empire // 3rd century AD "Weilüe" // Primary Source
2,775,731
Published 2019-10-13
Here we have the words of the early third century Chinese historian Yu Huan, who lived during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Though he never left China, he collected large amounts of information on the countries to the West, chief among them the Roman Empire.
Enormous thanks to John E. Hill for kindly allowing us to use his translation, and for tips on the possible locations mentioned and correct pronunciation. There is still some debate on some of the places mentioned in the text, so please enjoy debating further about it!
depts.washington.edu/silkroad/texts/weilue/weilue.…
How do we actually know about history? Voices of the Past is a channel dedicated to recreating the original accounts from the people who lived through events, or who lived far closer to them than we do today. We do this word for word, with an accompanying soundtrack of rousing music and images.
— Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to subscribe for new videos every single week! & Let us know in the comments what you’d like to see covered in the future.
— Don’t forget to subscribe to our other channel History Time, where we make full length historical documentaries:-
youtube.com/historytime
— Music courtesy of:-
- Epidemic Sound
— Voice actor & editor:-
David Kelly
Are you a budding artist, writer, illustrator, cartographer, or music producer? Send us an email! No matter how professional you are or even if you’re just starting out, we can always use new music and images in my videos. Get in touch! I’d love to hear from you.
We try to use copyright free images at all times. However if we have used any of your artwork or maps then please don't hesitate to contact me and we’ll be more than happy to give the appropriate credit.
Thanks to:
Poemandpainting [CC BY-SA 3.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
MapMaster [CC BY-SA 3.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
By Ssolbergj - Own work, CC BY 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2992630
Rob [CC BY 2.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]
Dennis Jarvis [CC BY-SA 2.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]
All Comments (20)
-
"There are too many small kingdoms to describe. Now, let me list in detail all the rugs they use."
-
ancient GPS be like: turn left and cross two seas, you will arrive at your destination in three years with no wind
-
“So what kind of clothes do the westerns wear?” “Western clothes”
-
Chinese historians: "The seat of the ruler is by a river" Everyone: "Do you have any idea how little that narrows it down?"
-
it is so incredible that i can sit here eating lunch while listening to what a chinese historian 2000 years ago thought about the roman empire
-
I like how the Chinese account was like, "Yeah, the Romans are really awesome, but they're basically our descendants so it makes sense."
-
sends scout out in Civ Scout: "I have found another civilization!" Me: "What cities do they have? What military?" Scout: "They have silk scarves, made in the western fashion, and red rugs, and hanging rugs, and carpets of all kinds..."
-
"It is commonly belived that a fish living in a little stream does not know the size of the Yangtze river and the sea, the May fly for that matter does not know of the changing of the four seasons. Why is this so? Because one lives in a small place and the others life is short. I am for the moment intensively examining Daqin and all the other foreign kingdoms. Alas I am limited to traveling by foot and am left living in the puddle left by the hoofprint of an Ox, besides I don't have the longevity of Peng Zu. It has not been my fate to see things first hand, travelling with the rapid winds, or enlisting swift horses to view distant vistas. Alas, I have to strain to see the three heavenly bodies but, oh, how my thoughts fly to the eight foreign regions!" - Yu Huan, 265AD
-
Go straight ahead, cross a big sea, turn left, cross another big sea..
-
He obviously met alot of textile merchants when compiling his research.
-
I love the fact that he's mainly preoccupied with basic, practical information about politics and tradeable commodities, but stops to talk about some circus tricks he's seen that he thought were really cool. That coda added on at the end about how big and wondrous the world is and how little of it he'll get to see in his lifetime is beautiful, poetic and haunting. Even in today's interconnected, obsessively documented world, it still rings true.
-
It's so true and kind of sad when in the last 2 min. Yu Huan regrets that he'll never be able to travel to these distant lands and therefore he cannot verify his information first hand. He's so hungry of knowledge, yet he understands that his life is too short and world too vast. 1800 years later I feel the same (but I have internet and channels like this one to satisfy my hunger :)
-
this is what travel blogging was like 2000 years ago
-
The internet has finally met my specific needs
-
It's funny how they didn't have a term for elected leader and referred to senators as generals
-
Sad ending. Gives a feeling how much he wanted to see places but simply didn't have the transport and age to see more
-
* Sees a roadside attraction * “These people have a tradition of amazing conjuring.”
-
"There are no bandits on the roads..." AHA! What triumph of civilization and Rule of Law!!! "...and if you are not with a group you will be devoured by lions."
-
Yu Huan: "I am limited to travelling on foot and living in the puddle of the hoof print left by an ox. But, oh, how my thoughts fly to the eight foreign regions." It's nice to hear an ancient Chinese historian wish to visit a very distant country.
