History's deadliest king - by Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ค. 2021
  • Dig into the Rubber Terror, the period in which King Leopold II’s horrific regime in the Congo resulted in the deaths of 10 million people.
    --
    In 1904, Chief Lontulu laid 110 twigs in front of a foreign commission. Every twig represented a person in his village who died because of King Leopold’s brutal regime in the Congo. His testimony joined hundreds of others to help bring an end to one of the greatest atrocities in human history. Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja details the horrific abuses of Leopold’s occupation and looting of the Congo.
    Lesson by Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, directed by Héloïse Dorsan Rachet.
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ความคิดเห็น • 3K

  • @TEDEd
    @TEDEd  2 ปีที่แล้ว +3448

    Content Warning: This video depicts racial violence and trauma.

    • @mafia6804
      @mafia6804 2 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      hello this is Edited But Sure You Guys Needs To watch this Cuz you get A Nice Feeling that if you get Sad Just Always watch our History Then one day get learned how to Stand Yourself

    • @roehllinoroan3593
      @roehllinoroan3593 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I commented before you

    • @roehllinoroan3593
      @roehllinoroan3593 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Hehe

    • @akumaking1
      @akumaking1 2 ปีที่แล้ว +128

      Not everyone is a snowflake

    • @mafia6804
      @mafia6804 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@roehllinoroan3593 not so fast I'm first

  • @hagaraly3233
    @hagaraly3233 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6359

    It's scary how much this history isn't really that old...

    • @mitchellarcher5083
      @mitchellarcher5083 2 ปีที่แล้ว +165

      I feel like this is an understatement. And many don't grasp the importance in that.

    • @user-nv5sn3tb4e
      @user-nv5sn3tb4e 2 ปีที่แล้ว +293

      when thomas jefferson died, harriet tubman was alive. when harriet tubman died, ronald reagan was alive. none of what we think of as “history” is very long ago at all.

    • @maxou6829
      @maxou6829 2 ปีที่แล้ว +34

      Nor taught

    • @laurazenebergh1031
      @laurazenebergh1031 2 ปีที่แล้ว +62

      @@maxou6829 We were thought about the cruelties during the colonial period in school, as part of our countries history. As a Belgian I felt disgusted.

    • @catsareevil
      @catsareevil 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@carkawalakhatulistiwa king leopold II*

  • @LexDomo
    @LexDomo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7040

    "Crowd booed his funeral procession"
    That statement actually made me a little happy.

    • @tanyabanerjee2681
      @tanyabanerjee2681 2 ปีที่แล้ว +73

      Yesss.

    • @thunderbird1921
      @thunderbird1921 2 ปีที่แล้ว +293

      Thank Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Mark Twain among others for having the courage to help expose this monstrous abuse (Doyle said something like they were among the worst crimes he had ever heard of being committed on fellow human beings, at least at that time).

    • @TomSistermans
      @TomSistermans 2 ปีที่แล้ว +210

      Yet today in Belgium... Leopold has a controversial status, and many people think that he was a good king... not generalising here of course, but I swear, these far right people make me sick...

    • @artisan002
      @artisan002 2 ปีที่แล้ว +45

      I hit that part and ─ out loud ─ said, "Good!" I'm sitting here by myself, unless we count a pair of cats.

    • @KrulKrulSprietSpriet
      @KrulKrulSprietSpriet 2 ปีที่แล้ว +132

      @@TomSistermans Even stranger, as a netherlander who was schooled in Belgium, I was often learned stories about this “great” king. How he made Belgium great, brought riches to it and somehow they really pressured on that Belgium was renowned for its chocolate. (All came from Congo..)
      It really makes you wonder how much else they taught was true.

  • @MrGiygas1
    @MrGiygas1 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5559

    That awkward moment when even other colonial European empires think you’ve gone too far

    • @Hello-uk5xp
      @Hello-uk5xp 2 ปีที่แล้ว +202

      Congo was owned by a single men, so its a different story, other colonies were the country’s colony not the king or queen

    • @Hello-uk5xp
      @Hello-uk5xp 2 ปีที่แล้ว +59

      @You know Me it’s great, North Korea is the greatest country on earth

    • @freebird1721
      @freebird1721 2 ปีที่แล้ว +81

      @You know Me At least northkorea don't colonize Africa

    • @appleslover
      @appleslover 2 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      @@Hello-uk5xp the king didn't go there himself and enslave the Congolese, you know

    • @facundocadaa9020
      @facundocadaa9020 2 ปีที่แล้ว +82

      @@appleslover ohh, your right, our bad. Of course if he wasn't present there and just send some people to do his biding, then he should no be accountable... Of course

  • @redstonetheanimecat3390
    @redstonetheanimecat3390 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3780

    The way he named them as "Congo Free State" is so Orwellian.

    • @hakimdiwan5101
      @hakimdiwan5101 2 ปีที่แล้ว +143

      Well it was a FREE eSTATE for him.....

    • @Hypernefelos
      @Hypernefelos 2 ปีที่แล้ว +71

      It didn't belong to any government and so was free of government supervision. That wasn't a _good_ thing, it turns out, but the name was accurate for what it described.

    • @chriss780
      @chriss780 2 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      its free real estate

    • @robertjarman3703
      @robertjarman3703 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Free of the Belgian state.

    • @chriss780
      @chriss780 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@robertjarman3703 got em

  • @j.sidneymalone5592
    @j.sidneymalone5592 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4754

    Western powers: We want you to have democracy
    Western powers: Wait no not like that

    • @rockzilla5150
      @rockzilla5150 2 ปีที่แล้ว +237

      You will have our democracy. Do you understand? You have no choice. We are killing you in the name of human rights. You will have our democracy.

    • @avocadotoast6369
      @avocadotoast6369 2 ปีที่แล้ว +122

      At no point were they interested in establishing democratic states.

    • @kexek7975
      @kexek7975 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      W

    • @avocadotoast6369
      @avocadotoast6369 2 ปีที่แล้ว +59

      @@nuqwestr Modern day Liberia was founded only after slavery had been outlawed in large parts of the world and was also not colonized by Europe. Its political goals were not the same as with European colonies, but a home for freed slaves managed by freed slaves.

    • @zabrak999
      @zabrak999 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      It was called the Cold War, kiddo.
      You'll learn more about it when you get older

  • @gsawcomic
    @gsawcomic 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2119

    “Unpaid labour.” Slaves. You mean slaves.

    • @seriousnesstv7902
      @seriousnesstv7902 2 ปีที่แล้ว +62

      They can’t use that word since it’s “offensive”

    • @jornzwaagstra1150
      @jornzwaagstra1150 2 ปีที่แล้ว +40

      @@seriousnesstv7902 not really they weren't slaves for slavery had been abolished in 1890 due to events in the congo not that this stopped the atrositicies.

    • @snowdropps
      @snowdropps 2 ปีที่แล้ว +150

      The Congolese weren't owned outright. The Belgian soldiers kidnapped their families and threatened to kill them if they didn't deliver rubber. It was forced labor but the Congolese were not bought and sold. They were terrorized, villages were razed, people mutilated but they were colonized not enslaved, technically.

    • @seriousnesstv7902
      @seriousnesstv7902 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@jornzwaagstra1150 I’m not the one you have to tell that to.

    • @adityakhokle4739
      @adityakhokle4739 2 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      Its a white people thing they don't wanna call it slavery because according to them slavery, racial cleansing, racial genocide never happened.

  • @ZagrebBundist
    @ZagrebBundist 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1961

    The fact that even the other European powers hated him really tells you something.

    • @byzantium0086
      @byzantium0086 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Get over it, Leopold died 113 years ago

    • @zardsire2012
      @zardsire2012 2 ปีที่แล้ว +131

      @@byzantium0086 Would you like it if in 100 years since Hitler’s death people say get over it.

    • @byzantium0086
      @byzantium0086 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @@zardsire2012 yea get over it, the past is gone and will never return, focus on the future

    • @Polska_Edits
      @Polska_Edits 2 ปีที่แล้ว +131

      @@byzantium0086 OK, so why are you here? On this history based video?

    • @darthplagueis13
      @darthplagueis13 2 ปีที่แล้ว +23

      I think they were a bit dissapointed in him. Leopold had previously had a reputation for being a philanthropist and expectations were that he would civilize and develop the congo. Of course, that entails its own horror if you consider how Canada tried to civilize and develop their native tribes or Australia tried to civilize and develop the Aborigenes, but there's still a difference between that and just working the populace to death.

  • @Antoinecalligrapher
    @Antoinecalligrapher 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2386

    In my school, around 10 years ago, I was taught that it was the "Great African Exploration". I didn't care much about it then. It is now that I learnt what it really was.

    • @dghfgh155
      @dghfgh155 2 ปีที่แล้ว +172

      Our schools hid the reality and prioritised colonisation. They never said about these atrocities but only showed the so called development that happened to the countries during colonisation

    • @goutamboppana961
      @goutamboppana961 2 ปีที่แล้ว +32

      @@dghfgh155 they did develop but with *pain*

    • @Pat097
      @Pat097 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      What country are you from?

    • @samimas4343
      @samimas4343 2 ปีที่แล้ว +71

      @@dghfgh155 they developed what was necessary for colonizers to benefit from. E.g. British railroads in India were not for Indians' sake but to sack indians.

    • @justascarecrow6988
      @justascarecrow6988 2 ปีที่แล้ว +64

      @@dghfgh155 In Germany, we are subjected to unending repetition of the Holocaust's horror. Sometimes, history got quite boring, but in the end, we know what was done and will never forget it.
      Sad to know that no other country has a look back at its horrific history.

  • @wolvw
    @wolvw 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4917

    It's so crazy to think that humans would do this to each other

    • @MoonMillenniummon
      @MoonMillenniummon 2 ปีที่แล้ว +120

      It's not that crazy if you think about it.

    • @wolvw
      @wolvw 2 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      @@MoonMillenniummon Ok..

    • @notsureiL
      @notsureiL 2 ปีที่แล้ว +52

      Why? Humans are animals, apex predators.

    • @wolvw
      @wolvw 2 ปีที่แล้ว +244

      @@notsureiL ok cool buddy, how was the hunt today? Get anyone good today?

    • @wildlyrebellious
      @wildlyrebellious 2 ปีที่แล้ว +41

      It's always the money and power that taints humanity.

  • @FilmPeak
    @FilmPeak 2 ปีที่แล้ว +866

    My wife chose this as her thesis work. You should also know that the way to instruct the rubber was to let it dry on the skin of the slaves, and then peel it off which was very painful and could (and did) harm the skin wounding it. From the entirety of the people that fought against Leopold's regime I would highly suggest learning more about Edmund Dene (E. D.) Morel, a fantastic and complex hero of humanity. Also, if you have the stomach for it, look up Alice Seeley Harris' photograph.

    • @ShailendraSinghChauhanKing
      @ShailendraSinghChauhanKing 2 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      How to eradicate all this .. humankind is on worse & now Taliban China are another example

    • @denisemcdougal6445
      @denisemcdougal6445 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      How hateful

    • @user-tf6ol3gd5v
      @user-tf6ol3gd5v 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Here in Brazil they did a similar thing but for the building of clay tiles…

    • @muhammadalikhan3839
      @muhammadalikhan3839 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      @@ShailendraSinghChauhanKing poor indian thoughts, can't go beyond China/Taliban/Pakistan

    • @DrTubeman
      @DrTubeman ปีที่แล้ว

      If you want to know what inhumanity looks like, look at what the hands of King Leopold and his agents were responsible for inflicting...10 million Congolese died as a result of Leopold's utter brutality! Which Alice Harris documented through her photos.

  • @vasudev8957
    @vasudev8957 2 ปีที่แล้ว +803

    It's sad that people in congo are still living in the same poverty the only thing changed is that now they dont cut their hands

    • @demonizedhuman941
      @demonizedhuman941 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @My Lord vice made a documentary of another African country which still have cannibalism over there. Also u r speaking about that Congolese general right? That heart ripping story is of that general right?

    • @bjarniyt1402
      @bjarniyt1402 2 ปีที่แล้ว +30

      @@sunnya4310 The Antwerpse handjes have nothing to do with the free state. The hand has been a symbol of Antwerp long before Belgium even existed. Please refrain from making such insulting coments in the future.

    • @demonizedhuman941
      @demonizedhuman941 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @JeffChad yeah. Sickened my heart out. So bad that while people out here own billions, some people out there doesn't even have the opportunity to earn good food.

    • @demonizedhuman941
      @demonizedhuman941 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @JeffChad fr. Yeah the kids are still not taught much about colonial history and other stuffs and their explanation for all these colonial wrong-doings is by blaming the oppressed for being too weak to get oppressed.

    • @freckleheckler6311
      @freckleheckler6311 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@demonizedhuman941 that’s because they aren’t

  • @blueberrychocolate4238
    @blueberrychocolate4238 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1532

    The more I learn about the “Scramble for Africa”, the more disgusted I am.

    • @eatathepizza4449
      @eatathepizza4449 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      States rise and fall all the time , there is no country free of sin , not even Switzerland or any country for the matter

    • @sms1511
      @sms1511 2 ปีที่แล้ว +86

      Imagine how we feel having to learn about it in Africa...

    • @user-nc6td8ox1t
      @user-nc6td8ox1t 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      @@sms1511 cry about it

    • @sms1511
      @sms1511 2 ปีที่แล้ว +55

      @@user-nc6td8ox1t Nope, we are taking what they stole back, the reckoning is nigh

    • @vivekkukreti1570
      @vivekkukreti1570 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @@eatathepizza4449 what did Switzerland do? It's a landlocked country, it has no Navy , and thus, never actually got a chance to colonize and conquer. Plus , it has no minerals not even iron, how can it even have enough power to attack a single African country??

  • @STM1066
    @STM1066 2 ปีที่แล้ว +663

    Sir Roger casement was later executed by the British for anti-colonial activities in Ireland. He was a man of unwavering principles

    • @frenchhornguy3511
      @frenchhornguy3511 2 ปีที่แล้ว +37

      Sounds like he’s worth looking into

    • @claudiag.9307
      @claudiag.9307 2 ปีที่แล้ว +50

      @@frenchhornguy3511 Definitely. I had the luck to see an exhibit on his work in the museum of Dublin. It was the first time I even heard of the rubber atrocities in Congo and in the Amazon. I've been meaning to learn more about him, but I've found internet sources to be very lacking. Sorry for the rant. If anyone knows any good materials on Roger Casement, I'd like to know very much.

    • @Lee-yo5cl
      @Lee-yo5cl 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Which year did he got executed?

    • @DT2007
      @DT2007 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@Lee-yo5cl 1916

    • @diegotomas2941
      @diegotomas2941 2 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      @@claudiag.9307 Please, please, if you can read the book about him, "The Dream of the Celt" written by Nobel Prize laureate Mario Vargas Llosa, give it a shot

  • @tashantimothy6180
    @tashantimothy6180 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1653

    Me: Scrolling down TH-cam
    TedEd: History’s Deadliest King
    Me: It’s Leopold isn’t it
    TedEd: it….it’s Leopold

    • @demonizedhuman941
      @demonizedhuman941 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Bro u African? How did u know about Leopold? Im confused whether I heard about him from the Tarzan movie with Margot Robbie or from highschool, but we Indians aren't really taught that extensively about Africa besides the apartheid and Rosa Park kind of things so idk how I heard about him.

    • @tashantimothy6180
      @tashantimothy6180 2 ปีที่แล้ว +84

      @@demonizedhuman941 I’m what the white folks call ✨African American✨. The schools here definitely don’t teach this stuff. I had to do my own research which is basically watching TH-cam videos about history and forming my own opinions and not letting the white-washing that Americans do blind me to the truth

    • @aguy2581
      @aguy2581 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      @@tashantimothy6180 same except I'm Indian

    • @mse5842
      @mse5842 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      I know Leopold from the countryball memes ⬇️
      Europeans: haha Belgian of very cute I can walkings through you to Paris
      Belgium: hahaha... funny...
      .......
      *enters basement and locks the door
      (Bad things happen)

    • @lucasbrant9856
      @lucasbrant9856 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@demonizedhuman941 Paradox games are a great way to learn about world atrocities, (victoria 2 in this case). Sometimes you can even commit your own!

  • @emiwolvesbane2523
    @emiwolvesbane2523 2 ปีที่แล้ว +339

    People should definately learn history like this to avoid and see through other horrible atrocities.

    • @schwerergustav.
      @schwerergustav. 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      This channel believe in darwin theory of evolution, yet they call natural selection atrocities

    • @formalist6096
      @formalist6096 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I think you should learn how to spell.

  • @gracewilliams7476
    @gracewilliams7476 2 ปีที่แล้ว +461

    As a congolese canadian, I feel this pain deep within and I'm glad that TED-Ed is bringing to light this atrocity.

    • @freckleheckler6311
      @freckleheckler6311 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Why should anyone care?

    • @freckleheckler6311
      @freckleheckler6311 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Your race is

    • @freckleheckler6311
      @freckleheckler6311 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Less valuable

    • @ate313
      @ate313 2 ปีที่แล้ว +40

      @@freckleheckler6311 Stop trolling and go outside

    • @isab0435
      @isab0435 2 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      You are not alone in feeling an pain in this and I believe that anyone that does not really needs professional help. Even though I'm not Congolese I feel an intense anger regarding things like the scrabble for Africa. The effects of that time are still being felt and worst of all is that ALOT of this isn't taught in school. Which means that people don't understand that Africa's situation today is directly related to the dictions made a long time ago by crazy, greedy, idiots.
      Anyways on a happy note, at least the evils of the past are being brought in to the light.
      Love to you and yours.

  • @Nutty...
    @Nutty... 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2825

    Weird title. The way it is written, I thought history's deadliest king was Georges Nzongala.

    • @globe3981
      @globe3981 2 ปีที่แล้ว +64

      Me too 🤣🤣

    • @syedferoz2188
      @syedferoz2188 2 ปีที่แล้ว +82

      I was like who is this new king in the history of human kind much worse than Genghis Attila etc etc

    • @globe3981
      @globe3981 2 ปีที่แล้ว +45

      @@syedferoz2188 Attila is nothing nesides leopold

    • @elitedangeroustheworldnext9086
      @elitedangeroustheworldnext9086 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      pretty sure they will change that later , just wait

    • @akbflo
      @akbflo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Same!

  • @srdiguzman
    @srdiguzman 2 ปีที่แล้ว +521

    It's important to notice that Leopold also convinced the other European leaders to "grant" him the Congo because of his NGO, ment to "educate and develop" the basin tribes, that were already operating in the region. Soon after, the NGO became quite the opposite of a NGO, focused mainly on getting ivory.

    • @ayushkumar-bg1xf
      @ayushkumar-bg1xf 2 ปีที่แล้ว +31

      as if other european were saints , just check what brits did in India in around same time , read about indigo revolution in India which made gandhi hero

    • @srdiguzman
      @srdiguzman 2 ปีที่แล้ว +32

      @@ayushkumar-bg1xf of course. This was just an argument used to convince them to let him, as an individual and leader of a NGO, not Belgium, to oversee the whole territory.

    • @ayushkumar-bg1xf
      @ayushkumar-bg1xf 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @DiscordChaos they did say yes only because by giving him a tiny patch of land (in comparison to entire world for France and uk ) European powers avoided a conflict or war with Belgium .it was more like personal kickback to king to keep Belgium out of race

    • @franksmith9725
      @franksmith9725 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @DiscordChaos Also all the major powers wanted to take the Congo for themselves, and so all the major powers didn't want each other to get it. Since everyone hated the idea of giving it to another major power, they gave it to a country which wasn't a major power.

    • @sohamacharya171
      @sohamacharya171 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      An NGO is a non-governmental Organization. It doesn't matter if they support or are against giving rights to certain humans.

  • @NickVennlig
    @NickVennlig 2 ปีที่แล้ว +286

    Just finished a book about this coincidentally called "King Leopold's Ghost". Easily one of the more profound and frightening books I've ever read especially considering how relatively unknown it is outside the DRC and arguably Belgium.

    • @sohamacharya171
      @sohamacharya171 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      A quote from that book was in this video.

    • @jorenbosmans8065
      @jorenbosmans8065 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Not sure if it is that one, but there is a book about the horrors that happened under Leopold ll his rule and later the Belgian government which did create a huge debate about what happened in Congo. I think it was published 10 to 20 years ago.

    • @hmt4173
      @hmt4173 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      One of the most haunting things I remember from that book was about how the Congolese thought the white men were cannibals, because of the sheer scale of cruelty. they believed that their blood was used to make wine, their burned ashes were made into gun powder, and their brains were used to make cheese.

    • @giannivandecasteele5267
      @giannivandecasteele5267 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I as a belgium never learned of this we learned that he was a great leader who buildt many buildings and made our country rich

    • @RogueLemonFTW
      @RogueLemonFTW 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@giannivandecasteele5267 Your school failed you. I am from Belgium aswell, and I was thought of the horrors commited in Congo in the name of king Leopold extensively.

  • @gf4453
    @gf4453 2 ปีที่แล้ว +140

    How heart-wrenching... The potential for human cruelty knows no limits. Those poor people...

  • @MakaveliRaider
    @MakaveliRaider 2 ปีที่แล้ว +558

    Sad & Infuriating. Can't believe things like this happen in our world.

    • @AwesomeXavy
      @AwesomeXavy 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Cant believe our king did this :(

    • @prcekcz908
      @prcekcz908 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Lol the existence is cruel

    • @MakaveliRaider
      @MakaveliRaider 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@AwesomeXavy your from Belgium?

    • @bak5448
      @bak5448 2 ปีที่แล้ว +34

      Atrocities such as this still happen today. There is ongoing genocide in China against a minority and many middle eastern countries still cut off people’s hands for petty crimes.

    • @Bimbo-Balls
      @Bimbo-Balls 2 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      @@bak5448
      Exactly! The US is supporting genocide in Palestine and it’s also committing war crimes in the Middle East too.

  • @snowcold5932
    @snowcold5932 2 ปีที่แล้ว +656

    I live in Belgium, and disgustingly there are still statues of Leopold, and streets named after him. What Belgium and the rest of Europe did to Africa and africans was some of the worst atrocities imaginable

    • @Kimikashimoo
      @Kimikashimoo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +61

      TAKE THEM DOWN

    • @_.Infinity._
      @_.Infinity._ 2 ปีที่แล้ว +76

      Pretty much all the colonies suffered the same fate.If you see most of them had a glorious past but currently are struggling with poverty, while the ones who looted them are in a good position. Life truly isn't fair, the crooked ones always find a way to torment and exploit the innocent.

    • @hexa1905
      @hexa1905 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Well he is not a very liked one, statues or not.

    • @kingvxv6438
      @kingvxv6438 2 ปีที่แล้ว +35

      @@AlexanderMichelson yea hope the same happen in Europe as well soon.

    • @kingvxv6438
      @kingvxv6438 2 ปีที่แล้ว +37

      @@AlexanderMichelson sure but Europe time is up and the sun is raising East. Everyone see how scary you are of China. World is changing everyday.

  • @countvladislausdragulia7414
    @countvladislausdragulia7414 2 ปีที่แล้ว +131

    I saw a picture a few years back of a Congolese man staring at something on his house’s porch.
    The caption explained that when he’d failed to meet rubber quotas, the soldiers had killed his family and cannibalized his daughter, and that they’d left her foot on his porch.
    Imagine coming home from your enslaved work, to find that your wife and daughter have been *eaten* by the men that you’re slaving away for.

    • @hannahjewelgultiano1106
      @hannahjewelgultiano1106 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      dang thats harsh

    • @Asgoga
      @Asgoga 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Belgian Cannibals, sounds like exaggerated with no source back this up

    • @skvader4187
      @skvader4187 25 วันที่ผ่านมา

      ​@Asgoga they were cannibalised by the force publique which was made up of local tribes, and some of them WERE cannibals. Apparently, during the congo Arab war, after a battle the force publique went back and ate the Arab corpses.

  • @aryan3229
    @aryan3229 2 ปีที่แล้ว +174

    I thought bad men like Leopold don't exist in today's modern world. But if you scroll down to the comments, you will see some people saying that Leopold helped Belgium a lot, and it does not matter that many people have suffered and are still suffering because of him.

    • @runajain5773
      @runajain5773 ปีที่แล้ว

      Uh uh kim jong un uh uh

    • @yorkerold
      @yorkerold ปีที่แล้ว +1

      A lot of psychotic losers on the internet feel free to praise all sorts of atrocities. They must have sad and miserable lives.

    • @Facts-Over-Feelings
      @Facts-Over-Feelings ปีที่แล้ว

      LEOPOLD LIVES IN MOST OF THEM

    • @JoshuaMartinez-xe2xk
      @JoshuaMartinez-xe2xk ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Well as long as it benefits or benefited us and Belgium, we're good. I see no problem.

    • @gondar6181
      @gondar6181 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@JoshuaMartinez-xe2xk It didn’t benefit Kongo. Do you guys over in Belgium think that the world revolves around you?

  • @marcopina2659
    @marcopina2659 2 ปีที่แล้ว +53

    I teach world history and when we discuss The Scramble for Africa I'm always sure to go in depth with Congo, spending more time than is required. I want to emphasize that colonialism has no limits to its cruelty. I'll be sure to use this clip now too.

    • @sabrelou1988
      @sabrelou1988 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      You wrote your comment a year ago. I don’t know if you’re still teaching or not; but I just want to say that you’re a rare type of teacher!! Keep up the good work!!!

  • @werdna1969
    @werdna1969 2 ปีที่แล้ว +359

    Me: “History’s deadliest king? I bet he is nothing compared with King Leopold of Belgium.”
    *The video turns out to be about King Leopold of Belgium*
    Me: “….Oh.”

    • @ash.bl.9289
      @ash.bl.9289 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Didn't Genghis Khan and Timur / Tamerlane kill more people?
      Or weren't you kings?

    • @mariustan9275
      @mariustan9275 2 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      @@ash.bl.9289 Genghis Khan at least treated his people nicely and gave the countries he fought a chance to join him.

    • @mr.fantastic6568
      @mr.fantastic6568 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@mariustan9275 didnt leopold also hired Congolese to be part of his own military

    • @capncake8837
      @capncake8837 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@mr.fantastic6568 Yeah. Those that weren't mercenaries from elsewhere were recruited or conscripted from warrior tribes in the Haut-Congo region.

    • @easterworshipper730
      @easterworshipper730 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      This people doesnt know was tamerlane was.

  • @mrfancyshmancy
    @mrfancyshmancy 2 ปีที่แล้ว +52

    One of the darkest pages of belgian history and i'm happy that we atleast learn about this in school and know how messed up it was.

    • @wafelswafels8613
      @wafelswafels8613 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Not that Belgium did something but ok.

    • @mrfancyshmancy
      @mrfancyshmancy 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@wafelswafels8613 it's still part of belgian history.

    • @wafelswafels8613
      @wafelswafels8613 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@mrfancyshmancy Thats true.

    • @Free_Palestine_419
      @Free_Palestine_419 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@mrfancyshmancy It would be even nicer if the Belgian Government gave reparations to the Congo. Over a century worth of reparations.

    • @ronaldomontero3624
      @ronaldomontero3624 ปีที่แล้ว

      Under German occupation

  • @samshine_2
    @samshine_2 2 ปีที่แล้ว +49

    I just wanna thank everyone that put effort into animating this. What a masterpiece.

  • @sanchitaabrol
    @sanchitaabrol 2 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    The most common thing people know about Belgium is chocolates. Thanks TED-Ed for giving untold stories such a wide reach!!

    • @nandinhocunha440
      @nandinhocunha440 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Most people know Belgium has a bump into France

    • @unbonfrancophone1539
      @unbonfrancophone1539 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@nandinhocunha440 la pisse de chameau

    • @baddad2955
      @baddad2955 ปีที่แล้ว

      French fries are Belgian

  • @alaskawashington
    @alaskawashington 2 ปีที่แล้ว +36

    I remember doing a research project in high school on the scramble for Africa and specifically the developments mentioned in this video, as well as learning in the classroom about many of the most horrible and horrific details of Leopold’s exploitation. Now, having already spent hours and hours learning this information in even more depth, I can’t help but tear up as I hear it again. How, even after the attempt to at least partially correct the initial injustice, which had truly been colonialism at its worst, did the western world justify meddling once again? To protect personal (and most likely monetary) interests, the west intervened and sent a country on the brink of collapse down into the pit of dictatorship and destruction, all while failing to properly acknowledge their part in it reaching that point in the first place. It breaks my heart because this practice is directly counterproductive to the strive for freedom and equity that is supposed to be so highly valued in these regions, yet it is so very, very common.

  • @starcherry6814
    @starcherry6814 2 ปีที่แล้ว +293

    5:00 For those who missed it
    The US assassinated Congo's first PM

    • @mwanikimwaniki6801
      @mwanikimwaniki6801 2 ปีที่แล้ว +202

      @@nuqwestr Pro-communist? Lol no. Pro-independence. He approached the Americans and they turned him away then he went to the Soviets and they welcomed him with open arms. Then you proceed to justify his murder with your propaganda. What a joke!

    • @robertjarman3703
      @robertjarman3703 2 ปีที่แล้ว +40

      @@nuqwestr Does that justify a coup d'etat if his rule was not authoritarian?

    • @icrushchildrensdreams4556
      @icrushchildrensdreams4556 2 ปีที่แล้ว +66

      @@nuqwestr the more you hear the more you feel like the CIA is actually just a crime syndicate of drunk cops with a bunch of weapons and money

    • @demonizedhuman941
      @demonizedhuman941 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@icrushchildrensdreams4556 CIA is not under control of even American government lol.
      The Intelligence network is very complicated and crazy.

    • @BobBogaert
      @BobBogaert 2 ปีที่แล้ว +75

      @@nuqwestr So you don't justify his murder, but you think it's good riddance? Which is it?
      Lumumba wasn't pro-communist. He was pro-neutrality. He tried to maintain relations with the Belgians, but they created crisis after crisis, incited mutinies, made the county ungovernable, and supported Katangan independence. He turned to the US, but they only wanted to act through the UN on a weakened mandate. He went to Canada, same story. If every restaurant in town refuses services until I can only go to Arby's, that doesn't make me pro-Arby's does it? The Belgian government and the US never acted in good faith. The French went as far to support mercenaries under Bob Denard to support Tshombe and Katangan independence. Is it that difficult to believe that mining companies and western governments would brand someone a communist in order to protect their commercial interests? It's the oldest trick in the book.

  • @jacobsion5516
    @jacobsion5516 2 ปีที่แล้ว +86

    I got goosebumps while watching this. Shame on human history.

    • @ballsonyourmomschin1781
      @ballsonyourmomschin1781 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      It’s shame on Leopold and Belgium not history.

    • @MaxMustermann-bm7qt
      @MaxMustermann-bm7qt 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      If you really want to cry, google this: Alice Seeley Harris. Don’t know why her name wasn’t mentioned.

    • @no-rq7fp
      @no-rq7fp 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@MaxMustermann-bm7qt Because she's white duh! Also I lol'd thahahahahahaha

    • @ashokafulcrum4795
      @ashokafulcrum4795 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@ballsonyourmomschin1781 *Leopold II,.. given that even the entirety of Belgium wanted nothing to do with his Colonial ventures.

    • @ballsonyourmomschin1781
      @ballsonyourmomschin1781 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@ashokafulcrum4795 the government knew he was doing it and allowed him to do it so…….

  • @gojira4036
    @gojira4036 2 ปีที่แล้ว +146

    “Congo free state”
    More like *Congo Concentration camp*

    • @JoeMama-bo2qt
      @JoeMama-bo2qt 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It was Called the "Free State" Because it was ruled by Leopold, not Belgium, and thus, technically, was its own Country, Funny how the Congolese people were more Free under direct Belgian Control than the so called "Free State"
      Btw, sorry if im like, 8 months late, but i wanted to point this out.

  • @drunk_monkey8080
    @drunk_monkey8080 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    I came across this when when I was 9 years old, on my eldest sister's history book. The photo of the man and the child looking at severed hands is so haunting.

  • @kevinstapp328
    @kevinstapp328 2 ปีที่แล้ว +40

    The Ishango Bone is still on display in the Royal Belgian Institute. Found in the Congo and stolen by Belgian colonizer Jean de Heinzelin de Braucourt in 1950 it is one of the earliest examples of humans utilizing mathematics and may be the very first object found displaying prime numbers.
    The Ishango Bone deserves to be returned to the Congo where generations of children can visit it in it’s rightful home and ponder the great genius of their African ancestors.

  • @mr.minnesoulja1257
    @mr.minnesoulja1257 2 ปีที่แล้ว +82

    I cannot live without TedEd

  • @historicalFeminist
    @historicalFeminist 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    The opening of this video is so evocative. It perfectly humanizes what is so easy to think of as numbers in a history book.

  • @Anime_games-_-XUnknown
    @Anime_games-_-XUnknown 2 ปีที่แล้ว +88

    Most kings couldn't get there mark in history but this one looked like a pi3ce of cake

  • @recordkeepingandinformatio8206
    @recordkeepingandinformatio8206 2 ปีที่แล้ว +54

    A reminder that no country has stood or ever will stand for human rights.

    • @ShailendraSinghChauhanKing
      @ShailendraSinghChauhanKing 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      What we need to do ???

    • @krevin543
      @krevin543 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@ShailendraSinghChauhanKing we need government to be small and only perform certain strictly defined functions with checks and balances within itself ultimately responsible to it’s people. Recalling and impeaching bad officials, and elections for terms which are then limited.
      Good media which is always critical and factual keeping the populace informed on statistics, results, and events.

    • @Teufer2
      @Teufer2 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ey. We Swiss gave you the Geneva Convention. Not our fault if no one follows the guidelines.

    • @fyukfy2366
      @fyukfy2366 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Teufer2 don't be so high and mighty, being neutral doesn't mean being good. In fact being neutral by definition means you aren't good

    • @Teufer2
      @Teufer2 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@fyukfy2366 Being Neutral in Swiss terms means we do not interfere in other countries politics. Especially military.
      What I mean we wrote the Geneva Convention and have helped many times as neutral interpreters in conflicts.
      If you still wish to kill each other.
      Go ahead. We will not stop you. Firstly because we have not the means to do so but mostly in the end it is not our problem.
      So not doing warcrimes and at least trying to prevent war diplomatically is still better than many countries.

  • @bhekumuzitshabalala
    @bhekumuzitshabalala 2 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    This broke my heart.

    • @demonizedhuman941
      @demonizedhuman941 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Eventho we Indians didn't face this much we can also relate bro.

  • @doofeyduck9316
    @doofeyduck9316 2 ปีที่แล้ว +32

    It is very painful and heart-wrenching to hear the dark history of our brothers and sisters. Great work Ted-Ed, keep making such videos and reveal the truth to the world.

  • @mihnma
    @mihnma 2 ปีที่แล้ว +101

    This monster died comfortably in his home country, while his family's descendants still hold on to the throne of Belgium. There is truly little to no justice in this world.

    • @welloetelloe
      @welloetelloe 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Actually none of Leopolds children became the next king, it was his nephew Albert I
      Also the king doesn't really have any power in Belgium

    • @mihnma
      @mihnma 2 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      @@welloetelloe I know who succeeded Leopold that's why I said "His family's descendants", please learn how to interpret a statement. And I never said that they had political power, please learn how to read, period, lmfao

    • @JoeMama-bo2qt
      @JoeMama-bo2qt 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      You sound like your directly insulting the Modern royal Family of Belgium, Which currently Relinquishes large parts of their Power in favor of Democracy, Donates to Charities on a large scale, etc, also, this was 100+ Years ago, 90% The Royal Family has Undoubtedly changed since than.

    • @capncake8837
      @capncake8837 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      At least he died soon after he gave up control of the Congo. It’s sort of poetic in a way.

    • @klif4755
      @klif4755 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@mihnma 🤓

  • @mbbbits4847
    @mbbbits4847 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    It is relieving to know that atrocities usually overlooked for not taking place in the western world are brought to light by such a popular platform. Keep up the good work!

  • @karthikshenoy7883
    @karthikshenoy7883 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Thank you so much for considering my request , TED-Ed. You guys are always such a great help to me.

  • @sigitprabowo363
    @sigitprabowo363 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I met Belgian tourists in 2012 and they were university students, surprisingly they didn't know about how Leopold and his horrific story.

    • @welloetelloe
      @welloetelloe 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      That's a pretty rare occurrence, most people here know about it

    • @robinnoel2716
      @robinnoel2716 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Well actually , I didnt learn about it at school . I learned this by myself because I'm kinda a history geek. 😅

  • @knaravind3335
    @knaravind3335 2 ปีที่แล้ว +279

    British monarchy: Finally A worthy opponent. Our battle will be legendary!

    • @eatathepizza4449
      @eatathepizza4449 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      God save the Queen

    • @doctorgamez2410
      @doctorgamez2410 2 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      Careful, now colonial apologists will come to defend their precious queen🤣🤣

    • @eatathepizza4449
      @eatathepizza4449 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @@doctorgamez2410 you called ?

    • @doctorgamez2410
      @doctorgamez2410 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@eatathepizza4449 right on time😂🤝

    • @eatathepizza4449
      @eatathepizza4449 2 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      @@doctorgamez2410 🎉 god save her majesty 🎉

  • @tangerine5903
    @tangerine5903 2 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    Really liking the history videos that bring injustice to more attention. Great job TED-Ed, hope you guys keep this content up and bring more.

  • @sleepyboi5804
    @sleepyboi5804 2 ปีที่แล้ว +44

    This is very tragic.

  • @simonettacollatina7197
    @simonettacollatina7197 2 ปีที่แล้ว +43

    I was not aware of these atrocities, unbelievable. Thank you for opening my eyes

    • @LeoniasSvk
      @LeoniasSvk 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      This is what happens when you have superior technological advantage. Some group of people us it in unforeseeable actions of cruelty

    • @alx8571
      @alx8571 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@LeoniasSvk Justifying genocide? Weird

    • @lordspotato5032
      @lordspotato5032 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@alx8571 hes not though. Hes talking how genocide often starts

    • @alx8571
      @alx8571 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@lordspotato5032 The op was saying “wow that’s horrific thanks for the info” and he basically “that’s just what happens 🤷🏻‍♂️ “like….are you really that dense

    • @lordspotato5032
      @lordspotato5032 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@alx8571 no he wasn't. Read it again. There are certain context clues to help you determine the meaning of his statement. hint: "unforeseeable". Never in his statement was there the malicious tone of "that's JUST what happens"
      He is correct in that when people have a high amount of power over another group, such horrific things can occur. This is true.
      This is also why we have to be wary of these current events and issues in which state powers have such power to commit atrocities.
      Have you heard of the Uyghurs in China? Perhaps you should read a bit into it, might prove helpful. These types of atrocities still happen today, at different levels.
      I honestly don't know what else to tell you dude. Clearly you are reading with a bit of bias in your head and a temper in your mouth as well judging from your last statement.
      It's really hard to judge and understand people's intentions online, because of the lack of facial cues and tone. Would suggest not immediately jumping to assumptions, because text can be read in many different ways.

  • @tryingmydarndest8200
    @tryingmydarndest8200 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    So proud of my history teacher for teaching us this.

  • @andrewwudarta561
    @andrewwudarta561 2 ปีที่แล้ว +148

    Leopold: I’m going to change the congo
    Congolese: For the better right?
    Leopold: 👁👁
    Congolese: For the better right…

  • @dennisagbayani3327
    @dennisagbayani3327 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    One of the very BEST narrators EVER. Clear, no-nonsense, pleasant to hear, obviously PROFESSIONAL. Thank you so much. May we hear from you ever so often. Great content deserves Great Delivery. Speaking of content, this leaves me VERY content.

  • @opusepynomus9995
    @opusepynomus9995 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    What's even more sad is that decades after Europeans left....Africans have been fighting each other instead of rebuilding.

    • @msgirly6827
      @msgirly6827 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Tell the whole story. Because the europeans never actually left. You arent smooth.

    • @biochemistry5009
      @biochemistry5009 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@msgirly6827 no

    • @ate313
      @ate313 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Division caused by Europeans

    • @foxymetroid
      @foxymetroid 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      A big reason was the Cold War. Even after the colonial powers "left", the West and East still sought to expand their influence in the continent, often with coups and revolutions. Heck, the first democratically elected leader of the Congo after it gained independence was assassinated with help from the CIA because the Americans interpreted his attempts at neutrality as support for the USSR and Communism in general.

  • @gunjanagarwal8251
    @gunjanagarwal8251 2 ปีที่แล้ว +83

    Earth provides enough to satisfy everyone's need....but not everyone's greed.
    ---- MAHATMA GANDHI

    • @akay_g9
      @akay_g9 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @Green Gobby Actually, there are profound pieces of evidence to show that solving needs like the need for food can indeed be solved worldwide. We as Humans do not do so because there are many psychological, political, and social reasons why we Humans simply just, basically, don't want to do so.
      I recommend checking out this books if you wanna know more:
      - First World Hunger: Food Security and Welfare Politics, by Graham Riches
      TedX Also has a great video from an expert explaining the issue very well:
      th-cam.com/video/6SnVmkP1Hw4/w-d-xo.html

    • @GBS4893
      @GBS4893 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @Green Gobby It won't because the necessary money won't be put on the table. Hydroponic farms are a good example of this. We could have vertical farms that go as far high as a building can. That's a lot of food by m². Yet a huge part of humanity is starving, or dying of a lack of pretty cheap stuff.
      Anyway, this debate is actually centuries old, i think it's more of a society phenomenon than a real debate as the arguments we have now and our ancestors had back then are so different yet the discussion remains globally the same.

    • @davidsilverfield835
      @davidsilverfield835 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Clean India first lol

    • @Ihrun
      @Ihrun 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Ghandi was a subversive snake who abused Britain's naïve benevolence to undermine their rightful interests in India.

    • @foxymetroid
      @foxymetroid 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Ihrun The British were hardly benevolent and had only themselves to blame for their increasing unpopularity in the country.

  • @ash.bl.9289
    @ash.bl.9289 2 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    The biggest problem in most African countries is mainly the arbitrary lines with which different ethnicities or peoples are forced to live together in one country.
    That is why the African countries are often in civil war and have little stability.
    You should negotiate with the UN that every people who really can't get along in a country get their own or autonomous country with their own government so that they have more stability where possible.

  • @simranmalhotra7364
    @simranmalhotra7364 2 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    Sad at the atrocities those countless men, women and children had to go through and many are still going through for no fault of their own.😔
    Thanks, TED-Ed for making videos on such topics.😊

  • @TristanSamuel
    @TristanSamuel 2 ปีที่แล้ว +157

    Africa: exists
    Leopold: I am the very model of a modern major general

    • @avigailpekelman8239
      @avigailpekelman8239 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Is this a hamilton reference?

    • @TristanSamuel
      @TristanSamuel 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@avigailpekelman8239 IDK just heard it somewhere 😐

    • @michaelterrell5061
      @michaelterrell5061 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@avigailpekelman8239 NO

    • @michaelterrell5061
      @michaelterrell5061 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@TristanSamuel it’s Gilbert and Sullivan.

    • @TristanSamuel
      @TristanSamuel 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@michaelterrell5061 Oh thx

  • @SolelyACasualRambler
    @SolelyACasualRambler ปีที่แล้ว +8

    (Not so) fun fact: This was one of the first times the phrase "crimes against humanity" was used to describe what was being done

  • @aqib.
    @aqib. 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    This should be included in school textbooks. The only hope to end racism and human rights abuses is by educating the coming generations.

    • @aqib.
      @aqib. 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@nuqwestr I'm from Asia and we have very limited exposure to African history.

    • @teamjam2863
      @teamjam2863 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@aqib. mostly since we have our own history regarding similar issues for the most part : For India it’s internal fighting and mass killings from several groups (natives and foreign), for China it is what they committed tho they were also subjected to what the japanese did to them.
      For the Phillipines it was the Japanese occupation and civil war, for Malayic countries (Malaysia, Indonesia etc) Dutch and British rule over the nations, for the Middle East (long history of conflict in the region such as crusader states) and Central Asia similarly long history of occupation etc.
      Even oppressors such as Japan has their own history with the mongols and their historical genocide towards the true natives of Japan.
      There is a stark contrast between the African and Asian sentiments despite being treated in similar ways historically this is due to the more Asian concept of acknowledging the past and focusing on the future which is why a lot of statues of war criminals from ww2 exist in their victims country and a lack of demand for compensation in general.

  • @unknown-vk1zw
    @unknown-vk1zw 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Yet another awesome video! The animation was amazing and the voice showed they put hard effort, great job TED-Ed!

  • @akaworlds4197
    @akaworlds4197 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    As a Congolese myself I’m very sad that I’ve learned so little about my country and this king scarred my people for generations and generations

  • @user-tm2vw2gd8g
    @user-tm2vw2gd8g 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    It's scary that history just keeps on repeating itself

  • @TheMarijule
    @TheMarijule 2 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    Thank you Tedex for bringing awareness to the whole world.

    • @sugarboohoo
      @sugarboohoo 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Pinned by TED-Ed tf?

    • @franksmith9725
      @franksmith9725 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I've never seen a more obvious scam lol

    • @minecraftwithava6531
      @minecraftwithava6531 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Awareness about this, but in Russia during communism 90 million were killed, including some of my ancestors. Ever wondered why ted Ed doesn’t talk about communism?

  • @starcherry6814
    @starcherry6814 2 ปีที่แล้ว +110

    "Forced many Congolese men to complete *unpaid labour* "
    Just say he _enslaved_ them

    • @J.5.M.
      @J.5.M. 2 ปีที่แล้ว +32

      Slavery implies ownership over another person, making a person property. Unpaid / forced labour might not be the same thing.

    • @Charlie-yq8hu
      @Charlie-yq8hu 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@J.5.M. well ye, but they forced them to do it so id argue kinda treated them like they owned them, and they took their children hostage and chopped of their hands. This to me is treating them like they own them.
      I do understand what you mean though, under a technicality its not slavery, however it is as good as

    • @J.5.M.
      @J.5.M. 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Charlie-yq8hu Yeah obviously I'm not justifying any of it. Just explaining the terms

    • @Fahad-bk9pc
      @Fahad-bk9pc 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @xxyyzz There's no difference. Don't try to defend a bloody tyrant. There's even records that he threatened to mutilate people's children if they do not work.

    • @Charlie-yq8hu
      @Charlie-yq8hu 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @xxyyzz je kinda

  • @stressed_vivi
    @stressed_vivi 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    "they used bullets for hunting and in order to not face consequences, cut hands of innocent Congo people." I cannot tell you how much this statement has horrified and made me gag

  • @mothug978
    @mothug978 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great video, informative content! Awesome animation and narration! Thank you!

  • @joppefrans8393
    @joppefrans8393 2 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    As a belgian I still don’t get why there is still this notion that Europe brought “civilization” or “democracy” to Africa

    • @kingvxv6438
      @kingvxv6438 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@nuqwestr lmao Europeans didn’t bring Christianity to Africa. It was already here before it got to Europe, Egypt, Sudan which use to be Nubia and Ethiopia were Orthodox Christian. Only today Ethiopia still Christian nation.

    • @AlexanderMichelson
      @AlexanderMichelson 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Because Africa lived in the stone age. And now its population is booming like crazy. You are welcome!

    • @kingvxv6438
      @kingvxv6438 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@nuqwestr yea Ik but has Christianity benefit DRC Answer is No. if you want more answer watch DW documentary about DRC, most viewed in the last couple of months.

    • @ate313
      @ate313 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@AlexanderMichelson The population growth isn't a good thing. And no, they didn't

  • @jamesmagdaraog5905
    @jamesmagdaraog5905 2 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    This is so heartbreaking. 💔 How could someone let this happen?

    • @GBS4893
      @GBS4893 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Psst. People are still starving or dying from basic stuff because they don't have the equivalent of 5$, 'cause their country are maintained in poverty and conflict by industrialized nations. Our wealth comes from their doom. We are all letting this happen.

    • @baddad2955
      @baddad2955 ปีที่แล้ว

      What happened after king Leopold.

  • @red_reaper
    @red_reaper 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Its really shocking how much of history and events like these are hidden or worse, erased!

  • @chancephillips7975
    @chancephillips7975 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you Ted Ed for another insightful, beautifully animated educational video. As a history teacher, your videos are my go-to source when time is limited, but I want to provide students with engaging and meaningful supplementary materials to drive home the main course content. Kudos!

  • @baconbuttie9624
    @baconbuttie9624 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    How have I just found this channel? Its freakin’ awesome

  • @user-kx9wd8fx9m
    @user-kx9wd8fx9m 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Thank you TED-Ed😇
    That is so tragic😭
    People, let's be kinder to one another!🤗

    • @godlysoul2288
      @godlysoul2288 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      That’s so true
      Hi,How are you doing ?

    • @user-kx9wd8fx9m
      @user-kx9wd8fx9m 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@godlysoul2288 Hi!
      I am fine!
      How are you?

    • @godlysoul2288
      @godlysoul2288 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@user-kx9wd8fx9m also fine, thanks for asking... and you same to be caring girl with a perfect heart.

    • @easterworshipper730
      @easterworshipper730 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      You said that because you havent spend a day in the XIX Century. Lol

    • @baddad2955
      @baddad2955 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@easterworshipper730 lol

  • @Nioswinnen
    @Nioswinnen 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I live in belgium and learnt about this in school

    • @Nioswinnen
      @Nioswinnen 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Its not my fhoult?

    • @Nioswinnen
      @Nioswinnen 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      And the people of belgium hat leopold II

    • @victorpiccard5165
      @victorpiccard5165 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @xxyyzz that’s not true, the region of belgium was wealthy long before it was even a country, yes colonialism gave us money, but not as much as you think and during the reign of leopold the 2nd all the money went to him, i understand that you are upset and still suffer from it, but you were somewhat rude to him, and it’s not only europeans who did this, people did this kind of thing troughout history

    • @Pistoshaska
      @Pistoshaska 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @xxyyzz a bit exaggerated

    • @williamsalaets6884
      @williamsalaets6884 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Hey, glad you're learning about mistakes from the past. Helps to create a better future. And @xxyyzz those are quite the accusations. It's true that Belgium has to live with the regret of one of it's former kings actions but acting aggresive to a student due to someone elses mistakes in the past leads to no improvement of what happened. I like to study history & If there's 1 thing that history teached me it's that giving/demanding an apology is easy but it's hard to truely forgive/forget. So i hope you can give the subject some thought and give it a place. I'm not asking you to forgive but to be the better man when it comes to sensitive subjects like this cuz that way we're a step closer to burying the hatchet.

  • @vess889
    @vess889 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for this video! It was eye openning

  • @mastersarvesh5411
    @mastersarvesh5411 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Awesome content TED-Ed, learning made easy

  • @woodsloth2255
    @woodsloth2255 2 ปีที่แล้ว +69

    I am from belgium and I am so sorry to everyone from congo

    • @induction7895
      @induction7895 2 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      The pleasures that we take for granted paid for by the blood of millions of people in far away land- the bloodshed caused by us.

    • @fanteasy7399
      @fanteasy7399 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      That was 150 years ago, it is part of history, no need to sorry because nowadays Belgium has nothing in common with Leopold's policy, the main thing we don't have some kind of policy today, and that's good

    • @letsgetreal2501
      @letsgetreal2501 2 ปีที่แล้ว +47

      It is not your duty to be sorry for something done so long ago. But the simple act of acknowledging what happened, and perhaps amends in the form of reparations can go a long way.

    • @woodsloth2255
      @woodsloth2255 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yes true all of you

    • @ipadair7345
      @ipadair7345 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      not your or anyone who lives there currently's fault, the past has been done, no need to apologise for crimes you haven't commited or helped in.

  • @kishorkumar7652
    @kishorkumar7652 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    These sorta atrocities and brutalities are buried in History.
    .
    These need to be explored, as the past is the best piece to vision a better future. ✌🏼💗

    • @froglifes6829
      @froglifes6829 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@nuqwestr Theyre fake woke

    • @kishorkumar7652
      @kishorkumar7652 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@nuqwestr okay dear....
      .
      But I'm talking about other atrocities too, which are manipulated by the govts in power in many countries...

  • @moth_kaca
    @moth_kaca 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I like this history style videos, short, to the point and educational keep it coming.

  • @lordjaximus4597
    @lordjaximus4597 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Happy to see this story being told

  • @Fugitivez03
    @Fugitivez03 2 ปีที่แล้ว +83

    And they expect the victims to thank them for railways and education! 😏

    • @nandinhocunha440
      @nandinhocunha440 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @Pinned by TED-Ed totally not fake

    • @terecthetec756
      @terecthetec756 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Moreover, the infrastructure financed by the colonial governments were themselves part of the extractivist and colonialist practices, meaning that even after independence these countries were ill-suited to transition into an industrialized mode of production and many of these ventures continued being owned by European companies eve to this day

  • @ignorasmus
    @ignorasmus 2 ปีที่แล้ว +49

    @01:55 - If a country's name has non geographic adjective in it like 'Free / Democratic / Great' etc. it is almost a definite indicator that it is not what the name indicates.
    There is this place to the west of Japan. It's official name is : Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

    • @ipadair7345
      @ipadair7345 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @Legannd same with Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

    • @jakemarchbank
      @jakemarchbank 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      However something like the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland might seem to meet your criteria but the 'Great' in Great Britain actually refers to geography. Great Britain is distinct from 'Little Britain' which is known now as Brittany, the most western part of Metropolitan France. The distinction is no longer as important as it once was and the meaning of 'Great' is sometimes misunderstood these days!

    • @jakemarchbank
      @jakemarchbank 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@ipadair7345 not really, a Republic is any form of government which has a president instead of a monarch. This means that non democratic states can still be republics, and democratic states don't have to be republics!

    • @raveenakalra143
      @raveenakalra143 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      So true, like democratic P.R of Korea and great Britain, which is the biggest invader and not all great. Same with Congo free state

    • @jakemarchbank
      @jakemarchbank 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@raveenakalra143 Great Britain gets the Great in its name to differentiate it from 'Little Britain' which is now known as Brittany, a part of France. Nothing to do with being pompous! It just means it's bigger that the other Britain!

  • @vaibhavarora9408
    @vaibhavarora9408 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you Ted-Ed

  • @robertschlesinger1342
    @robertschlesinger1342 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Very interesting, informative and worthwhile video. A must see video for everyone.

  • @blueaspenmeadow3862
    @blueaspenmeadow3862 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Taking the human rights of others to achieve opulent dreams for themselves, is something no person should do let alone a leader…

  • @myllasunaya3871
    @myllasunaya3871 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I am living in Belgium for the past months and now I feel so bad to take pictures in several monuments in Brussels after watching this video 😭😭

    • @capusvacans
      @capusvacans 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Don't, they are beautifull builings, just keep the context of their origins in mind when you pass by them. If not you can't take photos of most historic buildings, wether in france, the UK, Spain, the netherlands etc, as many, many of them were built on the blood of the colonised in one way or another.
      Even the buildings that ppl glorify and admire of ancient empires like the colosseum in Rome (and pretty much every other roman building tbh) were built with the profits gained by a combination of conquest, slavery, murder etc. It always pisses me off when someone talks about the "civilised" romans tbh, they were a bunch of savages who build nice buildings, not much more then that.
      The saying, "every great fortune is built on an even greater crime" is just as true now as it has been since the beginning of time. We need to face that fact, put it in context and make sure it is widely known. But the buildings themselves, they did nothing wrong and often are simply beautifull or show leaps in technology and should be admired for that, not hated upon.

    • @mrtrollnator123
      @mrtrollnator123 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@capusvacans exactly

    • @baddad2955
      @baddad2955 ปีที่แล้ว

      The funny thing is that in this movie on the horse of king Leopold was painted BLM.
      You know what happened with that organisation.
      People still don't get it

  • @kensingcd
    @kensingcd 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    These terrible events should be reminders that atrocities, terror, and injustice are not exclusive to one particular group, race, or continent. This is only one of countless examples in history.. sadly I don’t think most people reach this conclusion after watching this.

  • @x6965
    @x6965 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    It's not just title but the animation and BGM and filmi teaching attracts learners.... Keep it up ❤️

  • @TooshanSrivastava
    @TooshanSrivastava 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Thank you for bringing this story to light; the atrocities that this continent has endured!
    Please do one on the Bengal famine if possible.

  • @dimamatat5548
    @dimamatat5548 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    There is another, even deadlier king. Hong Xiuquan was the self-proclaimed "Taiping Heavenly King", who led a rebellion against the Qing. The rebellion lasted 14 years and resulted in at least 20 million people killed, while Leopold II killed about 15 million Congolese.

  • @riteshsharma3193
    @riteshsharma3193 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Plunder so strong that it is running since 2 century and we don't know how far will it take us, So beautiful quote at the start.

  • @Dragontamer135
    @Dragontamer135 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    These videos should be shown more in history classes.

  • @SpinzoLynxYT
    @SpinzoLynxYT 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The animation is really good ngl

  • @nereisi
    @nereisi 2 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    I feel sick. So much pain and atrocities swept under the rug. This isn't right.

  • @suhail301
    @suhail301 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    It helps me to learn English , thank you 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

    • @ipadair7345
      @ipadair7345 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Joshuajr Jose does them being pakistani mean anything, what does ones nationality have to do.
      Also that is the flag of India.

    • @ipadair7345
      @ipadair7345 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      ​@Joshuajr Jose ok that's undemianly fine, though instead of replying with 'ok pakistani' reply with 'ok troll'; Constructive critisism of the actions of a person provides a smidge of chance for change.
      Using unchangebale parts of someone's personality(or rather identity) as a slur brings forth no change, and may cause animosity between the groups, or their group, and percieved group.
      If one trulty is frustrated by another's actions, and cannot bring themselves to act polite with them, comment to them in a passive-aggressive tone, and instead of using slurs write it in a tone of dis-appointment to something they suggest to hold dear. For example- "You ought to be ashamed of yourself for potraying your people in a negative way, and besmirching the name of your nation!"
      The last way to act is a negative way of bringing change, but has a higher chance of making them be reformed. Don't use the last tactic in the wild(Face to Face) unless you have great talking skills, or are highly charismatic.
      Thanks for Reading,
      I hope you have a wonderful day(or evening)
      -A fellow human

    • @ipadair7345
      @ipadair7345 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      ​@Joshuajr Jose Your reaction underlines the reason as to why the world is changing, and how technology has affected the entire world in even the most minute ways for the better, or for the worse.
      Attention Spans- Something which used to be long, and have now gotten so short that people can no longer subject themselves to not just read a few paragraphs, but also to accept that someone could have taken their precious time to write a few paragraphs.
      There are a lot of advantages associated with a shorter attention span, but it brings forth a motley of harms.
      I shall have to unfortunately conclude my reply, as the chances you may read it are slim.
      Have a good/evening/twilight
      ~Someone way too much into philosophical jargon

    • @ipadair7345
      @ipadair7345 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      * morining
      P.S sorry for not proofreading my reply.

  • @vaccino3359
    @vaccino3359 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Wow... Never thought Belgium was the quiet kid of Europe...

  • @randomobserver8168
    @randomobserver8168 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Both a low point in the history of human cruelty and a high, indeed foundational, point in the history of national, international, and private sector/civil society activism against it. The former was epochally cruel, the latter was new, unexpected, and ultimately encouraging if not always imitated since.

  • @babyyodachelsea7034
    @babyyodachelsea7034 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    The story of lumumba is even a tragedy in and of itself in detail

    • @enrique5850
      @enrique5850 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      nah , he asked the UN and the US military to massacre a revolt in a city in congo and they denied that then he turn to the soviets who were willing to do so, so eff him

    • @baddad2955
      @baddad2955 ปีที่แล้ว

      He committed a genocidal himself

  • @truetory6231
    @truetory6231 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    A King so reprehensible even God and nature didn't want his bloodline to continue. I personally think that Belgium is fortunate that none of it's subsequent monarchs were descended from this total monster

  • @MarkArandjus
    @MarkArandjus 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    The awful awful colonized history of the Congo is what really pisses me off when people talk about Africa's underdeveloped regions, implying its their own fault.

    • @rjnbonif3603
      @rjnbonif3603 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      All Africa had slavery since thousands years before