8. The Sumerians - Fall of the First Cities

Is this real? Am I actually watching a quality documentary about the Sumerian civilization that isn't talking about aliens? Sir, you have my everlasting gratitude.

Being an Iraqi whois late dad was from Nineveh in northern Iraq, I remember how keen my dad was on visiting museums he could all around the world and taking video footage of their collections of Iraqi artifacts and archeological findings. This has been one of the most beautifully narrated, well paced to the point of being harmonious and scientifically rich documentaries I have ever had the pleasure of watching. The fact that you covered the Semetic/ Summerian symbiotic history, which is the history of the ancestors of virtually every Iraqi so well is such a feat! My late Dad would would have been thrilled if he had the chance to watch it. The cradle of civilization as we know it deserved this level of professionalism and scientific accuracy. You have earnt a subscriber and my gratitude as a human being and an Iraqi. May you and your wonderful team be blessed always.

As an Iraqi citizen, I would really like to thank you for showing the true face of Iraq, full of civilization and history, contrary to what the media shows to everyone, that Iraq is a country of war and destruction. I would really like to thank you from the heart of a person who lives in Babylon Governorate (ancient Babylon).

I have now found my personal safe place. A place to escape from my (often) troubled mind, the beautiful narration in these videos, and the highest obtainable quality (humanely possible) poured into them…for all of these things I want to say thank you. I can not articulate what reprieve you have granted me during a very frightening time. Lost family/friends/pets continuously mounting in my life, I am ashamed to admit how pathetic my life has become. It’s like I don’t exist. ANYWAYS, embarrassedly I say all that about myself. But my sentiment is one of praise for you or the team that produced this video and this content. You have given me a soothing/joyous escape while I battle against my problems. THANK YOU

I love that this has 17 million views after 1 year. In a world of 1 minute video clips, to see a 2 hour and 27 minute documentary flourish makes me happy.

I can only mourn that I had to turn 70 before I could see and learn this history. This was probably the best history lesson I have ever had.

This was absolutely outstanding. Hard to believe it's available for free on YouTube. Very high quality.

26 million views after 3 years. Amazing work with no mention of aliens. Great thanks.

Sumerian civilization is so old that Babalon had legends about it, that is truly mind-blowing.

I'm Iraqi, from South Iraq, when I travel north on the highway, I cannot be rested until I see the old Ziggurat of Ur looking at me from afar horizon. Thank you for this magnificent documentary.

3 years later and i still return to revisit this often. best sumer content hands down.

I’m an educator and geologist. I just want to express immense gratitude for what you are doing here. Paul, your approach to education and knowledge transfer is what we need more of. It’s very immersive. I am so appreciate that in every episode you discuss how the regional geology shaped a civilization. So few people understand how much the geology of this planet has influenced the shape of our entire species’s development. And as an educator I also appreciate how you give your audience frames of reference. I do this a lot because in geology we deal with Deep Time and for many people this is such a hard thing for them to grasp. In this episode, I admire how you help people understand the spans of time we’re dealing with here by using landmarks they will already have a feel for - a sort of time sense. How writing, for example, is essentially as old as the extinction of the wooly mammoth, or how Sumer was already considered ancient 1300 years before Stonehenge was ever built, and Stonehenge is older than Rome and the story of Jesus. I wish and wish and wish more educators used approaches like this when transferring knowledge. Thank you 🙏 so very much for all that your team does! This matters, even on those days when it might feel like it doesn’t.

Your contribution to the general public's understanding of history is invaluable. Cheers.

The fact that ancient peoples stumbled across cities that were ancient to them is amazing. How cool that would have been.

To this very day this documentary from top to bottom is by far the best source of information related to the Sumerian history.

Wow…I’m speechless! No aliens in this quality Doc. Just the truth!

I’m on my 3rd time round watching this series, and I still can’t believe how hard it rules. This puts 99% of documentaries - professional and enthusiast-created alike - to shame. The prose is poetic in its simplicity. The footage is hypnotic considering this is foremost a podcast. The scope is epic, the narration dulcet and profound. I could watch this series forever, but this particular episode is my favorite of the lot. Sumeria and the first city-states! There are still great things being made, folks.

Fell asleep watching a mini-doc on Richard III and woke up to this. Usually I curse autoplay, but on this occasion I must praise it, what a gem! Thank you Sir, for this wonderful education.

This video is insane! I feel like I just went to visit those ancient Sumerian cities, met the people, went to their houses, and even tastes their food! It’s just mind blowing

This is one of the most.. if not THE most professionally done, educational, absolutely fascinating channels on YouTube.