The sacking of Constantinople 800 years ago - how we got to where we are today

[link to www.youtube.com (secure)]

Anybody who has a problem with posting this 30-minute video should be put up against the Wall Of Text and shot.

OK seriously, I am an old guy and have seen a lot, read a lot, lived a lot. And this 30-minute well-presented (with pictographs) account of the absolute shat show which took place 800 years ago will appall you.

The fall of Constantinople 800 years ago to the Pope's armies led to the fall of Constantinople in 1453 a couple centuries later. This is what led to the rise of the European powers on the world stage (replacing the lost spices (including opium) trade, these spices constituting among other things dowries for royal marriages to "reserves" against which war borrowing took place (not to mention some appalling body odours for a people who in some locales bathed once a year, if at all).

Yes, it really was this bad (referring to the 30-minute video). You'll notice towards the end that the only group which did not identiofy themselves as Christians were the Swedish Varangian Vikings who were on contract to defend the City against invaders. But when they saw the depravity and infighting of the so-called Christians (who in the case of the Byzantime Emperor, decided not to even pay his defenders, the Varangians), they went back home to Sweden.

The world has gone through a lot from this event. Two world wars, the emergence of nations on three continents and related issue to this very day - think China and India certainly.

If you can take it, here's how it all got going, 800 years ago. And don't forget the ginger beer.