The imaginary king who changed the real world - Matteo Salvadore
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In 1165, copies of a strange letter began to circulate throughout Europe. It spoke of a fantastical realm, containing the Tower of Babel and the Fountain of Youth— all ruled over by the letter’s mysterious author: Prester John. Who was this powerful ruler, and was he even real? Matteo Salvadore shares the legend of a mythical king who impacted the decisions of European leaders for 400 years.
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Meet The Creators
- Educator Matteo Salvadore
- Director Anna Nowakowska
- Narrator Addison Anderson
- Producer The Animation Workshop, Bethany Cutmore-Scott
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
- Associate Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
- Script Editor Alex Gendler
- Fact-Checker Eden Girma
by TED-Ed
Europeans associated Prester John with multiple rulers and places, but they consistently imagined him as a non-European sovereign, and eventually as a pious and powerful African emperor. While imagining and pursuing Prester John as a potential ally, the Portuguese were also laying the foundation for the Atlantic Slave Trade and the suffering of millions of Africans. Reflect on how the Portuguese and, in general, Europeans understood racial and religious difference in the era under consideration.
Comments are closed on this discussion.
sophia branham
Lesson completed
their main focus was on prester john.
Minwook Kim
Lesson completed
I think they didn't care about what's happening and just focusing on Prester John.
Maya Russell
Lesson completed
I think Prester John was used as a ploy for countries to get powerful alliances but when the powerful allies found the myth of Prester John not to be in their country, that sparked war between countries.
Maya Russell
Lesson completed
I think the Europeans wanted Prester John as an alliance but
Liam Williams
Lesson in progress
I think Prestor John only existed because the Europeans wanted a powerful ally/friend.
Also because it is impossible to transfer information by speech.
Anthony Zimmerer
Lesson completed
Maybe they only cared about kings and not people.
Maëlle Blaszczyk
Lesson in progress
I think the search for Prester John was just an excuse for something else. The portuguese were sent to find and plunder the African gold mines. Then they deported several thousang slaves.
Calvin Strider
Lesson completed
in response to Vance Poke Show comment
i feel that.
Brian Ufford
Lesson completed
in response to keira franz alvarez Show comment
Prester John was really only a figment of the churches imaginations that went out of hand. Ins-slaving the Africans wasn't really part plan so I don't agree that was what they have in mind. so to make my response short I think that you may have a one side right but maybe as a whole I don't think it was correct
Brian Ufford
Lesson completed
I feel like the different countries wanted the Prester John story to be believed because they wanted the christian church to become their allies and side with them.
