Why does The Gambia exist? (Short Animated Documentary)

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  • Опубликовано: 17 янв 2025

Комментарии • 949

  • @ChessedGamon
    @ChessedGamon Год назад +4642

    If the Gambia didn't exist a story with a modern country built almost entirely around a river of the same name would be mocked as unrealistic.

    • @yochaiwyss3843
      @yochaiwyss3843 Год назад +340

      Like Egypt, if we ignore the Nile's name for a second

    • @ssl3546
      @ssl3546 Год назад +661

      @@yochaiwyss3843 Ancient Egypt was but modern Egypt is a proper British rectangle

    • @wenterinfaer1656
      @wenterinfaer1656 Год назад +16

      ​@@ssl3546what's British rectangle?

    • @orsaz924
      @orsaz924 Год назад +265

      ​@@wenterinfaer1656 it refers to the way the British drew the borders of their former colonies

    • @Patrick-y4d1z
      @Patrick-y4d1z Год назад +128

      @@wenterinfaer1656
      I'm assuming it's a joke about how when the colonial powers (France, UK etc) withdraw from other countries throughout the 20th century, they often divided up territory with nice neat straight lines on a map. Which is why half the the world looks the way it does.
      The problem is that much of the time it was fairly arbitrary. Nothing to do with geography or cultures etc. So has create lots of issues since.

  • @bodilsoldeberg5412
    @bodilsoldeberg5412 Год назад +688

    As a Gambian, I ask myself this very same question every single day.

    • @barakato
      @barakato Год назад +77

      Can you see the river from your backyard?

    • @danidejaneiro8378
      @danidejaneiro8378 Год назад +33

      In your opinion, what are the advantages and disadvantages of unification with Senegal?

    • @alsyrriad
      @alsyrriad Год назад +3

      Lmfao

    • @saulchapnick1566
      @saulchapnick1566 Год назад +35

      @@barakatohe can see Russia from his backyard

    • @guywiththebottle
      @guywiththebottle Год назад +5

      Do you want the countries to be unified?

  • @ElysiumCreator
    @ElysiumCreator Год назад +6717

    If it’s Napoleons fault, I’m going to lose it

    • @SigmaLarper27
      @SigmaLarper27 Год назад +233

      Beat me to it

    • @crumblingmasonry8961
      @crumblingmasonry8961 Год назад +734

      It kind of was. Because of him France lost most of their colonial holdings, which made the Bourbons really keen on acquiring land in Africa to make themselves feel better.

    • @Longshanks1690
      @Longshanks1690 Год назад +257

      You’d think so but fun fact: No.

    • @lokensicarius9347
      @lokensicarius9347 Год назад +308

      Kinda, does Napoleon III getting baited by prussia count?

    • @lewatoaofair2522
      @lewatoaofair2522 Год назад +93

      But it was the fault of one Napoleon, not many Napoleons.

  • @InRealTime769
    @InRealTime769 Год назад +626

    The most unbelievable part of this video was that anyone would think that 19th century Britain would give support to France

    • @johncunningham6928
      @johncunningham6928 Год назад +16

      Unless Russia was involved... 😜

    • @rashakor
      @rashakor Год назад +16

      From 1815 to 1914, the UK would have rather give up their queen and empire than support or even show support to the cursed froggies 🐸.

    • @oenrn
      @oenrn Год назад

      They would if it would piss off the Germans.

    • @fakhrianuar
      @fakhrianuar Год назад +1

      ​@@rashakor they had done it once doesn't mean they won't do it again

    • @babasaho5787
      @babasaho5787 3 месяца назад

      The Gambians defeated the British in 1831 but the French helped them come back in 1832.

  • @snowfloofcathug
    @snowfloofcathug Год назад +943

    “It follows the river of Gambia and not much else”
    The name would be too unwieldy if it followed other rivers too

    • @juanjuri6127
      @juanjuri6127 Год назад +71

      "The Gambia and The Gambia accesories", or "The Gambia and friends" for short

    • @ebnertra0004
      @ebnertra0004 Год назад +38

      "The Gambia and Company"

    • @EebstertheGreat
      @EebstertheGreat Год назад +26

      The Gambiand

    • @makarabaduk1754
      @makarabaduk1754 Год назад +12

      The Gambian Basin and the Kitchen Sink?

    • @Safwan.Hossain
      @Safwan.Hossain 7 месяцев назад

      Gambia: Into the Gambi-verse

  • @breaderikthegreat3224
    @breaderikthegreat3224 Год назад +1419

    Short answer:Senegal was french, Gambia was british

    • @TheBandit025Nova
      @TheBandit025Nova Год назад +62

      U.S and Canada: We are both French and British

    • @BrancovdBoomen
      @BrancovdBoomen Год назад +113

      He was a French, she was a brit. Can i make it anymore obvious?~~

    • @nestoreleuteriopaivabendo5415
      @nestoreleuteriopaivabendo5415 Год назад +3

      ​@@BrancovdBoomen
      Eu referi a intendência.

    • @DerToasti
      @DerToasti Год назад +9

      uff that never works out. always leads to a linguistic berlin wall around any french part.

    • @erickonami1
      @erickonami1 Год назад +1

      That doesn't answer anything

  • @jmantime
    @jmantime Год назад +2566

    Fun Fact: The Gambia has a larger military than some NATO countries like Montenegro, Iceland and Luxembourg with over 4,000 Gambian troops, sailors and air men.

    • @caseclosed9342
      @caseclosed9342 Год назад +102

      If I recall some of their generals have had leadership roles in the UN peacekeeping forces as well

    • @FluteboxFan
      @FluteboxFan Год назад

      Fun fact: Luxembourg is a little sh*t stain on the a*s of Belgium

    • @Labyrinth6000
      @Labyrinth6000 Год назад +75

      Some nations like Iceland have no military, so basically the US and European nations fight in their behalf.

    • @eou0
      @eou0 Год назад +110

      montenergin military is just bed section in IKEA

    • @_Kosm_
      @_Kosm_ Год назад +29

      All 3 of those countries also have exactly 0 tanks and fighter jets. I'm surprised America doesn't pressure them into buying Abrams or F-16s.

  • @smilingearth5181
    @smilingearth5181 Год назад +1308

    I love how History Matters has basically revealed every important global event or situation today can, within a few degrees of separation, be tied to Napoleon Bonaparte.

    • @-haclong2366
      @-haclong2366 Год назад +90

      This time it was actually Napoleon III.

    • @pyrex-fission
      @pyrex-fission Год назад +149

      @@-haclong2366 If only there was some way to tie him to the other Napoleon 😐

    • @cagdas135
      @cagdas135 Год назад +32

      @@pyrex-fission They are both French.

    • @4realm8rusirius
      @4realm8rusirius Год назад +55

      It's either the fault of the British or the French or both

    • @Alex-it7ms
      @Alex-it7ms Год назад +1

      Corsica

  • @carmi7042
    @carmi7042 Год назад +491

    0:50 Nice mention of the Courlandian attempt to colonize The Gambia. Your attention to dettails is great as always

    • @Yora21
      @Yora21 Год назад +50

      As in Latvia, Courland?

    • @Laotzu.Goldbug
      @Laotzu.Goldbug Год назад +47

      ​@@Yora21yes

    • @streamlinedengine
      @streamlinedengine Год назад +39

      Bro did a whole video about the Latvia (Courlandian) Colonial Empire. He’s a chad he is.

    • @slyasleep
      @slyasleep Год назад +2

      @@streamlinedengine😁

    • @damien1993
      @damien1993 Год назад +3

      ​@@streamlinedengineit was the vassal of the Polish Commonwealth!

  • @tomm9963
    @tomm9963 Год назад +1653

    My late grandad always told me the borders were decided by sailing a boat up the river, firing cannons and marking where they landed. Great story but very unlikely to be true!

    • @jeremykraenzlein5975
      @jeremykraenzlein5975 Год назад +359

      It makes much more sense than the true history of many borders.

    • @Chris-ut6eq
      @Chris-ut6eq Год назад +127

      Alot of history is settled this way so while not true, it feels realistic.

    • @schmoemi3386
      @schmoemi3386 Год назад +25

      I doubt that firing a cannon makes it land somewhere... 🤔😅

    • @bigblue6917
      @bigblue6917 Год назад +75

      Sailing up rivers and firing guns did become quiet popular for awhile there.

    • @Stamboul
      @Stamboul Год назад +86

      Quite possibly true, just not as described. You already know what range your cannons have, so there's no need to fire them. Unless you're into potentially killing people and destroying property and definitely wasting ammo.

  • @joshuacarre06
    @joshuacarre06 Год назад +485

    There is no greater reason to do something than to annoy France

    • @brandonlyon730
      @brandonlyon730 Год назад +40

      To be fair France also takes any opportunity to annoy Britain as well. That was mostly what their involvement in American Revolutionary War was all about.

    • @FlameRiflex
      @FlameRiflex Год назад +31

      @@brandonlyon730the great irony of that is America came back to tower over both France and Britain and replace their role as the leading powers lol

    • @-Benedict
      @-Benedict Год назад +2

      @@FlameRiflex What's America? Never heard of it.

    • @MrAlsachti
      @MrAlsachti Год назад +6

      We love being annoyed because it means someone cares about us. 🥲❤

    • @HHSGDFootballJPD
      @HHSGDFootballJPD Год назад +1

      So can that be my excuse to have a flat muffin vs an omelet tomorrow too?

  • @Fyreflier
    @Fyreflier Год назад +94

    "It seemed like the only reason for keeping The Gambia would be to annoy France"
    well that sounds like a perfectly good reason for keeping it to me!

  • @aldotorres1983
    @aldotorres1983 Год назад +320

    Gambia exists to make Senegalese commutes more interesting

    • @franciscoacevedo3036
      @franciscoacevedo3036 Год назад +12

      I doubt it's a modern problem they're both part of ECOWAS, Which is a regional more functional version of the AfrUnion (like East AfrUnion) and they have free travel

    • @victorradu9645
      @victorradu9645 Год назад +8

      @@franciscoacevedo3036 there are still border check points there with long lineups

    • @aaronmarks9366
      @aaronmarks9366 Год назад +8

      GPS: "Current route: 2 hours to destination. Alternative: 15 hours slower to avoid other countries en route"

    • @ethank5059
      @ethank5059 Год назад

      @@franciscoacevedo3036 The Gambia exists to give the ECOWAS military intervention someone to practice on

  • @privatename5788
    @privatename5788 Год назад +86

    I love how it's name is The Gambia instead of just Gambia, because it isn't so much a country as an independent river.

    • @johnladuke6475
      @johnladuke6475 Год назад +14

      They don't want to get mistaken for just being _a gambia._

    • @ChaffyExpert
      @ChaffyExpert Год назад +22

      The Gambia sounds like the final boss.
      Putting The in front of your countries name makes it more badass.
      Petition to change Chad's name to The Chad

    • @jbrown8601
      @jbrown8601 Год назад +2

      @@ChaffyExpert 💯🤣

    • @RedBaron44
      @RedBaron44 11 месяцев назад +7

      I've read somewhere that THE was officially added because their mail kept getting sent to Zambia

  • @tomquirk9411
    @tomquirk9411 Год назад +160

    Great video! In terms of the theme of “why does X exist”, a video on San Marino, a teeny tiny European microstate located entirely within Italy and which somehow was never absorbed into Italy during its unification would be quite interesting.

    • @lucacoccioli9244
      @lucacoccioli9244 Год назад +27

      Check out his 10 minute video about the unification of Italy ;+)

    • @WaterPercy
      @WaterPercy Год назад +12

      He covered that in the 10 minute history video on Italy's unification

    • @patrickrowan6001
      @patrickrowan6001 Год назад +4

      Yeah I think he has a 10 minute video on Italy? why is nobody talking about this

  • @seeyouchump
    @seeyouchump Год назад +60

    France: *being beaten badly by Germany, the capital is being encircled and starved to death + a revolution breaks out*
    England: So France, about Gambia I suggest...

  • @fabvz5436
    @fabvz5436 Год назад +100

    It's nice to have a video about history outside of europe every now and then, great work

    • @jwnomad
      @jwnomad Год назад

      If it's not europe, it's european colonies

    • @fabvz5436
      @fabvz5436 Год назад +4

      @@jwnomad everywhere was a european colony..

    • @jwnomad
      @jwnomad Год назад

      @@fabvz5436 everwhere was an african colony first

  • @antoniooliveira139
    @antoniooliveira139 Год назад +387

    Hello there, Portuguese historian here! I know you did it for brevity and hilarity's sake, but Portugal was not conquered by Spain nor did it stop existing; it was simply ruled by the same monarch as the rest of Spain, whilst mainting its autonomy.

    • @KARKATELCESARENVIADODESA-pv4yd
      @KARKATELCESARENVIADODESA-pv4yd Год назад +14

      ¡Exactamente! ¡Gracias por decir LA VERDAD! .... no como OTROS que nos han mantenido divididos por 1000 años. Unión NO significa totalitarismo.

    • @anthonybarcellos2206
      @anthonybarcellos2206 Год назад +61

      Thanks for clarifying the fact that the joining of the crowns was not a "conquest." It took only three Spanish Philips as king before the Portuguese decided to unjoin the crowns and go their own way.

    • @XcUtiOn96
      @XcUtiOn96 Год назад +43

      To be even more precise, Spain didn't even exist when the Iberian Union took place: the "Spanish Empire" was more like the Habsburg Empire, since Castile, Aragon, Flanders, Milan, etc shared the same king, but they didn't form an unified state.

    • @-haclong2366
      @-haclong2366 Год назад +27

      Literally the same as the rest of Spain, "Spain" was a concept not a country, Aragon was also separate from Léon & Castile during this period and Navarre was also kind of separate. They simply shared the same monarch, Spain didn't actually become a country until the Bourbon reforms.

    • @KARKATELCESARENVIADODESA-pv4yd
      @KARKATELCESARENVIADODESA-pv4yd Год назад

      @@XcUtiOn96 Mentira. España existió en el momento de la unificación de las dos coronas y no era el "imperio habsburgo" porque estaba dirigido DESDE España por Habsburgo ESPAÑOL. Como siempre contando mentiras ustedes para descreditar a España, ya aburren. Incluso con Carlos I y su unificación del Imperio Germánico y el Hispano, Carlos I se identificaba plenamente como Hispano y aun asi las dos partes tenían autonomia tal como España y Portugal en su momento. Ya luego de la trágica división, ahi si que fue el imperio Habsburgo austriaco otra vez.

  • @HelloimthisguyYT
    @HelloimthisguyYT Год назад +144

    Apparently the borders between the gambia and senegal were decided by someone shooting cannons out of a ship down the river

    • @treatyofwindsor
      @treatyofwindsor Год назад +31

      The best way to draw boarders I believe

    • @HelloimthisguyYT
      @HelloimthisguyYT Год назад +28

      @@treatyofwindsor when Europeans do gunship diplomacy

    • @nikel-
      @nikel- Год назад +9

      It was UK was it?

    • @HelloimthisguyYT
      @HelloimthisguyYT Год назад +2

      @@nikel- yh

    • @jaimepujol5507
      @jaimepujol5507 Год назад +3

      Turns out a very good way of drawing borders is "how far away can I shoot you"

  • @trevordeke
    @trevordeke Год назад +8

    I would love it if you'd do a whole series on Africa, like you've done with Europe. I've found your other videos to be not just informative, but tons of fun, and I don't know much about Africa. Seems like a win/win!

  • @Croz89
    @Croz89 Год назад +65

    I'm honestly shocked that "annoying France" wasnt seen as a legitimate reason for keeping the territory by the British.

    • @zackkelley2940
      @zackkelley2940 Год назад +10

      I'm sure it WAS....
      They just couldn't use it as an OFFICIAL legitimate reason.^^
      See also France and 'annoying Britain'.

    • @thesmithersy
      @thesmithersy Год назад +8

      That's been English and British foreign policy for the last 1,000 years.

  • @ameyd3728
    @ameyd3728 Год назад +19

    I'm a Gambian and I ask myself this everyday

    • @trollinape2697
      @trollinape2697 Год назад +8

      tbf there are some minor cultural and major linguistic differences between the 2 of us. My family for example is pretty much just soninke, many being able to speak mandinka. I do not think even a tenth of the senegalese population speaks a mande language natively or as a 2nd language. Then again these differences exist within and outside our borders. The vast majority of senegal for example is wolof, just like how there are many wolofs in gambia. Same with the southern bit of senegal, mali and like half of guinea have mande speakers. In conclusion: I personally believe there is neither a strong reason to why gambia should exist, nor to cease to exist

    • @salemsuwareh1643
      @salemsuwareh1643 10 месяцев назад

      @@trollinape2697 Yeah. To outsiders, joining gambia with senegal looks like it makes sense because of geography. But if the borders in our region would change based on language or ethnicity, it would make more sense to take most of gambia, northeastern guinea bissau, and southern senegal and join them with mali, than to join gambia with senegal. For the reasons you mention. Then other mande areas like eastern guinea and northwestern ivory coast could join the new mande country too. Our tribe and its dialects are scattered across many countries right now.

  • @davidbonilla840
    @davidbonilla840 Год назад +5

    This man does not miss. Every video he makes answers the burning questions I never knew I needed answers to.

  • @seanmccambridge8950
    @seanmccambridge8950 Год назад

    Thanks!

  • @olivertyson7947
    @olivertyson7947 Год назад +10

    “The only reason to keep The Gambia would be to annoy France”. Sounds like a good reason to me.

  • @paleoph6168
    @paleoph6168 Год назад +10

    Nice, more frequent uploads!

  • @Afrologist
    @Afrologist Год назад +35

    Basically, there was just nothing really to be gained by joining Senegal in the eyes of the ruling class. They knew they would be marginalized in the confederation so the aristocracy of the Gambia ultimately turned it down, against popular support.

    • @babasaho5787
      @babasaho5787 3 месяца назад

      Nope it wasn't popularly supported. One of the main stumbling blocks was the use of CFA. The Gambian politicians also thought that they would be marginalized.

  • @timgibson2444
    @timgibson2444 Год назад +12

    My wife asked me what I was going do tonight. I told her I had to figure out why Gambia exists. She looks me dead in the eye so confused and asks why I’m doing that. Obviously, because history matters.

  • @MustacheCashStash125
    @MustacheCashStash125 Год назад +13

    Because James Bissonnette loved swimming in the river so much, he decided to make it his personal property all to himself

  • @shr3da403
    @shr3da403 4 дня назад

    Nice to see my country featured on one of my favourite channels👏🏾

  • @SilverFang2789
    @SilverFang2789 Год назад +12

    Senegal: Let's merge into one country
    The Gambia: Yeah that's not gonna work for me, love.

  • @herisruns
    @herisruns Год назад +2

    it's incredible how much information you're able to clearly communicate in only a few minutes. i've seen a video on this same topic that's over 10 minutes long, and it still didn't cover all of the same historical factors you mentioned

  • @spinusportugal1086
    @spinusportugal1086 Год назад +34

    Fun fact, Portugal was never conquered by Spain! For a while the rightful king of Spain was also the rightful king of Portugal. He was the king of both nations but Portugal was not conquered!

    • @cloudynguyen6527
      @cloudynguyen6527 Год назад

      Still feel like being conquered to me

    • @souoriomondego
      @souoriomondego Год назад +4

      @@cloudynguyen6527 Well the difference is that the spanish king had to rule Portugal as a kingdom separate from Spain, being restricted by many laws and having to appoint portuguese to many governing places. The first spanish king of Portugal actually respected the treaties, keeping both countries separate, but the 2 next kings tried to integrate Portugal into Spain which led to resistance in Portugal culminating in a war won by the Portuguese

    • @seneca983
      @seneca983 Год назад +1

      @@souoriomondego Technically the "Spanish king" wasn't really the king of Spain either. He was the king of Castille and totally coincidentally also the king of Aragon.

    • @lluis9650
      @lluis9650 Год назад

      yes it was, the king of portugal died invading morocco and since the spanish king had a legitimate claim to the throne he sent an army under the duke of alba which won the battle of Alcántara and other minor skirmishes securing the throne for the king of Spain. It may not have been a bloody destructive invasion and spain gave portugal a great deal of autonomy but if it weren't for the spanish sending an army Portugal would likely have remained independent. It's funny that this is so not well known in both countries today and instead it is seen as a rather voluntary union, in spain because they feel better saying portugal wanted to integrate with them and in Portugal because they feel better saying their much bigger neighbour never managed to invade them.

    • @spinusportugal1086
      @spinusportugal1086 Год назад

      Between the death of D. Sebastião in 1578 and the reign of Philip II of Spain (and I of Portugal), 1580, we had King D. Henrique who...was a Cardinal and therefore could not marry. When he died, the 2 grandchildren of D. Manuel I faced each other: D.António Prior do Crato (supported by the people) and D. Filipe II of Spain (supported by the Portuguese clergy and nobility). Therefore, we did not have a conquest but rather a battle between factions of legitimate successors to the throne. In fact, Portugal was never part of Spain, it was never annexed. What happened was a personal union in which a king reigned over two different countries

  • @muhammadhabibieamiro3639
    @muhammadhabibieamiro3639 Год назад +2

    Another amazing video

  • @Gaeilgeoir
    @Gaeilgeoir Год назад +54

    The Gambia remains an independent nation because James Bissonette and Kelly Moneymaker teamed up to fully fund the country's war effort and bolster its self-defense. 😌 Fair play, all! 😎👍🏻

    • @oenrn
      @oenrn Год назад +3

      The 1950s have called, they want their joke back.

    • @Gaeilgeoir
      @Gaeilgeoir Год назад +1

      @@oenrn You would know, Boomer. 🙄

  • @luisitobardajibenitez8013
    @luisitobardajibenitez8013 Год назад +3

    I was a teacher there for seven week. It's an interesting country and the people are very laid back. Recommended.

  • @Ajet_
    @Ajet_ Год назад +45

    Im sure James Bisonette could unite Gambia and Senegal once and for all!

    • @TheDethBringer666
      @TheDethBringer666 Год назад

      maybe, but Kelly Moneymaker can just bribe everyone

    • @WaterShowsProd
      @WaterShowsProd Год назад +5

      Kelly Moneymaker won't budge on the free trade, so he'll have to work out a special economic zone with Senegal which eventually could lead to a separatist movement resulting in a war of independence led by Spinning Three Plates.

    • @reddykilowatt
      @reddykilowatt Год назад +3

      @@WaterShowsProdBoogly Woogly could broker a deal between them

  • @Apoorvathegreat
    @Apoorvathegreat Год назад +1

    Thanks because of you ik about this country i was so confused while playing RON

  • @ArthurCSchaperMR
    @ArthurCSchaperMR Год назад +64

    Please do a video on the following subjects:
    1. Why did the Revolutions of 1848 fail in Spain and the German states?
    2. Why do people drive on different sides of the road in different countries?

    • @theshlauf
      @theshlauf Год назад +17

      2. Left side because Rome. Right side because Napoleon.

    • @KARKATELCESARENVIADODESA-pv4yd
      @KARKATELCESARENVIADODESA-pv4yd Год назад +6

      1: Because we respect our faith unlike OTHERS.

    • @HTS123RK
      @HTS123RK Год назад +5

      @@theshlaufalways knew British listened to the better empire

    • @TheMixCurator
      @TheMixCurator Год назад +2

      @@theshlauf Thought left side was from the days of horse riding and jousting, where they'd ride from the left to attack?
      Similar reasons as to why shirts open a certain way. Thought that was due to right handed people being able to reach into their shirts to draw guns.

    • @ChaffyExpert
      @ChaffyExpert Год назад

      I would imagine it's because of the way nationalism and liberalism took route, not sure about Spain, but Germany was fractured into a bunch of states, same as Italy, so the revolutionary ideas were less liberalism democratic, and more nationalistic.
      Thus both Italy and Germany were dominated by more right wing politics until the cold war. You could even think of fascism as just the natural conclusion from the nationalism that formed Germany and Italy respectively after their government's were replaced briefly with more democratic ones after WW1 until reverting back to nationalism.
      Same with Japan too, as a disunited nation, nationalism dominated their politics, instead of liberalism.
      As for Spain, who knows why Spain does anything really.
      They did have quite a bit of nationalistic fever after Napoleon essentially invaded to install a puppet. So maybe that's why they were split between left wing and right wing politics.

  • @shubhanjalshukla3879
    @shubhanjalshukla3879 Год назад +1

    Yo this new upload speed is amazing!

  • @willlewis6622
    @willlewis6622 Год назад +7

    Every time I see a video like this, it reminds me of what an insanely impressive achievement it was for Bismarck to unite (almost) all of the Germanic world

  • @nightsinfinite
    @nightsinfinite Год назад +1

    I simply love this channel

  • @DannoC355AC
    @DannoC355AC Год назад +4

    The best part of your channel is listening to the very end of your patron list. Boogely-woogely, Calling Dr. Curly, Dr. Larry & Dr. Moe, YOU CRACK ME UP!!!!😂😂

  • @jasonpost913
    @jasonpost913 Год назад +5

    The fact that "keeping it would annoy France." wasn't reason enough for the Brits to hold onto it is somewhat of a surprise.

  • @streamlinedengine
    @streamlinedengine Год назад +5

    Hooray, the “Why does Country Exist” series is back! 🎉

  • @luket.9113
    @luket.9113 Год назад

    That is an extended of one of my requests for another African video I made months ago. Thanks, @HistoryMatters

  • @Technobabylon
    @Technobabylon Год назад +4

    "The only reason to keep it would be to annoy the French"
    Yes, that sounds like a decent enough reason.

  • @WikiPeraX
    @WikiPeraX Год назад

    I’ve been waiting for this one since I found the channel

  • @Unmannedperson
    @Unmannedperson Год назад +7

    TL;DW: The Gambia was colonized by James Bissonette whereas Senegal was colonized by Kenny Moneymaker.

  • @oliversherman2414
    @oliversherman2414 Год назад

    Interesting video as always 👍🏻

  • @joesomebody3365
    @joesomebody3365 Год назад +9

    It's interesting that they didn't merge after independence, I'm kinda surprised a country that consists mostly of just the river territory has the power to stay unentangled of it's much larger neighbor.

  • @mcgoo721
    @mcgoo721 6 месяцев назад +1

    Why'd i click this video to just immediately minimize it and look for something to watch. Why am i like this.

  • @ryanscott33
    @ryanscott33 Год назад +8

    Loved this video! feel like we never see stories about Africa; would love to see a video on why the French did not colonize any parts of Southern Africa (beyond Madagascar) or how South Africa gained control over German Southwest Africa following WWI

    • @geoffreyherrick298
      @geoffreyherrick298 Год назад

      I believe it had something to do with Cecil B. Rhodes' dream of an empire that stretched from Cape Town to Cairo.

  • @Random-hl2uq
    @Random-hl2uq Год назад

    Dang 2 videos in a week? I hope u manage to keep this up so I can keep watching these great videos

  • @meeRock897
    @meeRock897 Год назад +4

    i think i speak for all us viewers when i say please bring back the ten minute history series

  • @prettypuff1
    @prettypuff1 Год назад +1

    1:21
    “ this feels wrong”
    I appreciate this very much

  • @dragonsword2253
    @dragonsword2253 Год назад +3

    This channel has turned me into the guy from Ancient Aliens but instead of aliens it's Napoleon

  • @flawyerlawyertv7454
    @flawyerlawyertv7454 Год назад +1

    Thanks! 👍

  • @johnmccrossan9376
    @johnmccrossan9376 Год назад +5

    I'm surprised "to annoy France" wasn't a good enough reason

  • @roach81cmg
    @roach81cmg Год назад +1

    Glad I was glued to my phone for the drop of this video. ❤

  • @breadcat0469
    @breadcat0469 Год назад +13

    Gambia: exists
    History matters:but WHY

  • @Kameeho
    @Kameeho Год назад +1

    Man I havent seen History Matter videos for almost a year (Thanks youtube Algoritm for not putting him on my feed until now!).
    Great to see Jamez Bizanette still being the loyal supported after all this time.

  • @thebanana4263
    @thebanana4263 Год назад +63

    James Bisonnet is probably the reason the Gambia exist

  • @AyeAyeRawnn
    @AyeAyeRawnn Год назад

    I love your content keep it up!

  • @mynameisntpatrick1476
    @mynameisntpatrick1476 Год назад +7

    Ah yes. The famous reason for nations not unifying. Deciding who gets to be in charge.

  • @sufthegoat
    @sufthegoat Год назад

    You asking the real questions my man

  • @HeisenbergFam
    @HeisenbergFam Год назад +4

    Bro asks questions I never knew I needed answers for

  • @j7cc
    @j7cc Год назад

    I enjoy this channel.

  • @EpicgamerwinXD6669
    @EpicgamerwinXD6669 Год назад +4

    You should do a video on Eritrea.

  • @gabespiro8902
    @gabespiro8902 5 месяцев назад +2

    I think Gambia is the only state that managed to curb its carbon emissions in line with the Paris accords, so nice going Gambia!

  • @danacruikshank3945
    @danacruikshank3945 Год назад +3

    Fun Fact! NASA upgraded an airbase in Gambia so the space shuttle would have an emergency landing strip.

  • @georgeblavo9755
    @georgeblavo9755 Год назад

    Really nice to see Africa make an appearance!

  • @maxjohansen9475
    @maxjohansen9475 Год назад +43

    One of the most fascinating features of the continuum of English accents is the additional rhoticity between an terminal and initial vowel. “Why does the Gambia exist?” Becomes “why does the Gambierexist?”

    • @rosiefay7283
      @rosiefay7283 Год назад +2

      How else would you say it and still sound natural? Say the two words connected and you make a strange diphthong; make a gap between them and it sounds a bit stilted.

    • @TheoEvian
      @TheoEvian Год назад +11

      it's called "the intrusive r". It's one of the best kept secrets for mastering nice pronunciation in those dialects.

    • @maxjohansen9475
      @maxjohansen9475 Год назад +6

      @@rosiefay7283 honestly as an American English speaker I elide (or the vowel equivalent) the sounds, so it comes out like “why does the Gam byexist” but if I were speaking to camera I would put a quarter second pause between them to give myself time to enunciate clearly like “why does the Gambia__exist?”

    • @maxjohansen9475
      @maxjohansen9475 Год назад

      @@TheoEvian cool! Thanks for the info.

    • @TheoEvian
      @TheoEvian Год назад +2

      @@rosiefay7283 some languages make big pauses between words (for example Slavic languages that also devoice final consonants so my students pronounce "dog" and "dock" identically) and others connect them a lot (English and French would be in that camp). There are different strategies how to do this and actually English in many dialects started to put bigger gaps between words using glottal stops which is called "hard attack".

  • @gushterell7989
    @gushterell7989 Год назад

    I always stay and listen to the funny patreon names.

  • @LivingTh1ng
    @LivingTh1ng Год назад +26

    Portugal was not conquered by Spain, we were under a crown union (Iberian Union)

  • @matthewbrotman2907
    @matthewbrotman2907 Год назад +2

    “Welcome to The Gambia. Home of The Gambia.”
    Please tell me that’s a “Good Burger” reference.

  • @Numba003
    @Numba003 Год назад +4

    This was one I was excited to see! The Gambia is definitely one of the more obscure yet interesting countries to note on modern maps lol. Thank you.
    God be with you out there everybody. ✝️ :)

  • @myysterio2
    @myysterio2 Год назад

    I'm glad we're back to asking why and now how or where

  • @TTToba
    @TTToba Год назад +4

    I would like to offer a video suggestion:
    “How did Mexico, and the world, react to the assassination of Trotsky?”

  • @mimirovitch
    @mimirovitch Год назад

    Thank you, interesting !

  • @Longshanks1690
    @Longshanks1690 Год назад +3

    So, to summarise, “This is too difficult to deal with, we’ll sort it out later,” and repeat for circa 300 years?

    • @graveperil2169
      @graveperil2169 Год назад

      once roads were invented people kicked cans down them

  • @samdoorley6101
    @samdoorley6101 Год назад

    As always, fun succinct video. Have you ever thought of doing an audio bloopers reel?

  • @jomarba2
    @jomarba2 Год назад +4

    Portugal wasnt conquered by spain. It was annexed via personal union, due to the death of its king D. Sebastiao, and a sucession crisis.

  • @Ethan7s
    @Ethan7s Год назад +2

    The best part of your video is you reading out names of Patrons with funny names.

  • @davidmehling4310
    @davidmehling4310 Год назад +3

    Only heard of The Gambia because it was the homeland of Alex Hayley's ancestor Kunta Kinte in the book and tv mini series Roots

    • @zimriel
      @zimriel Год назад

      you really believed all that shit?

  • @viktormarinov9723
    @viktormarinov9723 Год назад +1

    It was and is a very strategic place.

  • @skeetrix5577
    @skeetrix5577 Год назад +10

    it's james bisonettes fault

  • @grondhero
    @grondhero Год назад +3

    Yes! A return to the *"Why hasn't this small country been conquered?"* series. 😉

  • @AG-ni8jm
    @AG-ni8jm Год назад

    🎉🎉🎉 a new video!

  • @_Ben___
    @_Ben___ Год назад +6

    I think the bigger question is why is it called "the" Gambia and not just Gambia?

    • @r8rgtrs
      @r8rgtrs Год назад +7

      Basically because the country is named after a river, and names of rivers require the definite article in English. The Thames, the Mississippi, the Gambia. The uppercase T is because the article is a legitimate part of the name, like in The Hague.

    • @geoffreyherrick298
      @geoffreyherrick298 Год назад

      ​@@r8rgtrsThe Hague, The Netherlands

    • @r8rgtrs
      @r8rgtrs Год назад

      @@geoffreyherrick298 Those have articles for reasons different from the one why The Gambia has one

    • @wiggluededgessnatched
      @wiggluededgessnatched 9 месяцев назад

      the israel

  • @fullmetaltheorist
    @fullmetaltheorist Год назад +1

    Any country : *Exists*
    History matters : *Why?*

  • @lucianoosorio5942
    @lucianoosorio5942 Год назад +8

    “This enraged Senegal, who punished Gambia severely.”

  • @Evemeister12
    @Evemeister12 Год назад +2

    Gambia became a separate nation so that Thomas cook could build loads of lovely resorts along its coast and give british people a nice holiday.

  • @_Zof
    @_Zof Год назад +3

    Kelly moneymaker

  • @kiritomato1908
    @kiritomato1908 Год назад +2

    Gambia or as I call it:" the only country in the world whose only purpose is to piss of another country."

  • @Draxis32
    @Draxis32 Год назад +4

    Portugal didn't ceased to exists. There was a throne vacancy that was claimed by the King of Spain, therefore uniting both Kingdoms for what was called the "Iberian Union"
    That "union" caused much ruckus around the globe since Spain was an enemy of it's former colony, The Netherlands, and Portugal was an ally.

  • @StephenParlow
    @StephenParlow Год назад +2

    Had a classmate from The Gambia. Cool guy, always smiling

  • @EpicgamerwinXD6669
    @EpicgamerwinXD6669 Год назад +3

    Funny how the British Cameroons weren’t allowed independence, but the Gambia was.

    • @HTS123RK
      @HTS123RK Год назад

      France owned Cameroon or do u mean something else

    • @-haclong2366
      @-haclong2366 Год назад

      They voted to join the French Cameroons.

    • @-haclong2366
      @-haclong2366 Год назад +1

      ​@@HTS123RKFrance only owned 90% of it, 10% belonged to Nigeria before it joined the country. Officially Cameroon is bilingual today, though the Francophones try to oppress the usage of English. Both areas were mandates taken from Germany.

    • @EpicgamerwinXD6669
      @EpicgamerwinXD6669 Год назад

      @@HTS123RK actually they didn’t. The German’s owned Cameroon and the French got most of it after WW1, but the British got three portions of German Cameroon. Upon “independence”, all three British Cameroons were given the option of either A)Joining Nigeria, or B)Joining the now French portion of the former German colony of Cameroon. Anyway, the two northern British Cameroons were majority Muslim and voted to join Nigeria, while the southern most British Cameroon was majority Christian and voted to join the now country of Cameroon. There’s actually an independence movement for the southern formally British Cameroon to to leave the country of Cameroon, look up “Ambazonia” if your interested in learning more.

    • @HTS123RK
      @HTS123RK Год назад +1

      @@EpicgamerwinXD6669 thanks I didn’t know about that I look it up

  • @BigSnipp
    @BigSnipp Год назад +2

    I'm expecting several pronunciations of "Gambier". Don't disappoint me.

    • @BigSnipp
      @BigSnipp Год назад +2

      Cheers! I counted 5 Gambiers.

  • @Lusitanean
    @Lusitanean Год назад +5

    Portugal wasn't conquered. It was a dynastic union!