History Time

Lost Wonders of Afghanistan - The Destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas

The Bamiyan Buddhas stood watch over the Silk Road for nearly 1,500 years. Then, in March 2001, they were deliberately destroyed. They survived empires, invasions, religious transformations, and the passage of time itself. Until they could survive no longer. The full destructive might of the modern age proving too much for them to endure. But let’s turn the clock back. Way long ago to the very beginning. To tell the full story of the Bamiyan Buddhas. Before they were blown to smithereens and that became all that anyone knew about them. They hail from a fascinating epoch of globe-trotting Pre-Islamic history in this part of the world. An area that often gets overlooked, and pretty much has been lost. This is the story of the Bamiyan Buddhas. Sadly now gone forever. But not forgotten. Thank you to Musée Guime, Al Jazeera, AP, UNESCO & all those who shot the amazing archival footage of Afghanistan's tumultuous 20th century. Many of which have now become time capsules in themselves. May peace be found one day. SOURCES - Finbar Barry Flood - Between Cult & Culture: Bamiyan, Islamic Iconoclasm & The Museum (2002) James Janowski - Bringing Back Bamiyan‘s Buddhas (2011) Jonathan Lee - Monuments of Bamiyan province, Afghanistan (2006) Ahmed Rashid Bamiyan - 1998-99: The Never-Ending War in ‘The Power of Militant Islam in Afghanistan & Beyond’ (2022) Takayasu Higuchi & Gino Barnes - Buddhist Cave Temples in Afghanistan (1995) Christian M Romey - The Race To Save Afghan Culture (2002) The video mentioned at the end of this one on the incredible archaeological site of MUNDIGAK is coming in a week or two! — History Time is written, researched and produced by Pete Kelly. Check out my other channel for more history content:- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMq-bTjlaTZhaohEracnN6w — Become a patron for as little as a dollar a month & help keep this channel going:- https://www.patreon.com/historytimeUK — Music courtesy of:- - Epidemic Sound - Joss Gallanagh-Edwards:- http://soundcloud.com/jgemusic http://jgemusic.com - Brodie Marshall:- https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Q7hBYMYq3JMeZjcn4Uq6r?si=lpgjkH1DR0ads85e26qqVQ https://soundcloud.com/user-516251154 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brodiemarshallmusic/ I try to use copyright free images at all times. However if I have used any of your artwork or maps then please don't hesitate to contact me and I’ll be more than happy to give the appropriate credit.