Con Artists in the Middle Ages: How They Fooled Everyone...

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  • čas přidán 7. 09. 2024

Komentáře • 143

  • @BleedEaglesGreen023
    @BleedEaglesGreen023 Před rokem +105

    The ape deserved the money just for being so well trained.

    • @danquaylesitsspeltpotatoe8307
      @danquaylesitsspeltpotatoe8307 Před rokem

      The ape story has so many problems so clearly its become extremely exaggerated if it was not just made up!

  • @nickcharles6530
    @nickcharles6530 Před rokem +40

    One of my favorite books on Con Men (not from Medieval times)was written by Joseph Weil: “Yellow Kid" Weil: The Autobiography of America's Master Swindler. A master con artist from the early 1900’s, “The Kid” dressed in a yellow suit and bowler hat complete with a walking cane. He tells all his tricks and how he made a fortune off the greedy rich people he met. One interesting anecdote: A wealthy man will typically refuse to loan out small amounts of money, but if he thinks he can make a good profit on you, he’ll loan out tens of thousands without a fuss. Man’s weakness is his Greed. The book is in public domain (available for free in PDF format).

    • @ahuddleston6512
      @ahuddleston6512 Před rokem +1

      I'm definitely going to check it out, thanks😊

    • @talpark8796
      @talpark8796 Před rokem +1

      ala the fictional, 'Flashman". 😆

  • @HH4nn4hh
    @HH4nn4hh Před rokem +21

    Just fyi, this is my favorite YT channel. Your narration, humor, the editing, graphics, etc are all so perfect. I just love this channel so, so much!

  • @Mr.Guild1971
    @Mr.Guild1971 Před rokem +8

    It is pretty much believed now that PT Barnum did not originate this quote but it is still,and always was,so true.
    "There's a sucker born ever minute"

  • @thomasbell7033
    @thomasbell7033 Před rokem +14

    In the 18th Century novel "The Expedition of Humphrey Clinker," Tobias Smollet gives us a litany of these nauseating London food scams. One of these involved sewing up the cloacas of chickens so they would fatten on their own poo. I was hoping he'd made these things up, but apparently he did not.

  • @TheElusiveReality
    @TheElusiveReality Před rokem +4

    especially if i had never seen an ape up close i would definitely be convinced by the trained ape, they already look and act similarly enough to humans so seeing one dressed up doing his prayers would be wild

  • @Nathanfx2006
    @Nathanfx2006 Před rokem +11

    These topics are the gaps in my knowledge I'm looking for, and didn't even know it.

  • @justinspicyrhino3075
    @justinspicyrhino3075 Před rokem +16

    I love your content! I only wish it was longer.

    • @editingsecrets
      @editingsecrets Před rokem

      It was originally an hour, but scammers with a sob story made off with 45 minutes.

  • @raydragerns3657
    @raydragerns3657 Před rokem +4

    I am SO STOKED on this topic, I have an accounting background and I find fraud fascinating. Also a huge medieval history nerd, it's like the perfect topic as far as I'm concerned. Thanks for the great videos!

  • @JLRoberson
    @JLRoberson Před rokem +12

    If anything, in some ways people are easier to trick because many assume if it were a con man, these days he would be easier to reveal. So then they don't because they assumed someone else would have by now.
    And then there are those people who don't care about facts and choose to believe wrong things. But that's always.

  • @Lolpy.
    @Lolpy. Před rokem +13

    You should do Medieval hairstyles & beards!

  • @flickingbollocks5542
    @flickingbollocks5542 Před rokem +6

    Is that why money is sometimes called "dough"?

  • @CashanovaXTREME
    @CashanovaXTREME Před rokem +4

    Claiming you’re the rightful heir to a throne in Europe in the medieval times is a hilarious and wild claim. That must have taken brass balls.

  • @Truthseeker371
    @Truthseeker371 Před rokem +3

    Art collectors are mostly conned. They pay exaubitant price at the auction believing the price is right. Even some of the art objects are fake.

  • @jimclercx4208
    @jimclercx4208 Před rokem +6

    if that was the case...the king of nigeria would have already been able to transfer his money to a different country with some 90 year old lady's help.....🤣

  • @mr.100rupees3
    @mr.100rupees3 Před rokem +4

    The ape story is like something straight out of Karl Pilkington's monkey news

  • @theconqueringram5295
    @theconqueringram5295 Před rokem +12

    Con artists, somethings never change.

  • @jacktribble5253
    @jacktribble5253 Před rokem +7

    People are still that gullible.

  • @canisarcani
    @canisarcani Před rokem +2

    theres only a few things that we can absolutely guarentee in this world: gravity affects us, we need air to breath, water to drink, and anyone who believes they can never be tricked by a conartist has been tricked by a con artist. 😅

  • @Raven17729
    @Raven17729 Před rokem +7

    Realistically we all would have fallen for these because most of us would have been illiterate peasants, which is the main type of person who fell for these things.

    • @mellifergold
      @mellifergold Před rokem +1

      You were there, right ?!?

    • @Psyche0delic
      @Psyche0delic Před rokem

      @@mellifergold Uh...most people WERE illiterate peasants. That is a fact. Read a book.

    • @andreaskallstrom9031
      @andreaskallstrom9031 Před rokem +4

      Illiterate doesn’t necessarily mean stupid, especially in a largely illiterate society

  • @grooben8412
    @grooben8412 Před rokem +15

    I love your channel! I’m an aspiring medieval warfare historian and your vids mean a lot. Keep it up!

    • @gerardjagroo
      @gerardjagroo Před rokem

      I would aspire to something else. There is no money in history 😂

    • @grooben8412
      @grooben8412 Před rokem +2

      @@gerardjagroo Only if you don’t know where to look. Books and Historical Non-Profit Societies have money in them

    • @esomethingoranother3718
      @esomethingoranother3718 Před rokem +3

      It's not about the money but if you can find a way to support yourself by it then why not

    • @coconutsmarties
      @coconutsmarties Před rokem +3

      ​@@gerardjagroo Can you imagine how boring and inane a world it would be if we all based our career decisions on the purpose of maximising the bank balance

    • @gerardjagroo
      @gerardjagroo Před rokem

      @@coconutsmarties He may want to marry and women and children need money, especially the children what with college expenses and all.
      History is something you can do on the side while you have a proper career in another field.
      I'm not knocking history (I'm here after all) it's just that times are getting harder and it's best to build the future on a firm footing rather than on fantasy

  • @Louis-si4ci
    @Louis-si4ci Před rokem +3

    Brilliantly done 😅😊 thank you for your effort i really appreciate your work 🙏

  • @merlapittman5034
    @merlapittman5034 Před rokem +6

    Very entertaining and interesting video! I'd like to see a video about religious con artists who sold fake relic

  • @adamwoodhouse7865
    @adamwoodhouse7865 Před rokem +1

    Brilliant as always, thank you

  • @threegreezy
    @threegreezy Před rokem

    Scammers in the earlier days had to have gotten away with so much 😭😭 way less awareness back then

  • @caladonius5132
    @caladonius5132 Před rokem +26

    Let's see:
    Fake bread = Fast food
    Holy images in relics = NFTs
    Alchemical base metals to gold = cryptocurrency
    Fake royalty = Today's actors and actresses
    I think that covers them all.

  • @cherylbrooks7005
    @cherylbrooks7005 Před rokem +1

    Love knowing quirky topics like this.

  • @grapeshot
    @grapeshot Před rokem +14

    And there was a lot of con artistry in the Middle Ages when it came down to religious relic.

    • @drunkweebmarine9492
      @drunkweebmarine9492 Před rokem +9

      All religions are cons.

    • @admin-ts8uv
      @admin-ts8uv Před rokem

      That doesn't work anymore, so they replaced it with by putting the science and experts say in front of everything and Voila, works like a charm every single time.

    • @danquaylesitsspeltpotatoe8307
      @danquaylesitsspeltpotatoe8307 Před rokem

      Are you saying one of the 3 heads, 7 thumbs, 5 hands of jesus ALL certified by the vatican not real?

    • @StridersBored
      @StridersBored Před rokem +1

      @@Stevie-J People on leashes aren’t good people. You’d have a hard time finding someone who does a kindness out of goodness of their heart rather than it being a front since they believe they’ll go to heaven for doing good things

    • @StridersBored
      @StridersBored Před rokem +1

      @@Stevie-J You would have a point if religion didn’t prove itself to be vastly more destructive and harmful to many minority groups throughout history. It’s fine though you can cope by claiming “strong morals” and making comparisons that aren’t remotely related. Hungry man eating from vendor isn’t a religious family rejecting a child because God doesn’t like homosexuality or it’s a sin to do this, that, and the third

  • @damirk3
    @damirk3 Před rokem +8

    I love how insteed of them showing people how they trained their ape they created entire fake story about him to take money from people.

  • @LSheWolf84
    @LSheWolf84 Před rokem

    "Greetings my Lord, would thou like to speak about thous horse and cart's extended warranty?"

  • @galloe8933
    @galloe8933 Před rokem +2

    Would the monkey have fooled me with his kinglyness? I don’t have to answer anything… King Monkey, pfft, fool me 3 times, shame on you.

  • @Winston01
    @Winston01 Před rokem +2

    No one ever lost money betting on the stupidity of others.

  • @SuperBizzle10
    @SuperBizzle10 Před rokem +1

    Can we just appreciate the genius of the monkey king scam 😂😂😂😂

  • @CreepyJournals
    @CreepyJournals Před rokem +7

    The biggest con came from the dark ages and its called God. The more you know

    • @coconutsmarties
      @coconutsmarties Před rokem

      I mean, religion pre-dated the dark ages by millennia..

    • @CreepyJournals
      @CreepyJournals Před rokem +1

      @@coconutsmarties true, but I meant Christianity in general.

    • @nickcharles6530
      @nickcharles6530 Před rokem +1

      Damn right! I’m glad to see someone using their brain.

  • @pillbobaggins2766
    @pillbobaggins2766 Před 6 měsíci

    ever since the days of old Methuselah everybody loves a great bamboozler

  • @jarrowmarrow
    @jarrowmarrow Před 6 dny

    To steal bits of dough and eventually have enough for a loaf? i guess they ran on tight margins back in the day.

  • @inyobill
    @inyobill Před rokem +1

    Vice officers state that one of the hardest part of their jobs is convincing marks that they have been conned.

  • @watsupdawgg
    @watsupdawgg Před rokem

    Great content. I wish your channel hits 1M.

  • @Garbeaux.
    @Garbeaux. Před rokem

    Con artists have just upped their game. You don’t even have to see the con man in person anymore for them to get over on you.

  • @dearbrad1996
    @dearbrad1996 Před 10 měsíci

    I think it would be a good idea to bring back the pillory. Fines and jail doesn't seem to work

  • @editingsecrets
    @editingsecrets Před rokem

    Fascinating video! As long as there's been human nature, there's been people trying to take advantage of it since at least the time of Jacob and Esau. Interesting to learn of the original dishonest talking head.

  • @flamencoprof
    @flamencoprof Před rokem +1

    “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
    ― Albert Einstein

  • @NPC-0013
    @NPC-0013 Před rokem

    I really really love these lil documentaries about life in these times!!! So I have started to slowly buy n collect gold. I started at 1 gram about 3 months ago. Now have 8 grams gold and 1 ounce silver with two lil extra bars one 5gram one 10gram. So one and a half ounces of silver and only 8 grams gold. What would this be worth in these times please? Can I buy a loaf of bread or a house? Maybe a horse? It would be super cool to know please mate

  • @nataliecooper9872
    @nataliecooper9872 Před 10 měsíci

    I NEED THAT BOOK!

  • @MrRyan-wu4jx
    @MrRyan-wu4jx Před 11 měsíci

    I wanna party with the guy that just said to put the keg of beer he stole on the king’s bill.

  • @KaelWrit
    @KaelWrit Před 2 měsíci +1

    the only reason I probably wont be conned is because Im so broke lmao

  • @joseybryant7577
    @joseybryant7577 Před rokem +3

    7:47 Even for the middle ages, people believing this seems ridiculous

    • @Breedo
      @Breedo Před rokem

      Actually tall tales and crazy beliefs were quite common all the way up until the 1800s. You might consider it ridiculous but scratch the surface and you see people today that believe all sort of crazy things about aliens and such things and I wonder would a far fetched scam really not work on some people even today. The ape con just happened to be adjusted to the crazy idea's and beliefs of the times, while a alien con would probably be harder to do. People have probably fallen for crazy cons even in our days look at all the charlatans making money off of things like magic items ect. You should not look up to the past or look down on it, look straight at it and you'll see people today are not so different as one might believe.

    • @mellifergold
      @mellifergold Před rokem

      Why should they have been more stupid ?!?

    • @Ashurbanipal7446
      @Ashurbanipal7446 Před rokem +1

      Never overestimate the intelligence of the average person, in any time period i guess 😂

  • @min-magicks
    @min-magicks Před rokem +4

    I can't believe people would be so gullible. Now, if you will excuse me, I must go inspect some copper from the Persian Gulf, sold to me by a very reputable merchant.

  • @wess4711
    @wess4711 Před rokem

    I hope the next part on con men is on royalty and the church.

  • @Grnfinger
    @Grnfinger Před rokem +3

    You have to admit that monkey bit was pure genius.
    Imagine the time it took to train that monkey.
    I see the grift was common in every age.

  • @minraja
    @minraja Před rokem

    Hundreds of years? People were conning each other since the barter system was established.

  • @finnajane
    @finnajane Před 2 měsíci

    Bad baker kinda like "Shrinkflation"

  • @beckybabe2956
    @beckybabe2956 Před rokem

    great video !!!

  • @greatexpectations6577
    @greatexpectations6577 Před rokem +1

    So the prince trop on scamming isn’t new? 😂

  • @TheCheck999
    @TheCheck999 Před rokem +1

    6:50 I think there is a mistake, 613AD is too early for Islam in the area as Islam had not formed into an organised religion at that point.

  • @user-fh9yi4wo7b
    @user-fh9yi4wo7b Před rokem

    dealers are the modern everyday con artists

  • @jimihendrix991
    @jimihendrix991 Před rokem +5

    Islam wasn't a thing in the year 613....................

  • @daywalker6847
    @daywalker6847 Před rokem

    Good stuff

  • @whataday-whataday
    @whataday-whataday Před rokem +1

    7:00 anyone know the painting?

  • @Appophust
    @Appophust Před rokem

    5:21 so no one is going ask about the random person on the top right with a model of a steamboat riveted to their head?! Or is that a hat shaped like the Old Police House in London?

  • @sublimebud
    @sublimebud Před rokem

    so , like a good example for a con man would be " The Liver King " ? am I right ?

  • @flickingbollocks5542
    @flickingbollocks5542 Před rokem +1

    Where do you find your illustrations?

  • @JohnDoe-ls2ww
    @JohnDoe-ls2ww Před 8 měsíci

    Wow, the way that fake beggers were handled...that would clear a massive amount of “homeless” out in the US these days.

  • @drpavel_
    @drpavel_ Před rokem

    I love the story about the ape prince

  • @sooziemc1514
    @sooziemc1514 Před rokem +1

    I have great faith in all of mankind not so sure about unkind men!😂

  • @mistaman4638
    @mistaman4638 Před rokem

    In the 2nd story, What happened to the impostor of the king ?? What ! What.? Man .! Hate Half half a story 😂.. Bet he was cought an lost his head .. 😂 good times. Good times ...😊

    • @Pentagathusosaurus
      @Pentagathusosaurus Před rokem

      Do you mean Perkin Warbeck? Iirc he was captured by King Henry and wasn't executed because he was just a kid who was being used by the nobles who wanted to put him on the throne.

  • @mirrorblue100
    @mirrorblue100 Před rokem +3

    I would really like to know how to make a severed head speak. Just sayin'.

  • @deadhorse1391
    @deadhorse1391 Před rokem +5

    In my experience the victims of con men are usually because of their own greed

  • @annhitchcock3093
    @annhitchcock3093 Před rokem

    The first FDA... has anything changed? It seems like every few months the FDA says “ ooops... don’t eat that”. 🙄

  • @gijsv8419
    @gijsv8419 Před rokem

    The picture is certainly not mediaval. It is made by Rembrandt

  • @nmcgunagle
    @nmcgunagle Před rokem

    I be the kings ale taker. I shall take your ale and pay you later. Brilliant.

  • @Atlashands26
    @Atlashands26 Před rokem +3

    The FDA being the biggest confidence man of modern America

  • @JohnMiller-zr8pl
    @JohnMiller-zr8pl Před rokem

    Well humans haven't changed much.

  • @0ona
    @0ona Před rokem +1

    lmao I'd give money to monkey too

  • @thebruffy1077
    @thebruffy1077 Před rokem

    Nothing's changed. Millions got conned into taking a clotshot for a sniffle!

  • @unnamedchannel1237
    @unnamedchannel1237 Před rokem

    Video would have been good if the music was not so loud

  • @mrwaxwave
    @mrwaxwave Před rokem +1

    When you show pictures of people as you’re telling stories from medieval lives, are those the pictures of _those_ people? Or are they just random people?
    Thanks!

    • @mellifergold
      @mellifergold Před rokem +1

      guess... !

    • @mrwaxwave
      @mrwaxwave Před rokem +1

      @@mellifergold sometimes they seem random sometimes seem to match so I'm asking

  • @travisinthetrunk
    @travisinthetrunk Před rokem +6

    You forgot the religious con artists (the Catholic clergy, Muhammad and his minions, etc.). Telling people that they can survive death and live for eternity in heaven in exchange for money can only be seen as a huge con.

    • @SECONDQUEST
      @SECONDQUEST Před rokem

      All religious leaders are either con artists or mentally ill.
      The bible sounds like a bunch of bs when you think "what if it's just a lie"? Like that dude "flew" around the city to prove God was real and we're just supposed to take his word for it even though that sounds like the dumbest shit ever.
      God will allow a man to fly to prove he is great but won't do a damn thing today to prove his existence. Because it was all a bunch of lies.

    • @buddyrojek9417
      @buddyrojek9417 Před rokem

      IT IS CALLED A SERVICE. FOR A REASON

  • @nazlsenay7312
    @nazlsenay7312 Před 10 měsíci

    ..

  • @jarehelt
    @jarehelt Před rokem +3

    This is how I imagine Jesus started out 😅

    • @nickcharles6530
      @nickcharles6530 Před rokem

      Same. He was a fraud and a Cult Leader. If Charlie Manson had went a different way, he might be considered a Saint 2000 years from now.

  • @Nick-nk5mf
    @Nick-nk5mf Před rokem

    I am so happy you don't do that slow and creepy / seductive voice and speak normally now

  • @robp3475
    @robp3475 Před rokem

    the tiny dresses the guys wore back then are cute

    • @editingsecrets
      @editingsecrets Před rokem

      Tunics the thing back then for both guys 'n gals

  • @thehangmansdaughter1120
    @thehangmansdaughter1120 Před rokem +8

    Wouldn't be foolish enough? How many people voted for Trump?

    • @nickcharles6530
      @nickcharles6530 Před rokem

      Easy pal, that kook in the White House right now has dementia. I’m no Trump fan, but eventually you guys gotta realize there are worse people in politics, AKA- the Bidens.

  • @houseofvanity8
    @houseofvanity8 Před rokem

    🎉😂❤

  • @bonitabromeliads
    @bonitabromeliads Před rokem

    "scam have been around for hundreds of years"
    I think maybe you need to read some older book bro.

  • @StygiaN-WeB
    @StygiaN-WeB Před měsícem

    how did they swindle bitcoin, back then?

  • @Atlashands26
    @Atlashands26 Před rokem

    The FDA being the biggest confidence man of modern America