The podcast delves into the controversial theory of the Tartarian Empire, an ancient global regime erased from history. It explores claims of advanced technology, mud floods, and hidden underground cities. The hosts debunk the conspiracy theory by providing insights into European naming conventions and addressing the misguided interpretations by conspiracy theorists. Exploring the enigmatic history and technology of the alleged empire, the episode uncovers grand architectural designs and attempts to clarify the mysterious origins of impressive structures worldwide.
The Tartarian Empire conspiracy theory suggests an ancient advanced global civilization built structures worldwide using lost technology.
Supporters search for evidence in 19th-century buildings, maps, and photos, believing they represent the Tartarian Empire's existence.
Critics argue that the theory misinterprets historical context and practical reasons for architectural changes over time.
Deep dives
Tartarian Empire Conspiracy Theory Overview
The Tartarian Empire conspiracy theory revolves around the belief that in the 19th century, a great, advanced global civilization known as the Tartarian Empire existed. This civilization allegedly built structures all around the world, including famous buildings like the White House and the great pyramids in Egypt. Followers claim that these buildings were not constructed by modern civilizations but were instead discovered intact after being covered by a cataclysmic mud flood event.
Tartarian Architecture Misconceptions
Supporters of the Tartarian Empire conspiracy theory often point to neoclassical or elaborate buildings from the 19th century as evidence. They suggest that these buildings are too magnificent to have been constructed by contemporary society and must have been remnants of the fabled Tartarian Empire. However, many of these buildings have well-documented histories and were created by architects of the time, with no connection to a lost ancient civilization.
Photographic Evidence and Misinterpretation
Conspiracy theorists scrutinize old photographs of cities and buildings from the 19th century, claiming that the absence of people in these images indicates that the cities were empty and built by the Tartarian Empire. They disregard the technical limitations of early photography, which required long exposure times, resulting in stationary objects being captured while moving objects, like people, appeared blurry or invisible.
Building Demolition and Conspiracy Claims
The Tartarian Empire conspiracy theory often highlights demolished buildings like the Singer Building in New York City as supposed evidence of a cover-up. However, the demolition of such structures is typically attributed to practical reasons, like obsolescence or land value, rather than a conspiracy to erase the existence of an ancient civilization. The theory tends to overlook historical contexts and practical explanations for architectural changes over time.
The Demolition of the Singer Building and The Tartarian Conspiracy Theory
The Singer Building, once the tallest building to be peacefully demolished, raised questions on why it wasn't preserved as a landmark due to economic reasons. Critics of the demolition believed in a tartarian conspiracy theory, suggesting a hidden history linked to the building's destruction. However, the presence of construction photographs from the early 20th century seemed to refute the idea of a covert erasure of history.
World's Fairs and Tartarian Architecture
World's Fairs, showcasing nations' achievements, featured temporary structures often built with innovative but cheap materials. The grandeur of these fairs was designed to impress but lacked permanence, displaying a mix of advanced technology and inexpensive construction methods. Some tartarian conspiracy theorists speculated that these fairs were disguised uncoverings of the tartarian world, hinting at a hidden past with advanced technology and architectural design.
According to the Tartarian Empire conspiracy theory there once existed a massive, advanced regime that stretched over much of the Asian continent. This Empire’s power was so great that they built structures all over the world, including in Africa, North America and South America. Buildings such as the White House in Washington D.C. and the Great Pyramids in Egypt were built by the great, globe spanning Tartarian empire. They were able to accomplish this in part thanks to advanced technology that is lost to time, like batteries powered by the Earth which distributed electricity wirelessly.
This theory has spawned a community of people who pour through old European maps and pictures of 19th century buildings in search of evidence for this lost empire, then post their findings on Reddit and Tik tok.
But was there really a lost empire called “Tartaria?” Or have conspiracy theorists on the internet misinterpreted an archaic European term for parts of Asia then proceeded to desperately search for evidence of a better world that was lost to time?
REFERENCES
Inside the ‘Tartarian Empire,’ the QAnon of Architecture
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-04-27/inside-architecture-s-wildest-conspiracy-theory
Shaoxin, Dong. "The Tartars in European Missionary Writings of the Seventeenth Century." In Foreign Devils and Philosophers, pp. 82-103. Brill, 2020.
Graff, Rebecca S. "Dream City, Plaster City: Worlds’ Fairs and the Gilding of American Material Culture." International Journal of Historical Archaeology 16 (2012): 696-716.
Greenhalgh, Paul. "Ephemeral Vistas: Great Exhibitions, Expositions Universelles and World’s Fairs, 1851–1939." (1989)
CIA Document: National Cultural Development Under Communism
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP78-02771R000200090002-6.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walhalla_(memorial)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmenhaus_(Burggarten)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Hall_Post_Office_and_Courthouse_(New_York_City)
The Singer Building
https://www.nypap.org/preservation-history/singer-building/
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
