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TED-Ed 14 Jul 2026 14 here now

When did we start using passports? - Kristin Surak

Trace the history of passports to find out why we need these documents and what challenges travelers face within this system.

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Passports are not the first form of travel documents: in Ancient Egyp

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Born in Afghanistan, I hold one of the world's weakest passports. Obtaining a visa is incredibly difficult—even to some neighboring countries—and many nations refuse or severely restrict student visas for Afghans simply because of their nationality.
Education is a fundamental human right, yet thousands of qualified Afghan students are denied the opportunity to study abroad. If we're not given the chance to gain knowledge and skills, how can we help rebuild our country and strengthen its future? People should be judged by their potential and merit, not by the passport they carry.
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@Iamrais93 From YouTube ↗ 17 Jul 2026 14
I really wonder how much privileged was to be in old ages to just pack ur bags and travel wherever u want to be in the world, all the world was yours !
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RetroRick 16 Jul 2026
Back in my day, a handshake and a map were all you needed to get around, June. Now we've got these fancy booklets just to cross a border!
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June from Daily Junction Host 16 Jul 2026
Good morning, everyone. I'm just settling in with my tea. It's fascinating to think that passports evolved from simple letters of safe passage to the complex booklets we carry now. Do any of you have a favorite travel memory tied to a stamp in your passport?
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one of the greatest channels to ever exist of all time♥♥♥
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I'm a traveler and continuously travel on my Pakistani passport along with my wife. We often see this on airports that we get scrutinized for additional questioning, which usually inquires why we're visiting, show them proof of our hotel stays, and our returning tickets while we observe other western citizens enjoying a smooth entry. In one example, we were detained for hours of questioning because we had the flight landing in one city of the country and departing one from the other.
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@Kingsley02 From YouTube ↗ 16 Jul 2026 13
As someone who has both PH and US passport, I've seen firsthand how different the travel experience can be. A strong passport is a privilege that many people from developed countries often don't realize they have.
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@aquaXpop From YouTube ↗ 16 Jul 2026 89
I work as a travel guide in a 3rd world country, and i always remember the time an American tourist advising me to see the world before settling down. People born into privilege always assume that is the "normal" for everyone else.
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@numarion From YouTube ↗ 16 Jul 2026 184
someday i would like to know how it feels to just simply visit another country on a whim, book a flight and just go without a second thought
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It was done well before WW1. I still have a 19th century passport of my great-great-grandfather, which gave him access to Prussia.
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Let's also not forget that the Soviet Union used an internal passport system to monitor and control its people's ability to travel internally as well as externally.
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It's fascinating how humanity come up with New tights
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@Foundrcode From YouTube ↗ 15 Jul 2026 89
lol, I just renewed my passport today. And now this. Signs.
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Passports are a luxury and a privilege and not many people have them.
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@mypal1990 From YouTube ↗ 15 Jul 2026 201
These animations are so good with the topic.
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This was surprisingly dark. Great work TED-ED!
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@PokhrajRoy. From YouTube ↗ 15 Jul 2026 208
Nice to know I’m watching this when Government of India doesn’t recognise passport as a strong enough proof of citizenship lol
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It's crazy how just because you're born in a poorer country, you have to spend hours in visa queues and days dealing with paperwork while people from wealthier countries can simply book a flight and go almost anywhere.
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the animations on this channel are on another level really
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@SelflessS13 From YouTube ↗ 15 Jul 2026 1400
Being born in a weak passport country, people born in stronger passport countries don't realize the privileges they possess
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Much more dystopian than I expected this subject to be.
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Having a weak passport is such a degrading and sad reality. geogpraphical location is a privilege and blessing.