Aladdin Central Messageboard

[Brighteyes]

Hi, all. I wasn't sure if this belonged in the fan-fiction section or here (since it ties into a fan-fiction plot bunny I have, so my apologies if it's not in the right spot).

Anyways, in what era does Aladdin occur? The story that I had in mind would involve Aladdin and co. meeting up with a person from someplace in Europe (or the European-equivalent in the Aladdin-verse), and I wasn't sure if it would be the Dark Ages in Europe during the time that Aladdin was set (though I figured that it might be a little too early for the medieval era).

(BTW, as much as I like that episode, for the sake of my story I will be ignoring the Hercules/Aladdin crossover).

[Emmlei]

There is no particular era where the series occurs. The series tends to do so much globe hopping, and particularly to very fictionalized generalized places both "real" (Odiferous) and mythical (the land of the Galafems). If I'd wager a guess for a time period, possibly during the European middle ages, because there was an episode with Mechanicles and a European-ish sailor. At the time, the Middle East was very prosperous as a crossroads for East-West trade and for learning. Still, the series is pretty much built on anachronisms, so I wouldn't worry about historical accuracy.
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"Hey! What's a seven letter word for hit television show beginning with A?" -- Genie

[dazzeling diamond]

I was thinkin' wayyyy back, like 2500 bc, or whenever it was the sphinx was being built (on account of that dude in egypt during the AWNW sequence) Then again, I haven't really observed any more time references...so I could be way off.

[Jafaria]

Oh no. It couldn't be any earlier than the mid-600s AD. How do I know this? Because they're Muslim. The sphinx thing is a puzzling anachronism, but the fact remains that Agrabah is quite definitely a Muslim city, and the religion started in the 600s.

I set it in the 8 or 900s AD myself, seeing as Arabia was having a bit of a golden age in that time period. But yes, that would be the "dark ages" in Europe--before the Crusades, even.

[dazzeling diamond]

But isn't the whole concept of "The Arabian Nights", of which Aladdin is a tale, a pre-Islam idea? Or maybe I'm getting that mixed up with something else

Hmmm, I'm still not sure. I know they mention Allah and Jasmine covers herself when they go out, but it still doesn't seem like it...it just gives off this vibe of ancient history...but that's probably because ancient history is my favourite.

[Brighteyes]

These are some interesting replies. Much obliged.

@Emmiel: I do recall that episode with Mechanikles and the European sailor (Al Batross, wasn’t it)? I haven’t seen it in such a long time and totally forgot about it.

While I like history myself, I’m actually not very good at remembering specific historical dates, so I admit that I didn’t know that about the sphinx. I guess the animators tossed that in without doing a little research or thought it'd be cute to include it or something?

*checks Wikipedia* Apparently, the Arabian Nights were collected sometime in AD 800-900, so that would place its' creation after the founding of Islam.

[Emmlei]

According to tvtropes.org, the series pretty much falls into what they term "Arabian Nights Days," which is set between 700-1000AD. So, the above suggestions of around 800-900AD are pretty good guesses.

If you want to know more, check the link:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ArabianNightsDays
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"Hey! What's a seven letter word for hit television show beginning with A?" -- Genie

[Calluna]

On the DVD they said it was set in the 15th century (although I personally don't agree with that; my argument against it is here). Personally I agree with what others here have said, that it's probably in the Abbasid Caliphate (around 800s and 900s), since that's when most of the Arabian Nights stories are set.

(I just want to write a fanfic with Haroun al-Rashid in it. Is that so wrong? )

[AladdinsGenie]

Then they're constantly screwing up with the anachronistic items cause fireworks weren't invented until the 1100s, the Unkbut were farming potatoes and that's not in the rest of the world until after the late 1400s/early 1500s, and that guy was still working on the Sphinx when Aladdin and Jasmine fly by and that's around 2500-ish B.C.E. The last one is a joke, I know, but still

[AladdinsGenie]

[AladdinsGenie]

*spam whore today*

So I just watched the special again, and yeah, he heard it at a party. It wasn't in the original text. Galland would attend dinner parties with French noblemen and among the people there was a Syrian priest named Hannah Dahl (Hana Dia? I didn't catch the spelling, but that's what it sounds like ). He would entertain the men by telling versions of Arabic tales. Galland would scribble down those stories at the end of the night and that's where the stories of Aladdin and Ali Baba show up in the over-all Arabian Nights series because he was still translating other texts given to him up until his death.

[Jafaria]

The 15th Century? The 15th bloody century? Meaning, after the Crusades? After the Turks had already gotten a foothold in the region? You don't GET a city like Agrabah in the 15th century! They need a historical consultant, and if they have one he needs to stop sleeping on the job!

[Brighteyes]

Well, 800-900 AD it is then.

[Brighteyes]

[Emmlei]