The Tobalina phenomenon: the professor who is sweeping the world with her videos about Sumerians, Egyptians, and Romans.

Sumer and the Sumerians , Babylon and its empires, Galilee in the time of Jesus , the fearsome Assyrian Empire… How is it possible that lectures on these topics, uploaded to the YouTube channel of a cultural association in Vitoria, have racked up millions of views ? What's going on? Since when have we in Spain become so fascinated by the royal tombs of Ur?

The author is Eva Tobalina (Vitoria-Gasteiz, 1975), a doctor in Ancient History, a university professor, and a true digital phenomenon . Her clarity and the enthusiasm she conveys make her an exceptional popularizer , respected—and almost idolized—by history students.

Tobalina doesn't have social media , but she does have legions of followers. There's even an active Facebook fan club with more than 3,000 members, where she's described as "the best Spanish-language speaker."

“Mythical,” “goddess,” “genius”… These are just some of the comments I receive about Tobalina during a quick search of the UNED History student WhatsApp groups. In one of those groups, I see that they're already organizing to go to the presentation of her book The Silk Roads , and I feel a certain anguish, a feeling similar—I suppose—to that of those who feared they might miss out on tickets to one of Bad Bunny 's concerts in Spain. “I wonder if these people are going to leave me without a spot,” I find myself thinking, regretting having brought up the subject. I try not to tell anyone else that Tobalina is in Madrid, but the comments keep coming: “Thanks to her, most UNED students pass,” “She doesn't use catchphrases, she doesn't get bogged down, and she conveys that she has perfect command of the subject ,” “I think her lectures are magnificent, with unparalleled clarity of exposition and with collateral details that prevent them from being boring.”

José Alipio Morejón , PhD in Art History and director of the Raíces de Europa association—where Tobalina gives her lectures—tells me over the phone that Tobalina has a gift and that "she's a true phenomenon, but she doesn't believe it." He is very pleased with her success and emphasizes that, thanks to her, many people have become interested in history. He adds that there is enormous interest in attending her lectures in Vitoria in person, although unfortunately, "many people are left out because there isn't enough room for everyone."

Eva Tobalina's fascination with ancient cultures comes alive in her book The Silk Roads (La Esfera de los Libros), which is being presented in Madrid. The fruit of a decade of research, the work offers a revealing look at the network of land and sea routes that connected East and West, known as the Silk Road.

QUESTION: When did your interest in history begin?

ANSWER. It starts when I was little, and at my grandparents' house I came across a copy of Sinuhe the Egyptian I was fascinated by the novel and the world it described, and ever since then I've always wanted to study history.

Q. Your lectures have millions of views online, and History and Art History students adore you. How do you experience this success? What do you think is the reason for this?

A. I'm genuinely surprised, because you'd never think a middle-aged, bespectacled professor of Ancient History could be successful on today's internet. And I think it's because I conceive of outreach as a shared experience. A way for the public and me to share the wonder of discovering the past. It brings us closer, makes us equal, and makes us partners in the enjoyment.

Q. How much time do you usually spend preparing for a conference, and what does that process look like?

A. It depends. If it's a topic I'm already familiar with, I can prepare it in a morning. It's just a matter of organizing my ideas and selecting the photos. But if I'm not that familiar with the content, it may take me days to research and read about it. The process begins with educating myself about the topic, deciding how I'm going to approach it, finding the clearest and most instructive way to do so, and also looking for changes in tone and content that keep the listener's attention.

Q: You've been working on The Silk Roads for a decade. That route, as you explain in your book, wasn't really called that, wasn't just a route, and certainly didn't just sell silk. What led you to choose this topic, and what was the process of shaping the book like after so many years of study and work?

A. The subject first caught my interest when I began traveling to countries along the Route , such as Uzbekistan and Iran. I discovered everything behind the route and was fascinated. However, when I began writing the book and delved deeper into the geography, history, and art, I discovered that it was an even more wonderful and interesting world than I had initially imagined.

Q. One of the most widespread myths about the Silk Road, as you explain, is the romantic idea of ​​long caravans of merchants traveling thousands of kilometers from China to the Mediterranean. However, in reality, most merchants only traveled short stretches of the route: selling their goods, buying others, and returning home. If you were a Chinese merchant at that time, which "section" of the route would you choose to travel? What products would you take with you and what goods would you be interested in buying?

A. Yes. It's one of the most interesting aspects of the tour. A Chinese artisan could make a silk garment without remotely suspecting whose hands it would pass through, the territories it would traverse, or even imagining the face of the Roman woman who would wear it. As for the "piece," it's hard to choose just one. There are so many fascinating places. Perhaps the Tarim Basin, but for selfish reasons. It's the part I personally know the least. And it would also be difficult for me to choose just one product. The most stimulating thing about the tour is that the merchandise was the least important. What was important were the ideas, the beliefs, and the artistic movements. And in this sense, I definitely choose the art of Gandara.

Q. What are your next projects?

R. For now, I want to make people aware of this incredible world that surrounded the Silk Road , which, although we Spaniards don't know it, has so much to do with our own past.