Shows
Nonprofit Investment StewardsEpisode 60 – How Nonprofit Leaders Can Think Long-Term To Better Manage Your Money And Your Organization With David NierenbergEffective leadership and good governance can help maximize your mission but requires strategic, long-term thinking in a world increasingly focused on the short term. In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with David Nierenberg, director of The National World War II Museum, where he also chairs the investment committee. They explore ways to … Read More Read More2023-05-0334 min
The Golden Age of Islam68 - (6.2) Muslim-Christian Encounters IIThe Caliph al-Mahdi and Patriarch Timothy I had a famous debate at the height of the Abbasid Caliphate about the differences between Christianity and Islam, over a thousand years ago. It stands as one of the greatest examples of mutual understanding and respect between the two faiths.
2022-09-2159 min
The Golden Age of Islam67 - (6.1) Christian-Muslim Encounters IOne of the first Christian writers to write about Islam was the Orthodox monk, St. John of Damascus. Writing from the center of the Umayyad Caliphate, he offered harsh warnings about Islam in his book of heresies. It was the first of many attempts of Christian Europe to deal with the coming of Islam, but John is still quoted today as an authority.
2022-08-211h 09
The Golden Age of Islam66 (0.3) - The early life of The ProphetIn this episode, we look at the early biographies of The Prophet Muhammad from his origins to the beginning of his prophetic ministry.
2022-08-051h 06
The Golden Age of Islam65 - (0.2) The Religions of Pre-Islamic ArabiaOn the eve of Islam, Arabia was a mixture of hundreds of competing tribal gods, monotheism, Christianity and Judaism. Sorting the history from the legends of this pre-Islamic past remains a challenging task.
2022-07-2153 min
The Golden Age of Islam64 - (0.1) The Bedouin Culture of ArabiaLike any religion, Islam was shaped by the culture in which it emerged. The rules and values of the Bedouin - from the treatment of women to concepts of honor and leadership - would impact the Islamic society that grew out of Arabia. In this episode, we take a look at that culture to understand what Islam preserved and what it changed.
2022-07-061h 07
Vet Med Wellness + Leadership#012: VET MED - Dealing with Stressors in the Veterinary Field with Dr. David DiMeoDr. David DiMeo is a veteran Veterinarian in his 40th year in the field. His journey has brought him from growing up on the shores of Rhode Island to his practice, Mountain Parks Veterinary Hospital, in Colorado. Having been a part of the industry for decades, Dr. DiMeo has seen the changes overtime, experienced highs and lows, and has some wisdom when it comes to dealing with common stressors. There is one common stressor when I’ve talked to guests in the past and that is Compassion Fatigue. Dr. DiMeo brings up two unique facets of this tha...2022-06-2835 minNonprofit Investment StewardsEpisode 38 – How Nonprofits Should Manage Large Cash Inflows with David PiccerelliThere may come a time when your nonprofit experiences a large inflow of cash. For some organizations, this happens when they’re not expecting it at all! In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with David Piccerelli, president at WSBE Rhode Island PBS and a client of Fiducient Advisors, who has experience in managing … Read More Read More2022-02-2325 minNonprofit Investment StewardsEpisode 33 – Future Outlook on Equity Markets (2021 Year-end Updates) with David BiancoAs the calendar flips to a new year, are you curious about what to expect from equity markets — both in the USA and globally? In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis are joined by David Bianco, CFA, chief investment officer for the Americas at the DWS Group. As one of Wall Street’s best … Read More Read More2021-12-1532 min
The Golden Age of Islam63-Ottoman Origins IIIIn this episode, we look at the third of the founding sultans of the Ottoman empire, Murad I, whose victory over the Serbs at Kosovo would be invoked 600 years later as a cause for war.2021-08-0259 min
The Golden Age of Islam63-Ottoman Origins IIIIn this episode, we look at the third of the founding sultans of the Ottoman empire, Murad I, whose victory over the Serbs at Kosovo would be invoked 600 years later as a cause for war.
2021-08-0259 min
The Golden Age of Islam62 - Ottoman Origins IIAs a divided Europe fights among itself, the Ottoman state continues to establish itself as the new power of the age. In this episode, we discuss Orkhan I, second of the three founding sultans of the Ottoman Empire.
2021-07-0751 min
The Golden Age of Islam62 - Ottoman Origins IIAs a divided Europe fights among itself, the Ottoman state continues to establish itself as the new power of the age. In this episode, we discuss Orkhan I, second of the three founding sultans of the Ottoman Empire.2021-07-0751 min
The Golden Age of Islam61 - The Ottoman Empire - The BeginningThe great empire that would rule from North Africa to Arabia and threaten the gates of Vienna started from the most humble origins. The leader of a small Turkish tribe escaping the Mongol advance, Osman the First would lay the foundations of the last great empire of the Golden Age of Islam.
2021-06-251h 00
The Golden Age of Islam61 - The Ottoman Empire - The BeginningThe great empire that would rule from North Africa to Arabia and threaten the gates of Vienna started from the most humble origins. The leader of a small Turkish tribe escaping the Mongol advance, Osman the First would lay the foundations of the last great empire of the Golden Age of Islam.2021-06-251h 00Nonprofit Investment StewardsEpisode 19 – Senior Living Communities and Their Unique Financial Considerations – with David BordonaroIt is projected that by the year 2025, more than 50% of the population will be aged 65 and older. Leadership at senior living communities must keep up and adapt to changes in the industry to be financially prepared for the future of senior living. In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis sit down … Read More Read More2021-05-1926 min
The Golden Age of Islam60 - Khadija, Wife of The ProphetThe richest merchant of Mecca and the first person to convert to Islam, Khadija was one of the most important people in the early history of Islam.
2021-04-091h 00
The Golden Age of Islam60 - Khadija, Wife of The ProphetThe richest merchant of Mecca and the first person to convert to Islam, Khadija was one of the most important people in the early history of Islam.2021-04-091h 00
The Golden Age of Islam59 - The Fall of GranadaIn 1492, seven centuries of Muslim rule in Spain come to an end and History takes a very sharp turn. Today we discuss the reasons for the fall of Granada and its implications on all sides.2021-03-041h 05
The Golden Age of Islam59 - The Fall of GranadaIn 1492, seven centuries of Muslim rule in Spain come to an end and History takes a very sharp turn. Today we discuss the reasons for the fall of Granada and its implications on all sides.
2021-03-041h 05
The Golden Age of Islam58 - The Emirate of GranadaDespite the constant threat of the Christian Reconquista from the north, the last Muslim foothold in Spain, the Emirate of Granada, managed not only to survive, but to flourish for over two centuries, leaving some of the greatest symbols of Muslim culture in Europe. Hear how skillful leadership managed to defy the odds and sustain a mini-Golden Age.2021-02-011h 12
The Golden Age of Islam58 - The Emirate of GranadaDespite the constant threat of the Christian Reconquista from the north, the last Muslim foothold in Spain, the Emirate of Granada, managed not only to survive, but to flourish for over two centuries, leaving some of the greatest symbols of Muslim culture in Europe. Hear how skillful leadership managed to defy the odds and sustain a mini-Golden Age.
2021-02-011h 12
The Golden Age of Islam57-The Reconquista, The Battle for Spain IIThe fighting in Spain and Portugal turns into a bona fide Crusade, with both sides seeing themselves appointed by God to save the true religion. In this episode, we look at the lesser known, but at times, higher priority crusade against Islam: the battle for Iberia.2021-01-171h 15
The Golden Age of Islam57-The Reconquista, The Battle for Spain IIThe fighting in Spain and Portugal turns into a bona fide Crusade, with both sides seeing themselves appointed by God to save the true religion. In this episode, we look at the lesser known, but at times, higher priority crusade against Islam: the battle for Iberia.
2021-01-171h 15
The Golden Age of Islam56 - The Reconquista - the Battle for Spain IAlmost immediately after the Muslims conquered Iberia, the long fight for control began. What would be called by Europeans a "Reconquest" would take nearly eight centuries and leave lasting marks on both sides. In this episode, we look at the beginnings of this long battle.2020-12-0158 min
The Golden Age of Islam56 - The Reconquista - the Battle for Spain IAlmost immediately after the Muslims conquered Iberia, the long fight for control began. What would be called by Europeans a "Reconquest" would take nearly eight centuries and leave lasting marks on both sides. In this episode, we look at the beginnings of this long battle.
2020-12-0158 minThe Golden Age of Islam55 - The Case of the Animals against ManA thousand years ago, the mysterious philosophical group Ikhwan al-Safa' imagined humankind put on trial for its treatment of the animals. Far ahead of their time in thinking about rights and compassion, the Ikhwan remain controversial and inspiring.2020-11-1155 minThe Golden Age of Islam55 - The Case of the Animals against ManA thousand years ago, the mysterious philosophical group Ikhwan al-Safa' imagined humankind put on trial for its treatment of the animals. Far ahead of their time in thinking about rights and compassion, the Ikhwan remain controversial and inspiring.
2020-11-1155 min
The Golden Age of Islam54 -An Encyclopedia of EverythingThe Brethren of Purity, or Ikhwan al-Safa' were one of the most mysterious, yet influential groups of philosophers. A secret society of eclectic thinkers, they attempted to reconcile all the world's knowledge--from Greek, Hindu, Persian, pagan, Christian and Muslim sources--into a single system that explained everything. How did they do? We will see in this episode.2020-10-211h 00The Golden Age of Islam54 -An Encyclopedia of EverythingThe Brethren of Purity, or Ikhwan al-Safa' were one of the most mysterious, yet influential groups of philosophers. A secret society of eclectic thinkers, they attempted to reconcile all the world's knowledge--from Greek, Hindu, Persian, pagan, Christian and Muslim sources--into a single system that explained everything. How did they do? We will see in this episode.
2020-10-211h 00
The Golden Age of Islam53 - Journey to Heaven and HellBefore Dante and long before Bill and Ted, the great Arab writer Abu 'Alaa' al-Ma'arri described a mythical journey into Heaven and Hell that challenged the views of religious officials of his day. He remains as popular and controversial today as ever.2020-10-021h 04
The Golden Age of Islam53 - Journey to Heaven and HellBefore Dante and long before Bill and Ted, the great Arab writer Abu 'Alaa' al-Ma'arri described a mythical journey into Heaven and Hell that challenged the views of religious officials of his day. He remains as popular and controversial today as ever.
2020-10-021h 04
The Golden Age of Islam52 - Good Behavior in the Golden AgeProper values and behavior of the elite in the Golden Age capitals of Baghdad and Cordoba was not just a matter of trial and error. Detailed manuals of adab taught what was expected in respectable society. Today we look at one of the greatest of these, The Unique Necklace of Ibn Abd Rabbih
2020-09-0359 min
The Golden Age of Islam52 - Good Behavior in the Golden AgeProper values and behavior of the elite in the Golden Age capitals of Baghdad and Cordoba was not just a matter of trial and error. Detailed manuals of adab taught what was expected in respectable society. Today we look at one of the greatest of these, The Unique Necklace of Ibn Abd Rabbih2020-09-0300 minThe Golden Age of Islam51 - Religion vs. Philosophy IIIn the conflict between philosophers and religious writers of the Golden Age, no question was more divisive than the eternity of the world. Although it may seem abstract today, this was the ultimate litmus test back then. In this episode, we look at how both sides lined up on this issue and why they considered the others infidels.2020-08-1400 minThe Golden Age of Islam51 - Religion vs. Philosophy IIIn the conflict between philosophers and religious writers of the Golden Age, no question was more divisive than the eternity of the world. Although it may seem abstract today, this was the ultimate litmus test back then. In this episode, we look at how both sides lined up on this issue and why they considered the others infidels.
2020-08-141h 13The Golden Age of Islam50 - Philosophy vs. ReligionIn this episode, we look at the conflict between religious traditionalists and rationalist philosophers for the upper hand in Islamic society. What was at stake in the heated debates about the role of religion vs. science, revelation vs. logic and the philosophers against the traditionalists? How would the outcome of that conflict shape the direction of society in the future?
2020-07-161h 06
The Golden Age of Islam50 - Philosophy vs. ReligionIn this episode, we look at the conflict between religious traditionalists and rationalist philosophers for the upper hand in Islamic society. What was at stake in the heated debates about the role of religion vs. science, revelation vs. logic and the philosophers against the traditionalists? How would the outcome of that conflict shape the direction of society in the future?2020-07-1600 minThe Golden Age of Islam49 - Ibn Rushd: Defender of RationalismThe battle between Philosophy and Religion; Reason and Revelation; it has been at the heart of debate within Muslim circles throughout the Golden Age. This episode looks at one of the last, and most influential voices on this subject: the Andalusian intellectual Ibn Rushd. He is one of the few Muslim thinkers to be as famous in the West as in the Muslim world. Known as Averroes in Latin, he was a major influence on European philosophy, but managed to get himself declared a heretic by the Pope.2020-06-2700 minThe Golden Age of Islam49 - Ibn Rushd: Defender of RationalismThe battle between Philosophy and Religion; Reason and Revelation; it has been at the heart of debate within Muslim circles throughout the Golden Age. This episode looks at one of the last, and most influential voices on this subject: the Andalusian intellectual Ibn Rushd. He is one of the few Muslim thinkers to be as famous in the West as in the Muslim world. Known as Averroes in Latin, he was a major influence on European philosophy, but managed to get himself declared a heretic by the Pope.
2020-06-271h 08
The Golden Age of Islam48 - The AlmohadsThe mighty Almoravid dynasty lasted only a century before it was overthrown by another another great Berber dynasty- the Almohads. In this episode, we look at the fearless and determined founder of the dynasty, the controversial Ibn Tumart, who would change the face of North Africa and Spain for centuries.
2020-05-181h 02
The Golden Age of Islam48 - The AlmohadsThe mighty Almoravid dynasty lasted only a century before it was overthrown by another another great Berber dynasty- the Almohads. In this episode, we look at the fearless and determined founder of the dynasty, the controversial Ibn Tumart, who would change the face of North Africa and Spain for centuries.2020-05-1800 min
The Golden Age of Islam47 - The AlmoravidsThe Amoravid Berber dynasty established an empire that stretched from Ghana to the north of Spain. For centuries they would fight against the Christian conquest from the North and leave a lasting impression on Spain and the Western Muslim World.2020-04-2900 min
The Golden Age of Islam47 - The AlmoravidsThe Amoravid Berber dynasty established an empire that stretched from Ghana to the north of Spain. For centuries they would fight against the Christian conquest from the North and leave a lasting impression on Spain and the Western Muslim World.
2020-04-291h 08
The Golden Age of Islam46 - Hayy Ibn Yaqdhan IIThe continuation of the influential philosophical work Hayy Ibn Yaqdhan, in which the hero discovers the deepest truths of the universe while on a desert island, without the aid of teachers or language.2020-04-1000 minThe Golden Age of Islam46 - Hayy Ibn Yaqdhan IIThe continuation of the influential philosophical work Hayy Ibn Yaqdhan, in which the hero discovers the deepest truths of the universe while on a desert island, without the aid of teachers or language.
2020-04-101h 13The Golden Age of Islam45 - Hayy Ibn Yaqdhan IOne of the most influential Arabic works of the Middle Ages, Ibn Tufayl's "philosophical novel" Hayy Ibn Yaqdhan has influenced Western literature from Rousseau to Tarzan. An allegory for Classical Muslim Rationalist ideas about education, freedom, religion and philosophy, the classic work finds echoes in Robinson Crusoe and the Jungle Book.
2020-03-251h 06
The Golden Age of Islam45 - Hayy Ibn Yaqdhan IOne of the most influential Arabic works of the Middle Ages, Ibn Tufayl's "philosophical novel" Hayy Ibn Yaqdhan has influenced Western literature from Rousseau to Tarzan. An allegory for Classical Muslim Rationalist ideas about education, freedom, religion and philosophy, the classic work finds echoes in Robinson Crusoe and the Jungle Book.2020-03-2500 min
The Golden Age of Islam44 - The Accounts of China and IndiaIn the 800s, Baghdad sat at the center of an international trading empire stretching from Europe to China. In this episode, we look at how travelers saw the countries of the Indian Ocean and Far East and how they viewed their own culture in relation to those. From exotic animals, strange rituals, the universal acknowledgment of the superiority of Islam and, of course, the opportunity to make vast fortunes.
2020-03-141h 01
The Golden Age of Islam44 - The Accounts of China and IndiaIn the 800s, Baghdad sat at the center of an international trading empire stretching from Europe to China. In this episode, we look at how travelers saw the countries of the Indian Ocean and Far East and how they viewed their own culture in relation to those. From exotic animals, strange rituals, the universal acknowledgment of the superiority of Islam and, of course, the opportunity to make vast fortunes.2020-03-1400 minThe Golden Age of Islam43 - The Excellence of the ArabsIn the continuing disagreements over the role of ethnicity in the Muslim Empire, the 9th Century classic "The Excellence of the Arabs" was seen as a definitive word. This book, by a renown Baghdad scholar lays out the case for what makes Arabs special, traits that have continued to be admired until this day.
2020-03-021h 03The Golden Age of Islam43 - The Excellence of the ArabsIn the continuing disagreements over the role of ethnicity in the Muslim Empire, the 9th Century classic "The Excellence of the Arabs" was seen as a definitive word. This book, by a renown Baghdad scholar lays out the case for what makes Arabs special, traits that have continued to be admired until this day.2020-03-0200 min
The Golden Age of Islam42 - Ethnic Pride in the Islamic EmpiresWhile Arab pride was growing in the Abbasid empire, similar movements of ethnic and cultural pride among Persians and other groups were also emerging. This episode looks at the reaction to expressions of Arab superiority and the competition to determine the cultural direction of the empire.
2020-02-1353 min
The Golden Age of Islam42 - Ethnic Pride in the Islamic EmpiresWhile Arab pride was growing in the Abbasid empire, similar movements of ethnic and cultural pride among Persians and other groups were also emerging. This episode looks at the reaction to expressions of Arab superiority and the competition to determine the cultural direction of the empire.2020-02-1300 min
The Golden Age of Islam41 - Ethnicity in Islam: Arabness and IslamArab culture and Islam are often associated in our minds, but has this always been so? In this episode we look at the emergence of the "Arab" identity in early Islam and the reaction of other peoples in the empire.
2020-01-311h 30
The Golden Age of Islam41 - Ethnicity in Islam: Arabness and IslamArab culture and Islam are often associated in our minds, but has this always been so? In this episode we look at the emergence of the "Arab" identity in early Islam and the reaction of other peoples in the empire.2020-01-3100 min
The Golden Age of Islam40 - The Boundaries of SufismA popular Sufi teacher was executed in eighth century Baghdad for publicly declaring "I am the Truth!" Yet today, many consider him a visionary with knowledge beyond normal understanding. Mansour al-Hallaj was but one of the early Sufi masters who challenged established systems of knowledge, power and social order. In this episode, we look at those who pushed, and came to define, the boundaries of spiritual experience.
2020-01-161h 06
The Golden Age of Islam40 - The Boundaries of SufismA popular Sufi teacher was executed in eighth century Baghdad for publicly declaring "I am the Truth!" Yet today, many consider him a visionary with knowledge beyond normal understanding. Mansour al-Hallaj was but one of the early Sufi masters who challenged established systems of knowledge, power and social order. In this episode, we look at those who pushed, and came to define, the boundaries of spiritual experience.2020-01-1600 minThe Golden Age of Islam39 - Rumi, The Sufi MasterThe best-selling poet in the United States is the 13th century Islamic mystic, Jalal al-Din al-Rumi, who taught a path of devotion to God leading to merging of one's self with God. Centuries later, he has become an inspiration to seekers from all religions, from Zen Buddhists to New Age spiritualists. But do the modern interpretations of his verses that adorn bumper sticker and coffee mugs reflect the true nature of his teachings?2019-12-2700 minThe Golden Age of Islam39 - Rumi, The Sufi MasterThe best-selling poet in the United States is the 13th century Islamic mystic, Jalal al-Din al-Rumi, who taught a path of devotion to God leading to merging of one's self with God. Centuries later, he has become an inspiration to seekers from all religions, from Zen Buddhists to New Age spiritualists. But do the modern interpretations of his verses that adorn bumper sticker and coffee mugs reflect the true nature of his teachings?
2019-12-2758 min
The Golden Age of Islam38 - The Father of HistoryIbn Khaldun is one of the rare Muslim intellectuals who is famous in the West, cited by everyone from Arnold Toynbee to Ronald Reagan. He has been called the father of the modern discipline of History, as well as the Social Sciences in general. All these claims have been disputed. Nonetheless, Ibn Khaldun gave the world a theory about the rise and fall of empires that did not depend on mystical or religious explanations, and has become a part of our understanding of History today.2019-11-2900 min
The Golden Age of Islam38 - The Father of HistoryIbn Khaldun is one of the rare Muslim intellectuals who is famous in the West, cited by everyone from Arnold Toynbee to Ronald Reagan. He has been called the father of the modern discipline of History, as well as the Social Sciences in general. All these claims have been disputed. Nonetheless, Ibn Khaldun gave the world a theory about the rise and fall of empires that did not depend on mystical or religious explanations, and has become a part of our understanding of History today.
2019-11-2953 min
The Golden Age of Islam37 (Fixed!) - The Great Traveler (Complete)UPDATE: This episode is now complete! It was partially cut off when it was originally published. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Moroccan born Ibn Battuta traveled over 75,000 miles, to 44 countries in the 14th century, greatly exceeding the record of any European traveler. Yet he was not an explorer by profession; he was an Islamic jurist who traveled the length and breadth of the Muslim world on business, serving as a soldier in Spain, judge in India and ambassador to China. Ibn Battuta was a man of his times and his life reflects what was possible in the Muslim wor...2019-11-2000 min
The Golden Age of Islam37 (Fixed!) - The Great Traveler (Complete)UPDATE: This episode is now complete! It was partially cut off when it was originally published. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Moroccan born Ibn Battuta traveled over 75,000 miles, to 44 countries in the 14th century, greatly exceeding the record of any European traveler. Yet he was not an explorer by profession; he was an Islamic jurist who traveled the length and breadth of the Muslim world on business, serving as a soldier in Spain, judge in India and ambassador to China. Ibn Battuta was a man of his times and his life reflects what was possible in the Muslim wor...2019-11-2058 min
The Golden Age of Islam36 - Ibn Taymiyya and the Philosophy of JihadAmong the most controversial of Muslim thinkers, Ibn Taymiyya has been lumped with al-Ghazali as responsible for "what went wrong." In this episode, we look at the reality of a man whose quotes and misquotes have been at the heart of controversy for centuries.
2019-08-291h 07
The Golden Age of Islam36 - Ibn Taymiyya and the Philosophy of JihadAmong the most controversial of Muslim thinkers, Ibn Taymiyya has been lumped with al-Ghazali as responsible for "what went wrong." In this episode, we look at the reality of a man whose quotes and misquotes have been at the heart of controversy for centuries. 2019-08-2900 min
The Golden Age of Islam35 - Baybars, Defender of IslamAmong the great Muslim warriors of history, few could match Baybars al-Bunduqari. A slave in the empire of Salah al-Din, born neither Arab nor Muslim, he would defeat the Crusaders, stop the Mongols and establish the new state that would lead the Muslim world for centuries. Seen as the true founder of the Mamluk empire, he helped changed the nature of the Muslim world up to the modern era, for better and worse.2019-08-1000 min
The Golden Age of Islam34 - the Mongol InvasionAs the Mongols devastated the great capital of Baghdad, killing thousands and throwing the contents of its great libraries into the river, the Muslim civilization received a blow from which it would never fully recover. This civilization would be permanently altered by the trauma of this destruction, from which a new center of power would emerge.2019-07-2600 minThe Golden Age of Islam33 - Rise of the MamluksFor nearly six centuries, an empire of slave soldiers dominated the Muslim world and stopped all conquerors. The era of the Mamluks was one of contradictions - a time of constant instability but of great economic, scientific and artistic achievement. Leaders who struggled to hold onto their own positions struck fear in the nations around them. In this episode we look at the system that, for better and worse, would shape the Muslim world for centuries.2019-07-1900 minThe Golden Age of Islam32 - Salah al-DinThe great hero of the Crusades, and the exemplar of the Muslim warrior for generations to come was Salah al-Din, known as Saladin in the West. Today's episode looks at how he ends a century of Crusader occupation, liberates Jerusalem and wins the respect of his European adversaries.2019-07-0200 minThe Golden Age of Islam31 - The Crusades, Part 2After the disaster of the First Crusade, Muslim resistance develops very slowly. Only after two generations will Muslim leaders become more interested in fighting the Crusaders than each other. In this chaotic environment, the first effective leaders against the Crusades: Zengi, Nur al-Din and Salah al-Din emerge.2019-06-2200 minThe Golden Age of Islam30 - The CrusadesCertainly the darkest period of Muslim-Christian interaction, the two centuries of religious wars known as the Crusades continues to color attitudes toward the West today. While these campaigns are usually studied from a perspective of European politics, they changed the Muslim world in ways so profound that we continue to feel them today. Yet Muslim images of the Crusades are little studied in the West.2019-05-2200 minThe Golden Age of Islam29 - The Demise of Islamic Science?Abu Hamid al-Ghazali has been blamed for closing the door on Islamic science and starting an era of conservatism that continues to hold back the Muslim world. Is this harsh reputation warranted? In this episode, we look at the reality and the legend of al-Ghazali and his effects on the intellectual climate in Islam.2019-05-0200 minThe Golden Age of Islam28 - A New OrderThe mighty Abbasid Caliphate had disintegrated into a collection of warring city states, while Shi'ite authorities had come to dominate the Muslim world. A new power was rising in the East, however, which would bring about a Sunni revival and stretch to the gates of the Byzantine Empire. The rising Seljuk Turkish state would come to dominate the Caliphate, institute a new era of Sunni conservatism and frighten Europe enough to spark the Crusades. 2019-04-2000 minThe Golden Age of Islam27 - The Glory of CordobaThis episode looks at how the Umayyads forged Muslim Spain into a great emirate, separate from the Caliphate in Baghdad, and which would be the cultural rival to the great Abbasid Empire. Their capital, Cordoba, was the largest city in Europe, surpassing Constantinople, and a center for transmission of knowledge into Europe. It was a time when the greatest world powers were rival Muslim states.2019-04-0500 minThe Golden Age of Islam26 - Muslim SpainThe place where Christian Europe and the Muslim world had the most interaction was the Iberian Peninsula during the nearly 800 year reign of Islam there. When the Muslim forces landed in 711, Spanish did not exist. Over the next eight centuries, al-Andalus, as it was known, was one of the great centers of learning and culture, rivaling Baghdad and Cairo to the East, and was the point of the greatest transfer of knowledge from the Muslim world into Europe. This episode looks at the conquest and establishment of the Muslim province of al-Andalus.2019-03-0900 minThe Golden Age of Islam25 - The Mad CaliphThe Fatimid Caliphate reached its height under the rule of al-Hakim, known in Western history as "The Mad Caliph." Jews, Christians and Sunnis felt the harsh nature of his oppression, while a new religion developed with him as a god. But the sciences and arts also reached a peak during his reign. Al-Hakim remains a controversial, but important figure.2019-02-1000 minThe Golden Age of Islam24 - The Fatimid CaliphateA fugitive Imam in a remote prison in the Sahara was an unlikely candidate to establish the most powerful state in the Muslim world. With the Abbasid Caliphate in decline, the Isma'ili Shi'a established a rival Caliphate whose capital, Cairo, would grow to be the largest city in the world and the center of the Arab/Islamic world for centuries. Although we associate Shi'a with Iran and Persia today, this Arab Shi'ite empire would be the foundation of the modern Arab world as we know it. 2019-01-1700 minThe Golden Age of Islam23 - The Shi'ite Opposition - the Isma'ilisBy the eleventh century, the great Abbasid empire was beginning to crumble. The Caliphs had been weakened, the Turkish military dominant. On the periphery of the empire, rebellious groups were forming new states. Among these, the Isma'ili Shi'a would become the most powerful, establishing a rival caliphate that overshadowed the Abbasids. The line of Isma'ili Imams continues to this day. In this episode, we look at the Isma'ili Shi'a: where they came from, what they believe and why they posed a threat to the Abbasid Caliphate.2018-12-2600 min
The Golden Age of Islam22-Reconciling Rationalism and Tradition - Al-Ash'ariIn the Golden Age of Islam, Rationalist Mu'tazilites and Traditionalist Hanbalis debated the proper direction of Islamic thought, theology and exploration. The man who tried to bridge the gap, and whose name today is synonymous with Orthodox Sunni theology was Al-Ash'ari. His answers to the tough questions of the nature of the universe, of the Qur'an and free will would come to be the definitive positions of Sunni Islamic doctrine until today. In this episode, we look at the man, his task and his theology.2018-12-0500 minThe Golden Age of Islam21 - Ibn Sina, The Renaissance ManIbn Sina (known as Avicenna in the West) represents the ideal of Classical Muslim intellectual. His Qanun of Medicine would be the primary medical textbook in Europe for 500 years. And though he wrote on a huge range of subjects, it is for philosophy he is best known. Before him, philosophers commented on Aristotle; after him, they commented on Ibn Sina.2018-11-2100 min
The Golden Age of Islam20 - Writing the History of IslamThe Islamic empire not only made history, but was deeply involved in the study of history. In this episode we look at the early chroniclers of Islamic history and how they viewed their place in history, names like Ibn Ishaq, Ibn al-Nadim and al-Tabari, who are frequently quoted today.2018-11-1000 minThe Golden Age of Islam19-Classical Islamic Civilization - Writing for the EliteMembers of elite society in the Islamic empire were expected to follow a highly developed code of behaviors. The current word for "Literature" - al-adab - refers to the values and behaviors of the elite. A huge body of Literature was produced in Arabic in the Abbasid period that gives us a window into those values, and the master of Arabic prose was the great al-Jahiz. In this episode we look at the rags-to-riches story of this great writer and the values he exalted. 2018-10-2500 minThe Golden Age of Islam17 - The Sword, The Poet and the PhilosopherWith the central authority of the Caliphate in decline, Emirs of regional and city states prospered. One of the most successful of these was Aleppo in Syria, where warrior prince Sayf al-Dawla (Sword of the State) sponsored the greatest Arabic poet, al-Mutanabbi and the second great Arabic philosopher, al-Farabi. In this episode we look at the flourishing artistic and intellectual climate in a time of constant military conflict.2018-10-0600 min
The Golden Age of Islam16 - The Anarchy at Samarra: Decline of the CaliphateFrom the hieght of its power, the Abbasid Caliphate was to begin a slow decline, with caliphs reduced to virtual figureheads. Yet during this time, some of the greatest achievements of Islamic civilization would come. In this episode, we look at what happened to a caliphate that seemed to be riding high, and how this long period of decline began.2018-09-2600 min
The Golden Age of Islam15 - The Muslim EconomyThe Muslim empire not only dominated the world politically, militarily and scientifically, it was also the economic powerhouse that tied together Europe, Asia and Africa. This abundance of wealth spurred the growth of Architecture, Science, Commerce and the spread of Arab-Muslim culture. In fact, the largest Muslim populations in the world today were converted through trade, rather than conquest. In this episode, we look at what made this economic system special.2018-09-0100 minThe Golden Age of Islam14 - Sufism, the Inner Dimenson of IslamIslam is known in the West for its laws and community rituals, with thousands praying in neat rows. Yet the picture is not complete without the emotional or personal dimension of Islam. Arising in the first centuries of Islam, the practices of Sufism, seeking a personal, intimate relationship with God, have also shaped Muslim society. In this episode, we look at the beginnings of Sufism, its distinctive teachings and its relationships with Islamic law, philosophy and theology.2018-08-2000 minThe Golden Age of Islam13-The Great CaliphThe peak of Golden Age power and achievement came in the reign of the seventh Abbasid caliph, al-Ma'mun, who sponsored the arts and sciences, debated the great intellectuals of the day, considered himself the ultimate religious authority and the defender of the faith, while he also aimed to reunite the Sunni and Shi'a. Although al-Ma'mun would only achieve some of his dreams, his rule set the pattern for Sunni Islam for centuries, but also carried the seeds of decline and eventual collapse. In this episode, we examine one of the greatest, and most controversial caliphs. 2018-08-0400 min
The Golden Age of Islam12 - Defending the Faith: Islamic TheologyAt the height of the Islamic Golden Age, Muslim scholars debated some of the greatest Christian and Jewish theological minds on the very principles of their faith. These experts in rationalism argued that the very principles of logic and reason dictated that their faith must be true and that rational inquiry of the natural world would prove this so. Questions about the nature of God, of free will, and eternity were being examined by thinkers from many religions who developed arguably the most sophisticated answers to these issues. At a time when Europe was filled with superstition and persecution, this...2018-07-2300 min
The Golden Age of Islam11 - The Shar'ia: Islamic LawIn this episode, we take a realistic look at the development of one of the most comprehensive and detailed legal codes in history, the Shar'ia of Islamic Law. Although the subject of alarmist warnings on the internet today, the Shar'ia grew as a sophisticate legal system that worked in balance with science, philosophy, and traditions in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious empire. 2018-07-0500 minThe Golden Age of Islam10 - The Arabic Scientific RevolutionDid the Muslims invent the modern sciences that fueled the European Renaissance, or were they merely translators and transmitters of knowledge from the ancient Greeks? In this episode, we consider the Islamic contributions to science in the early period of the Abbasid Caliphate and examine the claim that the Muslims developed the scientific method as we know it. 2018-06-2400 minThe Golden Age of Islam9 - "The Prophet Says...", The Hadith of the ProphetWhy was the Muslim community beset by divisions even though the Qur'an had been preserved exactly as revealed? This episode examines the emergence of the second, and most controversial source of Islamic law: the Hadith, or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. In the early centuries of Islam, over half a million reported sayings circulated, with most experts accepting no more than 2% as accurate. Competing the hadith would become the basis of controversies over law and practice, and the science of Hadith analysis became one of the most important intellectual and legal disciplines of the Muslim empire, and remains so tod...2018-06-1200 min
The Golden Age of Islam8 - Beginnings of the Islamic Intellectual RevolutionThe Islamic intellectual movement that rescued the works of Classical Greece and Rome and sparked the European renaissance took off with the founding of Baghdad in 750 AD. The Abbasid caliphs poured vast wealth into the creation of centers of research and analysis unparalleled in the world. The beginning phase of this effort is known, rather inaccurately, as 'The Translation Movement," and is credited with saving much of the knowledge of Greece and Rome from the barbarian invasions. Yet at the center of this movement, in the famed "House of Wisdom" in Baghdad, a merging of Classical wisdom with Islam was...2018-05-2300 min
The Golden Age of Islam7 - The Abbasid RevolutionThe true Golden Age of Islam is considered the Abbasid Caliphate, which lasted from 750 to 1258 AD and whose capital, Baghdad was the grandest city on earth - the center of intellectual, scientific and cultural achievement. The reality was more complicated and often didn't match the legend. In this episode, we look at how this great caliphate came to power and what made it unique. 2018-05-1600 min
The Golden Age of Islam1 - The Foundations of IslamWhen Europe was in the depths of the Dark Ages, a civilization emerged from the Arabian desert that would change History forever. The greatest military, political and economic power the world had seen, it would also establish one of the most brilliant intellectual, scientific and cultural traditions in History. When a humble merchant in a desert town emerged from a cave with a vision, few thought he would survive the wrath of the pagan leaders of his hometown, much less go on to reshape History. The foundations of this change are what we'll discuss today.2018-05-0300 min
The Golden Age of Islam2 - The First Muslim CommunityThe Islamic calendar begins when the first Muslim community is established in Medina. From that day forward, Islam will be not only a religion, but an independent state, with its own military and political leadership. That state will grow to rule much of the world and at its core will be this idea of a united political, military, cultural and religious community. This would shape a dramatically different world view than that of Christianity. In this episode, we explore the emergence and development of that state.2018-05-0300 min
The Golden Age of Islam3 - The First CaliphsThe first Caliphs after the Prophet Muhammad established a Muslim state that would grow to cover much of the world. These critical leaders--the Rashidun--set the precedent for what Islamic leadership and a Muslim state would be.2018-05-0300 min
The Golden Age of Islam4 - The Sunni/Shi'a Split
Few concepts in Islam are as misunderstood today as the split between Sunni and Shi'a. Yet this division plays a very important role in the politics and social dynamics of the Muslim world. In this episode, we examine the reasons for this split, and more importantly, its impact on the subsequent generations of Islamic history and the world today
2018-05-0300 minThe Golden Age of Islam5 - The Muslim ConquestsFrom a small community in the desert city of Medina, the Muslim state established an empire larger than the world had yet seen. This amazing conquest--from Spain to the edge of China--was made possible by the nature of Muslim rule and set the stage for one of the greatest civilizations in history. How did this happen? Why did Islam succeed and persist when others failed or faded quickly?2018-05-0300 min
The Golden Age of Islam6 - The Umayyad CaliphateWhile Europe lay in the Dark Ages, the Umayyad Caliphate established the largest empire the world had yet seen, the political, military, economic and cultural superpower of its day. It also set the standards for what a great Muslim empire would be and set in motion trends that would dominate the world for the next 500 years and continue to influence the world today. Yet its division of the world into a realm of peace and a realm of war continues to worry some oberservers. In this episode, we look at the transformation of the growing Muslim community into a great...2018-05-0300 min