Al Fusaic

The Zangid (also commonly spelled ‘Zengid’) dynasty ruled on behalf of the Seljuk Empire from 1127 – 1250 CE. Muslim and Oghuz Turkic in origin, the Zangid spanned areas of the Levant and Upper Mesopotamia throughout what is now Syria and Iraq. Not only did the Zangid dynasty sponsor some of the most revered metalworking and painting schools in Mosul, but they are also known for their fierce fighting against Mongols. Driven by the Seljuk Empire’s expansionist tendencies and a need for geopolitical recognition, the Zangid put great emphasis on becoming an impenetrable force driven by culture and militaristic power. Thank you to Dr. Becs Rogers for writing about this historical kingdom.

For three centuries, the Lakhmid Kingdom- or al-Manadhirah, in Arabic- was ruled by the Banu Lakhm Dynasty. ‘Amr ibn Adi, the dynasty’s founder, is a descendant of the Lakhm tribe that originated from Qahtani Yemen. This is mentioned in the 3rd century Paikuli inscription’s description of the Sasanian Empire, to which the Lakhmid Kingdom was a vassal state. Before being annexed by the Sasanian Empire, the Lakhmid Kingdom extended from Saudi Arabia to the south of modern-day Iraq, with the ancient city of al-Hirah as its capital. The Lakhmid Kingdom served as an influential region for Nestorian Christianity throughout its reign

The Mari Kingdom! In what is now modern-day Syria, Mari (Tell Hariri) was a city-state that spread from the western bank of the Euphrates River beyond Deir Ez-Zor. The Mariotes existed as a multicultural place of trade and metallurgy with Amorites and Akkadians exacting substantial influence over the people and culture of this region. It existed as a city-state from 2900 BCE to 1760 BCE and existed throughout antiquity until it vanished from the historical records. Despite the discovery of over 15,000 cuneiform tablets related to Mari, it remains relatively unknown in the larger discussion of civilizations in the Middle East and North Africa. Thank you to Shannon MacColl for writing about this historical kingdom.

The episode chosen for reaction was Honor Killings, note that this topic has very strong language, so we’re providing a content warning here. And on a lighter note, echos abound, electricity cuts off, and sound is slightly wonky…but we’re providing the realest experience as we wrap up our partnership with the Real Arabic!

#realarabic #shaywaarabi #languagelearning #lebanon #honorculture #alfusaic #levintinearabic

The Minaeans were the inhabitants of the kingdom of Ma’in, located in the North-West of Yemen. Despite much being written about Ma’in’s neighboring kingdoms of Sabaean, Qataban, and Hadhramaut, relatively little is known about the Minaeans. In fact, the dates of Ma’in’s existence are still debated, although there is proof the kingdom existed at least between the 8th and 2nd centuries BCE. However, this could change with archeological sites, such as the one at Baraqish, receiving increasing attention. At their height, the Minaeans were the masters of trade in the region and maintained friendly relations with most other major kingdoms nearby.

From its inception in the 9th century BCE to its eventual demise some 200 years later, the Urartu Kingdom dominated the Lake Van region, in today’s northeastern Turkey. Known to its inhabitants as Biainili, the Urartian state formed as a confederation of kingdoms, likely in response to threats from their powerful neighbors the Assyrians. The Assyrians are also important to the study of Urartu, as Assyrian texts make up the main body of knowledge about Urartu. Through these foreign texts we can observe that despite its relatively short existence, Urartu left an indelible mark on the region, still visible to the present day. Thank you to Zach Willis for writing about this fascinating kingdom.

Part one: introduction to co-creators of the Real Arabic podcast and conversation about what the platform means to them, vignettes about the region and why they created this platform…we promise, it’ll be electric! 

Notable quotes: from one of the comments on the episode - ‘there is no such thing as pure language, language is a living being and changes…as does society.

#realarabic #shaywaarabi #languagelearning #lebanon #honorculture #alfusaic #levintinearabic

The Dilmun Kingdom was an ancient civilization located in Eastern Arabia that ruled from the late 4th millennium B.C.E. until 538 B.C.E. Founded in the Persian Gulf, the Dilmun Kingdom controlled much of modern-day Bahrain, Kuwait, and parts of eastern Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom of Dilmun is best known for its role as an important commercial center, which facilitated the trade of goods, services, and ideas between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley Civilization. The kingdom was so revered that its lands are thought to be the inspiration for the Sumerian creation myth, the Garden of Eden. Thank you to Content Writer Andrew Eaddy for focusing on this important civilization.

The Qatna Kingdom is an ancient Mesopotamian kingdom dating 2600-1300 BCE. Qatna was an essential player for many of the surrounding kingdoms in terms of trade, and many of their key accomplishments included growing as a political presence. The ruling class also were responsible for the creation of the royal palace, a massive structure that had 80 rooms on one level! Qatna was a sought-out area thanks to its strategic area between the Egyptian, Hittite, and Assyrian kingdoms. Thank you to Randy Alghawi for writing about this historical kingdom.

The Midrarid Dynasty is a largely forgotten medieval dynasty of Amazigh origin, best known through its rule over the ancient and impressive city of Sijilmasa in modern-day Morocco. The eminent historian Ibn Khaldun and Geographer Al-Bakri are some of the most well-known figures from this Dynasty as well, and even Ibn Battuta mentions Sijilmasa in his travels. They are not credited but are the initiators of the extensive trade routes throughout Western Africa, Northern Africa, and the Sahara. Thank you to Eelco van Riel for writing about this influential dynasty.