History of Asia

By History of Asia

We try to make sense of Asian culture and politics by exploring the continent's history. We start in the present, then methodically travel back in time. Best listened to in proper order.

Season 1: A... more

· History

4.7

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FAQs about History of Asia:

How many episodes does History of Asia have?

The podcast currently has 52 episodes available.

History of Asia episodes:

May 09, 2025 3.14 (final) The Bronze Age and its Collapse
This is the final episode of the series. And maybe of the entire podcast too. Want to stay informed if and when a new episode comes out, then best include History of Asia in your library.

Thank you all for listening, I hope you enjoyed it.
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26min
March 23, 2025 3.12. Iron Age Assyria. The most cruel empire in history?
We talk about Assyria (and to a lesser extent Babylonia) during the Iron Age.
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39min
March 23, 2025 Short announcement
Just a short explanation why it takes me ever longer to get out episodes. Sorry for the wait.
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8min
November 13, 2024 3.11. The Umayyads. ‘l’union fait la force’ or ‘divide and rule’?
The Germanic peoples and the Arabs were in a similar condition when they took over their respective parts of Roman territory. A century after they did, the West lived through the Dark Ages, while the East entered a Golden Age. What explains this? In this episode, we try to find out.
Most important (extra) sources for the episode (for general list see 3.1):
LEWIS D.L. God’s Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215. Norton, 2009, 522 p.
BORRUT A., COBB P.M., Umayyad Legacies. Medieval Memories from Syria to Spain. Brill Academic Pub. 2010, 528 p.

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1h 2min
August 27, 2024 3.10 The Islamic Golden Age
In terms of scientific output, Muslim majority countries are currently behind the curve. Many people blame Islam itself. One of the best counterarguments to this, is
that Islam was in many ways responsible for the fact that in the Middle Ages, Iraq, Syria and other Muslim regions were way ahead of the pack in many ways.
Hope you enjoy the episode.

Main (additional) sources for the episode:
Al-Khalili, Jim. De bibliotheek van Bagdad : de bloei van de Arabische wetenschap en de wedergeboorte van de Westerse beschaving⁠
Lyons, Jonathan. Het huis der wijsheid : hoe Arabieren de westerse beschaving hebben beïnvloed.

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1h 1min
June 27, 2024 3.9. The Ottomans. True survivors
We talk about the Ottoman empire. They survived for over 6 centuries. What is their secret?
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1h 3min
April 21, 2024 3.8. The sick man and his strong medicine
This episode is about the later stages of the Ottoman period, with the focus on Syria and especially Iraq.

Most important sources for the episode (for more specific info you can e-mail me):
Yitzhak Nakash - The Shi'is of Iraq
TRIPP C. Irak: een geschiedenis
ANSCOMBE F.F. State, faith, and nation in Ottoman and Post-Ottoman Lands
BAYLY C.A. The Birth of the modern world 1780-1914.
DALE S. The Muslim Empires of the Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals
MCDOWAN D. A modern history of the Kurds
MCHUGO J. Syria a recent history.
SIMONS G., BENN T. Iraq: from Sumer to Saddam.
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38min
March 07, 2024 3.7. The Mandatory Period. Original sin.
We discuss the history of Iraq and Syria in the first half of the 20th century.
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50min
February 12, 2024 3.6. How has it come to this? And why does it matter?
A long overdue explanation why this podcast narrates history backwards.
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31min
January 20, 2024 3.5. Syria and Iraq in the 50s and 60s. In a state of nature?
We discuss the 50s and 60s. What explains the turbulence of this period, as opposed to the longevity of the Assad- and Saddam-regimes?

Sorry if the audio is leaky sometimes: there is something wrong with my microphone. I'll have it fixed.
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52min

FAQs about History of Asia:

How many episodes does History of Asia have?

The podcast currently has 52 episodes available.