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The Mongol invasion of the Middle East was one of the most cataclysmic events in the region’s history, leading to the destruction of cities, the fall of the Abbasid Caliphate, and a transformation of the Islamic world. But how did a nomadic empire from the Eurasian steppes rise to power and bring down the greatest centers of Islamic civilization?

In this episode, Professor Mehmet Ozalp joins us to discuss:
🔹 The state of the Middle East before the Mongol invasion
🔹 Genghis Khan’s rise and his motivation for expansion
🔹 The infamous sack of Baghdad and its consequences
🔹 The Mongol defeat at Ain Jalut, their first major setback
🔹 How the conquerors ended up converting to Islam and reshaping the Muslim world

From total devastation to the eventual assimilation of the Mongols into Islamic civilization, this episode dives deep into one of history’s most consequential invasions.

Video on the fall of Baghdad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR6q7fTaVI4&t=1s
Professor Mehmet Ozalp: https://arts-ed.csu.edu.au/staff/profiles/hos/mehmet-ozalp

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World War I wasn’t just a European conflict—it was a turning point that completely reshaped the Middle East, leading to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the rise of new Arab nationalisms, and the imposition of European colonial rule.

In this episode we sit down with Professor James Gelvin, a leading historian of the modern Middle East, to explore the war’s impact on the region. Together, we discuss:

🔹 Why the Ottoman Empire joined the war and its consequences
🔹 The Arab Revolt—was it truly significant, or has history exaggerated its role?
🔹 How the British and French secretly divided the Middle East (Sykes-Picot Agreement & beyond)
🔹 The Balfour Declaration and how WWI set the stage for the Palestine conflict
🔹 The mandate system—how European powers turned former Ottoman lands into colonies
🔹 Why Iraq became the first mandate to gain independence—despite being the least prepared
🔹 The long-term legacy of WWI on borders, conflicts, and identities in the modern Middle East

This war didn’t just end an empire—it created the world we know today. But did it have to happen the way it did? And what lessons can we learn from it? Join us as we break it all down.

Learn more about Professor James Gelvin: UCLA Faculty Page

Check out his book, The Modern Middle East: A History: Goodreads Link

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In this episode of we dive into the final years of Ottoman rule in the Arab provinces and the complex road to independence. The Ottoman Empire once controlled large territories across the Middle East, but by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, internal struggles, European intervention, and rising Arab nationalism began to unravel its hold.

Joining me is Professor Eugene Rogan, Director of the Middle East Centre at Oxford and a leading historian on the modern Middle East. Together, we explore how the Ottoman Arab provinces navigated the empire’s decline, the different paths taken by regions like Egypt, Syria, and Iraq, and how Ottoman reforms—like the Tanzimat—attempted to modernize the empire but ultimately failed to hold it together.

We also discuss the rise of Arab identity within the Ottoman framework, the role of key figures like Jamal Pasha, and the impact of World War I in redrawing the map of the Middle East.

What forces led to the breakup of Ottoman rule in the Arab world? And how did these events shape the borders and conflicts of the modern Middle East? Join us as we uncover the story of the Arab provinces and their road to independence.

Professor Eugene Rogan: https://www.ames.ox.ac.uk/people/eugene-l-rogan
The Arabs: A History: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4100352-the-arabs
The Fall of the Ottomans: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21535310-the-fall-of-the-ottomans

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We explore the history of the Fatimid Caliphate with Dr. Shainool Jiwa, a historian and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Ismaili Studies. The Fatimid Caliphate, a North African empire that thrived from the 10th to the 12th centuries, is known for its remarkable approach to governance, cultural inclusivity, and intellectual achievements.

Dr. Jiwa takes us on a journey through the origins and expansion of the Fatimid dynasty, highlighting their establishment of Cairo as a center of power and the founding of the Al-Azhar Mosque, which remains one of the world’s most prestigious centers of Islamic learning. We also delve into the unique structure of the Fatimid administration, where Jewish and Christian officials held prominent positions.

Professor Shainool Jiwa: https://www.iis.ac.uk/our-people/units/constituency-studies-research/shainool-jiwa

The Fatimids 1 - The Rise of a Muslim Empire: https://www.iis.ac.uk/publications-listing/2017/the-fatimids-1/

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We explore one of the most significant yet often overlooked uprisings in Middle Eastern history—the Syrian Revolt of 1925-1927 - with Professor Michael Provence, a Professor on modern Middle Eastern history from the University of California, San Diego, and author of The Great Syrian Revolt and the Rise of Arab Nationalism.

We discuss the causes and consequences of the Syrian Revolt, examining how it challenged French colonial rule and ignited the flames of Arab nationalism across the region. We also discuss the broader impact of the revolt on the post-Ottoman Middle East, the rise of modern nation-states, and the enduring legacy of this pivotal period in shaping Syria’s future

Professor Michael Provence: https://history.ucsd.edu/people/faculty/provence.html

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We explore the Umayyad Caliphate, an empire that stretched from the Iberian Peninsula to the borders of India. Professor Khalid Blankinship, a renowned historian specializing in Islamic history, joins us to discuss the origins of the Umayyads, their military conquests, administrative innovations, and the enduring legacy they left behind. Tune in to uncover the complexities and achievements of the Umayyad dynasty, and how they laid the foundations for the Islamic Golden Age 

Professor Khalid Blankinship: https://liberalarts.temple.edu/academics/faculty/blankinship-khalid-y

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