(EXTENDED VERSION)

In this opening episode, we will sweep through the mists of time, from Greece, to Rome, to Islam's Golden Age - which spanned a full six centuries from roughly 750 - 1350 AD. What would Europe look like today if it weren't for the treasure trove of knowledge housed in Baghdad in the 10th century? And, more importantly, how have we all been affected by the polymath geniuses of the Central Asian Steppe, like Ibn Sina, that the Abbasid Caliphate of Baghdad patronised? Leave your comments below. And please share the podcast and subscribe if you enjoy the episode :)

Here is the YouTube link for this episode as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-Nqf7ovSm4

If anyone is super interested in this stuff go and read "The Golden Road" by William Dalrymple. It's such a good book. Dr. Roy Casagranda also has an excellent lecture on Ibn Sina here (all of Roy's stuff that I have seen so far is truly excellent, and free for us all to enjoy on the internet): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8s_qxWcN9I

Also, here is further justification for why flattened maps suck and are actually deeply insidious in my opinion (since there is so much more land mass in the northern hemisphere, incidentally also where all major colonial powers come from): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIID5FDi2JQ&t=6s

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: ⁠ @RichardLikesHistory ⁠

X: @skerkwagga1939

Produced by Richard Marais

(0:00) Intro to Ibn Sina

(1:23) Ancient Greece

(4:18) The Roman Empire

(6:48) The fall of Rome

(7:52) The Eastern Roman Empire

(10:40) Europe's Dark Age

(12:28) Ibn Sina: Europe's Saviour

(12:45) Flattened maps suck!

(14:00) Early Islam

(15:53) The Abbasids in Baghdad

(19:24) The Barmakids

(21:55) Ibn Sina's Canon of Medicine

(26:44) Islamic Spain

(28:32) Michael Scot (not The Office)

(30:27) Final Ode to Ibn Sina

In this opening episode, we will sweep through the mists of time, from Greece, to Rome, to Islam's Golden Age - which spanned a full six centuries from roughly 750 - 1350 AD. What would Europe look like today if it weren't for the treasure trove of knowledge housed in Baghdad in the 10th century? And, more importantly, how have we all been affected by the polymath geniuses of the Central Asian Steppe, like Ibn Sina, that the Abbasid Caliphate of Baghdad patronised? Leave your comments below. And please share the podcast and subscribe if you enjoy the episode :)If anyone is super interested in this stuff go and read "The Golden Road" by William Dalrymple. It's such a good book. Dr. Roy Casagranda also has an excellent lecture on Ibn Sina here (all of Roy's stuff that I have seen so far is truly excellent, and free for us all to enjoy on the internet):    • The 1,000-year Legacy of Ibn Sina – Dr. Ro...  Also, here is further justification for why flattened maps suck and are actually deeply insidious in my opinion (since there is so much more land mass in the northern hemisphere, incidentally also where all major colonial powers come from):    • Why all world maps are wrong  

For a longer discussion on this topic, see the EXTENDED version of this episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4PSlDB65VOJLfZrD613mZL?si=P0XtgootTgebgqCFRqqzzQ

(which is also on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-Nqf7ovSm4)

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: ⁠ @RichardLikesHistory ⁠

X: @skerkwagga1939

Produced by Richard Marais

My name is Richard, and I want history to be fun and interesting for everyone, because when told accurately, it is genuinely one of the most fascinating and deeply human topics that exist. Perhaps even the most.

Other places to find me:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SapiensRichard

Apple Podcasts (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/homo-complexus/id1896160168

If you want to get in touch:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @richardlikeshistory

X: @Skerkwagga1939

Produced by Richard Marais