To understand the rise of Islam, you have to first understand its historical context. In the first official episode of Head On History, Ali talks about the international wars on the eve of Islam known as the Red Sea wars and their connection to a broader imperial struggle between Sassanid Persia and Christian Byzantium. The podcast includes a discussion of the social and religious environment of pre-Islamic Arabia with special attention paid to the diversity of religious practices, the role of women, and social stratification. From the conflict between Jews and Christians to the practices of the Sabaeans and Hanifs, this episode sets the stage for the arrival of Muhammad and his mission.