• The Caliphs

  • Written by: Zayd
  • Podcast

The Caliphs

Written by: Zayd
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  • Summary

  • A podcast tracing the rise and fall of Arab power in the first three centuries following the advent of Islam
    © 2019-2021 Zayd Wahab - Z'Mon
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Episodes
  • Episode 89: Al Muttaqi, al Mustakfi, and al Muti’

    Episode 89: Al Muttaqi, al Mustakfi, and al Muti’
    Sep 22 2024
    The Abbasid fall from grace was long and messy. It’s been a while since the dynasty produced a powerful caliph, the last one being the almighty restorer al Mu’tadid who reigned until the opening years of the 10th century. The subsequent decades saw a sustained and accelerating erosion of the state’s wealth, prestige, and authority. Whenever things looked like they couldn’t get any worse, what was thought to be rock-bottom gave way to reveal a deeper abyss. The ruling clan’s enfeeblement crescendoed in the 940’s, until it became a simple matter for another dynasty to swoop in and take all that the Abbasids had inherited.
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    26 mins
  • Episode 88: Amir al umara’

    Episode 88: Amir al umara’
    Sep 1 2024
    The creation of the role of amir al umara’ transformed the political landscape in Baghdad. It attracted men of influence to court, and they did not come seeking to serve the caliph, but to dominate his metropolis. Ibn Ra’iq was the first such aspirants, but he and others soon learned how difficult it was to rule a city surrounded by enemies on all sides. Their feuding weakened and impoverished all sides in this conflict, sapping Iraq’s ability to defend itself from invading forces.
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    29 mins
  • Episode 87: Al Radi the irrelevant

    Episode 87: Al Radi the irrelevant
    Aug 11 2024
    We’ve reached the end of the road as far as Abbasid authority is concerned. Although it had waxed and waned before, there would be no recovering from the lows it had fell to this time. The caliph had no independent authority, helpful counselors, loyal generals, powerful armies, not even any money; all he had was the inherited legitimacy of his lineage. He largely served as a symbolic head of state while the more powerful men around him jockeyed for wealth and control. In many ways, this caliph will be the very last one.
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    31 mins

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