Amira Bennison
Professor in the History and Culture of the Maghreb at the University of Cambridge
11 episodes
Appears in multiple episodes with: Hugh Kennedy, James Montgomery, Peter Adamson
Covers topics in categories such as:
The Almoravid Empire
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Berber people who dominated the western Maghreb and the south of the Iberian Peninsula from C11th, defending Al-Andalus from Christian attack.
3 May 2018
Also featuring: Nicola Clarke, Hugh Kennedy
The Empire of Mali
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the empire of Mali, famous for the wealth of its rulers such as Mansa Musa and the largest empire in west Africa.
29 October 2015
Also featuring: Marie Rodet, Kevin MacDonald
The Mamluks
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Mamluks, medieval rulers of Egypt and Syria from 1250 to 1517.
26 September 2013
Also featuring: Robert Irwin, Doris Behrens-Abouseif
Al-Kindi
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life and work of Al-Kindi, often described as the first philosopher in the Arabic tradition.
28 June 2012
Also featuring: Hugh Kennedy, James Montgomery
PhilosophyOntologistsPhilosophers of religionMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of scienceEpistemologistsPhilosophers of educationPhilosophers of mathematicsAristotelian philosophersPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of psychologyPhilosophers of artIslamic philosophersMetaphysics writersIntellectual historyAlchemists of the medieval Islamic world9th-century philosophersArabic-language commentators on AristotleAstronomers of the medieval Islamic worldMusic theorists of the medieval Islamic worldAl-Biruni
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Central Asian polymath al-Biruni and his 11th-century book India, one of the first scholarly works about the country.
10 June 2010
Also featuring: James Montgomery, Hugh Kennedy
CultureIslamic philosophersAlchemists of the medieval Islamic worldCritics of deismAstronomical instrument makersPsychology in the medieval Islamic worldAstronomers of the medieval Islamic worldExplorers of AsiaMuslim critics of atheism, AsharisMedieval Iranian pharmacologists, Transoxanian Islamic scholarsSunni and Shia Islam
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the origins of the theological split between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims.
25 June 2009
Also featuring: Robert Gleave, Hugh N. Kennedy
The Translation Movement
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the movement of classical Greek ideas out of the Byzantine Empire and into the Islamic world from the 9th century onwards.
2 October 2008
Also featuring: Peter Adamson, Peter Pormann
The Arab Conquests
Melvyn Bragg discusses the Arab conquests which transformed the Middle East, Persia, North Africa and Southern Europe by helping to spread the new religion of Islam.
26 June 2008
Also featuring: Hugh N. Kennedy, Robert Hoyland
Avicenna
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Avicenna, among the most important philosophers in the history of Islam.
8 November 2007
Also featuring: Peter Adamson, Nader El-Bizri
PhilosophyOntologistsPhilosophers of mindPhilosophers of religionPhilosophers of scienceEpistemologistsPhilosophers of mathematicsAristotelian philosophersLogiciansPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of psychologyIslamic philosophersClassical humanistsCritics of atheismCourt physiciansAlchemists of the medieval Islamic worldMusic theorists of the medieval Islamic worldIranian logicians, Iranian ethicistsMedieval Iranian pharmacologists, Transoxanian Islamic scholarsAverroes
Melvyn Bragg discusses the philosopher Averroes who worked to reconcile the theology of Islam with the rationality of Aristotle, achieving both fame and infamy.
5 October 2006
Also featuring: Peter Adamson, Anthony Kenny
PhilosophySocial philosophersOntologistsPhilosophers of literaturePhilosophers of mindPhilosophers of historyPhilosophers of religionPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of scienceEpistemologistsAristotelian philosophersLogiciansPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of psychologyPolitical philosophersPhilosophers of languageIslamic philosophersCritics of atheismCritics of ChristianityCritics of deismPeople from Córdoba, Spain12th-century Muslim theologiansArabic-language commentators on AristotlePhilosophers from al-AndalusThe Abbasid Caliphs
Melvyn Bragg discusses the Abbasid Caliphs, dynastic rulers of the Islamic world between the middle of the eighth and the tenth centuries, who headed a multi-cultural Muslim empire.
2 February 2006
Also featuring: Hugh Kennedy, Robert Irwin