Hugh N. Kennedy
Professor of Arabic at SOAS, University of London
5 episodes
Covers topics in categories such as:
The Battle of Tours
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Battle of Tours of 732, in which a Frankish army led by Charles Martel defeated an invading Arab force.
16 January 2014
Also featuring: Rosamond McKitterick, Matthew Innes
Ibn Khaldun
Melvyn Bragg and guests Robert Hoyland, Robert Irwin and Hugh Kennedy discuss the life and ideas of the 14th-century Arab philosopher of history Ibn Khaldun.
4 February 2010
Also featuring: Robert Hoyland, Robert Graham Irwin
Sunni 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: Amira Bennison, Robert Gleave
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: Amira Bennison, Robert Hoyland
The Sassanid Empire
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Sassanian Empire, a grand imperial rival to the Roman Empire.
13 December 2007
Also featuring: Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis, James Howard-Johnston