If Walid’s reign was the zenith of Umayyad power, then his succession marked an inflection point through which we begin to see some cracks which may have been there all along. Leaving his governor of Iraq and the East unchecked led to great discontent, and different rifts within the umma positioned themselves on either side of the growing divides. Before too ... Show More
Sep 2021
Episode 30: Suleiman bin Abdulmalik
Suleiman is one of the least documented caliphs in our sources. His short reign proved popular despite its lack of achievement: all he did was live large, reward his close supporters, and punish his opponents. This was somehow enough for him to be remembered positively, if at all ... Show More
25m 51s
Sep 2021
Episode 31: Omar bin Abdulaziz
Sulayman’s underwhelming time in charge ended with a twist, and Omar ibn Abdulaziz proved to be a real surprise. The famously pious Umayyad had a vision for the umma, and he used his new position to impose an order unseen since the early, predynastic days of the caliphate. Althou ... Show More
26m 52s
Oct 2023
[UNLOCKED] Palestine on Fire II
Breht returns with another monologue episode on the ever-evolving war in Palestine, this time with a focus on the history of the Nakba, the weakness of a two state solution, the widening global implications of the conflict, and where things might be headed...
1h 3m