In this episode, we delve into the dramatic fall of Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughal emperor. Discover how the 1857 Revolt sealed his fate, leading to his deposition and exile to Rangoon. We explore the end of a dynasty that once ruled vast territories, marking the twilight of Mughal power and the dawn of British dominance in India.
Want to see my notes for ... Show More
Mar 2026
The Caliphate in Chaos | IHP 11-2
The Assassination of Caliph Walid II serves as the violent climax to an era of mounting tension, marking the definitive start of the Third Fitna civil war. This episode explores the roots of this collapse, beginning with the Early History and Passive Protest of Sufism, where figu ... Show More
2h 22m
Feb 2026
America’s ICE Crackdown: Raids, Killings and Public Outcry
Host Majid and guest Muttaqi Ismail discuss recent US enforcement actions—ICE and Border Patrol raids, the killing in Minneapolis, and community reactions—placing these events in the context of immigrant communities, politics, and public protest. They also cover how social media, ... Show More
1h 8m
Apr 2024
The History of the Mughal Empire - The Throneless Times
In this first episode of this bonus series, we hear about Timur's devastating raid of northern India, and then follow his descendant Babur through his adventurous early years.
For this episode, I found the following publications particularly useful:
William Dalrymple, The Anarc ... Show More
25m 37s
Mar 2024
Episode 82: The rise of al Muqtadir
After all our recent foreshadowing, we’ve finally arrived at the period of Abbasid collapse. It’s a relatively long period, stretching from the start of al Muqtadir’s reign in 908 until around the middle of that century, when the Abbasids were reduced to figureheads by a more com ... Show More
29m 20s
Jan 2014
#10 - W. Zhou 2: The King Who Cried "Barbarian!"
This episode, we start at the mid-point of the Western Zhou period, and follow it all the way down to its conclusion with the shattering of Royal authority, the sacking of the capital, and the vengeance of the White Wolf Clans on the Zhou. By the end of the episode, though a Zhou ... Show More
40m 6s
Sep 2024
Episode 89: Al Muttaqi, al Mustakfi, and al Muti’
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 er ... Show More
25m 51s
<p>In this episode we explore the religious ideas and explorations of the Mughal empire's most famous emperor.</p><br><p><br></p><p>Sources/Suggested Reading:</p><ul><li>Eaton, Richard M. (2020). "India in the Persianate Age: 1000-1765". Penguin.</li><li>Wink, André (2012). "Akba ... Show More
