Evliya Çelebi grew up in 17th century Istanbul as the "boon companion" of Sultan Murad IV. In his 20s, Evliya had a prophetic dream and spent decades traveling. During his travels he wrote the Seyahatname, one of history's important travel narratives.
Oct 31
SYMHC Classics: Helen Duncan
This 2022 episode covers Helen Duncan, sometimes described inaccurately as Scotland’s last witch, or the last person imprisoned for witchcraft in Britain, or the last person to be tried under the UK’s 1735 Witchcraft Act.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
38m 43s
Feb 2023
32. The Greatest Ottoman Adventurer
Evliya Çelebi travelled for 41 years. He documented his adventures, which included interactions with vampires, humans transforming into chickens, and dervishes riding rhinos. Listen as William and Anita are joined by Caroline Finkel to discuss this man and the vivid descriptions ... Show More
48m 13s
Oct 2025
Ibn Battuta | The World's Greatest Traveler?
One of the greatest travelers the world has ever known, Ibn Battuta journeyed over 70,000 miles across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and beyond. And he did so centuries before modern maps or air travel. His detailed accounts offer a rare glimpse into the cultures, empires, and w ... Show More
51m 45s
Aug 2024
Gulbadan Begum: princess, explorer, author
Gulbadan Begum was meant to live a quiet life in a Mughal harem. Instead she set off on a daring pilgrimage to Islam's holy cities and, on her return, wrote an extraordinary account of her dynasty. In conversation with Spencer Mizen, Ruby Lal explores the life of a princess who t ... Show More
27m 41s
<p>Wonderous things can happen when we travel, and these two individuals certainly proved the truth of that.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.c ... Show More