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.
Yesterday
Unearthed! In July 2026, Part 1
Part one of the mid-year coverage of things literally and figuratively unearthed in the last quarter includes updates, more updates, animals, edibles and potables, and accidental finds. Research: Addley, Esther. “Solstice-aligned 5,000-year-old monument ‘once in a lifetime find’, ... Show More
41m 36s
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