Professor Zainab Bahrani tackles popular internet search queries, and questions submitted by listeners, about the Mesopotamian city, which was one of the jewels of the ancient world. Topics range from religion, food and kings to the Hanging Gardens and the myth of the Tower of Babel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Yesterday
Bess of Hardwick: life of the week
Bess of Hardwick fell out spectacularly with Mary, Queen of Scots and was dumped in the Tower of London by Elizabeth I. Yet nothing could get in the way of this extraordinary social climber. In this episode, Tracy Borman tells Spencer Mizen about a woman who accrued vast wealth, ... Show More
34m 45s
Jul 19
Alliance and acrimony: a history of Jewish-Muslim relations
From Islam’s emergence in the early medieval period, Muslims have been deeply connected with the followers of another faith: Judaism. In conversation with James Osborne, historian Marc David Baer examines the long relationship between these two religions and their communities, tr ... Show More
43m 15s
Sep 2025
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon have long captured imaginations with stories of lush terraces rising high above the desert sands. But did they truly exist—or are they a beautiful myth? Tonight, explore the mystery, history, and enduri ... Show More
47 m
May 2023
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
<p>A legendary, ancient architectural wonder, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the most famed wonders of the Ancient world. Described as being a luscious green space - likened to distant mountains, and fed by the Euphrates river, it's hard to know what was fact and what ... Show More
55m 41s