In the 8th century Middle East, a new dynasty seized control of one of the world’s greatest empires – the Islamic Caliphate. Though little remembered in the west today, the Abbasids reigned for five ...

Explore the history of Islamic nations from the birth of the religion in 622 to its rise in the 7th and 8th centuries. Discover the subsequent Golden Age, and witness the decline following the Sacking ...

In a major series for Radio 3, we rediscover some of the key thinkers and achievements from the Islamic Golden Age. The period ranges from 750 to 1258 CE and we'll hear about architecture, invention, ...