Head On History
57 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 months ago - ★★★★★ - 205 ratingsBringing sexy back to nerddom
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Episodes
Gender Bending in Islamic History
July 05, 2023 20:46 - 41 minutes - 38 MBBuilding upon our exploration of gender in Islamic history we dive into the topic of gender bending and how it can help us see gender as socially constructed, historically contingent, and contextual. We explore multiple figures throughout Islamic history from the ghulamiyya to the the bacha posh, from the khawal and the köçek to finally the mustarjil. Each of...
Transgender and Non Binary in Islamic History
July 13, 2021 07:28 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBContinuing our exploration of gender and sexuality in Islamic history we turn to the figure of the mukhannathun, a third gender category in early Islam. We trace ideas of gender as a fluid spectrum through the lives of these individuals examining their existence in the life of Muhammad and the nascent Muslim community, the Umayyads,...
Homosexuality and Gay Love in Islamic History
June 30, 2021 03:48 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBIn this episode we dive into the history of homosexuality, same-sex desire, and gay love in Islamic societies. We examine the realm of religion, scripture, literature, and medicine and what they tell us about same-sex desire. We recount the lives of famous gay and lesbian figures from the early Muslim community through the Abbasid Caliphate,...
Sex and Pleasure in Islamic Society
June 27, 2021 18:12 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MBHow did early Muslims define sex? In this episode we examine the role of pleasure and specifically mutual pleasure as a key definition of sex in Islamic society. We trace the role of pleasure from the Qur’anic ethos to the subsequent development of Islamic law, literature, and medicine. We argue Muslims did not define sex...
Gender and Sexuality in Islam
July 18, 2019 19:06 - 22 minutes - 31.5 MBThe theme for season 5 is gender and sexuality in Islam. In our first episode we provide the framework for understanding gender, sex, and sexuality in the Islamic world. We discuss three influences on the framework: cultural beliefs, the Qur’an, and the philosophical tradition of the high Abbasid period. We discuss how Muhammad strove to...
Special: Islamophobia
March 22, 2019 21:46 - 20 minutes - 28.2 MBIn this special we cover the history of Islamophobia and the way it intersects with other forms of bigotry like antisemitism and its connection with Orientalism. We try to put the tragedy of the Christchuch, New Zealand shooting into a broader context by examining the discourse on Muslims. We start by examining Orientalism and its...
Byzantines, Sassanians, and Holy Emperors
March 08, 2019 21:51 - 52 minutes - 72.5 MBIn our final episode of the season, we wrap up our theme of Empires of Faith. We start out with some shout outs and then present a brief timeline of the Roman and Byzantine Empire. We discuss the Romanization of Christianity and the Christianization of the Roman Empire. We talk about Constantine with the imperial...
Judaism, Christianity, and Messianic Kings
March 01, 2019 21:45 - 46 minutes - 63.9 MBIn this episode we explore the history of Israelite religion under Hellenism and the Roman empire. We examine the ways in which Judeans responded to, absorbed, and resisted Hellenic culture resulting in messianic movements, the Sadducee sect, Pharisee sect, and Essene sect. We investigate the cosmopolitan culture of Judea under the Seleucid Empire and later...
The Roman Empire & The Cult of the Emperor
February 23, 2019 15:05 - 54 minutes - 75.1 MBIn this episode we explore Roman religion and how it was shaped by the empire. We begin with a brief chronology of Roman history from its early days through the republic until the empire. We sketch out the structure of Roman society and some of the features of it’s politics. We spend the bulk of...
The Greeks and the Philosopher Kings
February 15, 2019 19:57 - 42 minutes - 59 MBThis episode provides a brief sketch of the history of the Greeks. We start with a short discussion on the Minoans and the Mycenaean invasion. We talk about the emergence of a common culture within Homer’s epic of the Iliad and Odyssey while noting that “Greek” was a single, unified people, but rather autonomous and...
Achaemenid Empire and Universal Kingship
February 09, 2019 01:10 - 38 minutes - 52.5 MBIn this episode we pick up with the Babylonian Captivity. We discuss the rise of Cyrus the Great and the Achaemenid empire. We examine the origins of the Persians and their consolidation into an empire that conquers the Neo-Babylonians. We talk about the policy of religious pluralism instituted by Cyrus the Great and its links...
Ancient Israelite Religion and Monotheistic Kingship
January 31, 2019 22:38 - 37 minutes - 51.8 MBIn this episode we examine the complexities of ancient Israelite religion by placing it within the historical context. We put forth theories about the origins of the religions while situating it within the broader ancient near east and Mediterranean religious traditions. We talk about the establishment of temple religion and the historical experience of empires...
The Assyrians and Heroic Kingship
January 24, 2019 20:41 - 39 minutes - 54.7 MBToday we discuss the rise of the Assyrian empire. From the Old Assyrian Empire to the Neo Assyrians we discuss how the technological developments of the Iron Age radically transformed the empire-building powers of the ancient world and the ways it impacted the religious ideologies of the Assyrians. We dissect the militaristic culture and its...
Ancient Egypt and the Pharaohs
January 18, 2019 00:46 - 41 minutes - 56.7 MBIn this episode we dive into the world of ancient Egypt. We start with a discussion on religion in the ancient world and the difference between our modern assumptions of religion. We discuss the impact of the Nile as a stable irrigation system on Egyptian society and religion. We compare and contrast the Pharaohs with...
Hammurabi and Babylonian Kingship
January 11, 2019 22:57 - 32 minutes - 45.3 MBToday we take a look at the Babylonian empire and the rise of Hammurabi. We analyze the way kingship and religion worked hand-in-hand to justify rule. We take a close look at the Code of Hammurabi and what it tells us about Babylonian religion. We examine the cosmology of the Enuma Elish and the Babylonian...
Sargon of Akkad and the First Empire
January 07, 2019 19:11 - 44 minutes - 60.6 MBWelcome to season 4 of Head on History: Empires of Faith. This season we are going to discuss the ancient world up to the arrival of Islam through an examination of the intersection of empire and religion. In this episode we establish the basic outline of complex societies, the common characteristics of the early civilizations,...
Special: Saudi Arabia and the US
October 19, 2018 19:47 - 59 minutes - 81.4 MBWith the recent tragic news of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder likely at the hands of Saudi officials, it is imperative we take a look at the long history of Saudi Arabia’s troubled past and its relationship with the United States. In this episode we examine the founding of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the alliance...
Special: Muharram, Ashura, and Karbala
September 20, 2018 22:22 - 29 minutes - 41 MB**Apologies for the incorrect outro music, will correct**In this special episode of Head On History we discuss the history, origin, and practices of Muharram and Ashura. We start with the Battle of Karbala and the lead up to the schism in the nascent Muslim community. We talk about the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali and...
Male Revolt
August 10, 2018 20:45 - 30 minutes - 42.3 MBIn the last episode of season 3 we look at the Male Revolt and dig deeper into the history of Islam in South America. We look at the slave trade to Brazil and the formation of Muslim communities. We examine the unique rituals and authority African Muslims were able to forge and how they secretly...
Islam and America
August 02, 2018 21:04 - 49 minutes - 68.1 MBFrom colonial America to 20th century, Islam has a long history in the United States. We start with the transatlantic slave trade and tracing some of the demographics that made up the colonial US. We examine material evidence, paintings, and written sources to uncover the lives of African Muslims living the United States. We talk...
Special: Islam and China
July 26, 2018 21:20 - 39 minutes - 54.4 MBIn light of the ongoing crackdowns in Xinjiang, this special episode explores the history of Islam in China. Pushing back against some of the narratives that imagine Islam as a foreign threat, we look at the premodern history of Islam and how it arrived in China. We talk about the early connections between the Rashidun...
Malay and Javanese Islam
July 21, 2018 16:59 - 41 minutes - 56.9 MBContinuing from last week’s episode on Islam in Southeast Asia, in this podcast we take a closer look at the melding of Islam and folk religion in Javanese and Malay practices. We start with the story of famed Sufi saints like Sheikh Siti Jenar then examine the slametan feast as a ceremony that fuses Islam...
Islam and Southeast Asia
July 13, 2018 19:23 - 35 minutes - 49.1 MBHeading East from our last episode this podcast examines the entrance of Islam into Southeast Asia. Following the naval trade of the Indian Ocean we trace Islam to the port cities of Java, Sumatra, and the islands of Indonesia and Malaysia. We discuss the rise of the Malacca Sultanate and travel to Samudera Pasai as...
Al Khidr
July 05, 2018 21:12 - 29 minutes - 40 MBWho is Al Khidr and what can he tell us about Islam? In this episode we examine the enigmatic figure of Al Khidr, recording his appearance in the Qur’an, the Hadith, and Al Tabari’s Tarikh. We explore his connections to other figures in world religions through a study of his name and his associations. We study...
Islam and Europe
June 29, 2018 00:37 - 35 minutes - 48.9 MBConcluding our mini series within the season on Islam and the Maghrib this episode looks at the history of Islam and Europe’s relationship. Arguing that while Islam and Europe imagine one another as oppositional civilization identities, the history reveals a much more entangled and intertwined reality. We talk about the diplalomatic alliances between Christian Kings...
Special: AP World History Controversy
June 14, 2018 20:11 - 36 minutes - 50.1 MBIn a break with our regularly scheduled podcast, this Head on History Special peaks behind the curtain of professional history to covers the latest controversy with AP World History. Starting with a brief coverage of the news that College Board will restructured AP World History to only cover and test history post-1450, we dive into...
Maghreb and Islam in Africa
June 07, 2018 21:43 - 39 minutes - 54.8 MBIslam expanded first into Africa before anywhere else. In this episode we trace the history of Islam in Africa. Starting with the hijra to Axum/Aksum by the early Muslim community, we trace the political conquests of the Rashidun and the Umayyad. We examine the importance of trade routes to the bringing of wealth, books, and...
Al Andalus and Islamic Spain
May 31, 2018 21:30 - 1 hour - 82.9 MBWhat is Al Andalus and the history of Islam in the Iberian Peninsula? Join us as we take a closer look at the Muslim expansions into Portugal and Spain. In part one of two of discussing Islam in the Maghreb, we examine the Berber and Moorish influences on art, architecture, culture, cuisine, and even music. After...
History of Ramadan
May 17, 2018 15:52 - 43 minutes - 60.2 MBWith the arrival of Ramadan, faithful Muslims around the world partake in fasting and prayer. In this episode of Head on History we discuss the origins of the practice. We start with the Qur’anic and theological explanation for Ramadan and then work towards historicizing the practice within the context of the Hijra and the religious...
Special: Iran Deal
May 10, 2018 13:24 - 43 minutes - 60.1 MBIn our special episode of Head on History we examine the history of US-Iran relations. In light of the increased tension on the Golan Heights and Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran Deal we look at the historical context. We examine the source of the hostility and mistrust between the two nations, going back...
Islam and Afghanistan
May 04, 2018 14:24 - 43 minutes - 59.3 MBWe are back for Season 3, called “Other Islams.” Ten episodes dedicated to the history of Islam at the margins and the stuff they don’t teach you in school. In our first episode we explore how Islam arrived to Afghanistan and how the borders of the Islamic world provide a unique snapshot into the process...
Al Ghazali and Ibn Taymiyyah
January 25, 2018 20:13 - 51 minutes - 70.7 MBIn our last episode of the season we wrap up the intellectual history of Islam by examining how the orthodoxies that we discussed in the previous episode were popularized. We talk about the emerging class of legal scholars called the ulema, the madhabs of Hanafi, Maliki, Shaif, and Hanbali and their main differences, and how...
History of Shia Orthodoxy and Sufism
January 18, 2018 21:47 - 42 minutes - 58.9 MBIn this episode we discuss the formation of Shia orthodoxy. Picking up from our earlier episode on early Shi’ism we explore how the experience of persecution under the Umayyads and Abbasid shaped Shia thought and doctrine. We discuss the Muhammad al Baqir and Jaffar as Sadiq and their contributions to the theological principles of Shi’ism....
History of Islamic Theology
January 12, 2018 19:57 - 43 minutes - 59.9 MBThis episode we trace the emergence of orthodoxy in Islamic thought. Starting with the debates about predestination and the nature of the Qu’ran we mark the development of Islamic theology from the writings of Hasan i Basri and the Qadarites or Qadiriyyah to the formation of the ahl al-Hadith and Mutazila movements. We discuss the...
Special: Iran, Ayatollahs, and Protest
January 04, 2018 13:56 - 1 hour - 85.7 MBIn an exciting special episode we talk about the history behind the current Iran protests. Starting with the formation of Iran from the Safavid era we chart the introduction of Shia Islam to the region, the project of conversion, the the social structure shaped by the relationship between religious clergy and the government. We examine...
Head On History Special: Muslims and Christmas
December 29, 2017 15:56 - 31 minutes - 42.7 MBIn a holiday Head on History Special, we come to you with a fun episode on the history of Muslims and Christmas. In light of both the fictitious “war on Christmas” and the ongoing debate in Muslim social media about whether Muslims can or should celebrate Christmas, this episode traces the history of shared holidays...
History of Shia Islam
December 21, 2017 19:45 - 42 minutes - 57.8 MBThis episode traces the early developments of Shi’ism. In it we discuss the original schism of authority, how the Shiatul Ali form and the compromise that is reached by the community. We talk about how the divisions between the different tribes reflect the alignments of Pre-Islamic Arabia. We explore the developing relationship of the Shia...
History of Sunnism
December 15, 2017 17:10 - 38 minutes - 53.4 MBWhat is Sunni Islam? In this episode we trace the origins of one of the largest denominations of Islam. We look to the period after the death of Muhammad and how the disagreement between Muslims on the issue of authority set in motion a process that would eventually lead to Sunni Islam. We discuss the...
Special: Jerusalem
December 07, 2017 15:12 - 47 minutes - 65.4 MBA special podcast to contextualize the breaking news of Donald Trump recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moving the US embassy. In this episode we discuss the history of Jerusalem from Biblical times until modern. We talk about how the city came to be perceived as holy and sacred in the minds of...
The Historical Muhammad
November 30, 2017 22:20 - 58 minutes - 81 MBWho is Muhammad? Did he even exist? In this podcast, we try to uncover the historical Muhammad. We start with the major debates and controversies among historians. Then we move to looking at the difference sources and evidence for the existence of Muhammad and what it tells us about his life. We look at Muslim...
History of the Qur’an
November 23, 2017 13:07 - 53 minutes - 73.3 MBThe holy book of Islam is the Qur’an but its history remains shrouded in mystery. What are the historical origins of the book and how did it develop. In this podcast we present the major theories about the origins of the Qur’an, from those that attribute it to Muhammad, to those that argue for a...
History of the Hijab
November 16, 2017 21:03 - 55 minutes - 75.9 MBIn this episode we trace the history of the hijab and religious garb. We start by examining the Qur’an on the subject, historicizing the verses and providing context. We then look at the broader tradition of veiling and headscarves in the near east in Late Antiquity. Tracing the tradition from Jewish, Christian, Byzantine, and Persian...
History of Jihad pt 2
November 09, 2017 21:16 - 56 minutes - 77.2 MBAfter summarizing the history in part 1, this episode focuses on how the concept of jihad was transformed in the modern world. We examine the major thinkers of the time period and how they defined jihad according to their historical experiences. We discuss Emir Abdulkadir in Algeria and his use of jihad against the French...
History of Jihad
November 02, 2017 12:38 - 39 minutes - 53.9 MBWe’re back for season 2 of Head on History and diving into the deep end. Building on the chronology established in last season, we are going to focus now on important themes in Islam and how they’ve been shaped by history. In our first episode trace the history of the concept of “jihad” in the...
Special: Charlottesville, Race, and Nazi America
August 17, 2017 19:17 - 34 minutes - 47.9 MBIn this Head On History Special we move away from our season outline and discuss the current events of Charlottesville, Virgina. We use history to help explain how we got to this moment with Nazi’s and white supremacist marching in the streets. In this podcast we talk about the historical connection between America’s race project...
Wahhabism, Modernism, & Political Islam
August 11, 2017 01:09 - 55 minutes - 76 MBIn our final episode of the season we talk about how Islam is shaped by the decline of the gunpowder empires and the coming of European colonialism. We talk about the rise of Wahhabism and its historical context, the emergence of pan-Islamism, Islamic modernism, and fundamentalism. We talk about the genealogy of these movements in...
The Mughals and Indo-Persian Islam
August 03, 2017 17:49 - 40 minutes - 55.3 MBIn our penultimate episode we discuss the Indo-Persian world and the establishment of the Mughal Dynasty. We talk about the particular expression of Islam that flourishes in South Asia and how it is shaped by the religions of the region. We explore the ecstatic or “drunken” Sufism of poetry and music, with special attention payed...
Popular Sufism, Ottomans, and Safavids
July 27, 2017 15:59 - 41 minutes - 56.8 MBIn this episode we explore how Muslims experience the fall of the Caliphate and how in turn Islam is shaped by the historical circumstances. Building upon the scholarly Islam developed by the Seljuks, we talk about the fusion of internal spirituality in the form of Sufism with orthodox Sunni Islam in the figure of al...
Crusades, Jihad, & End of the Caliphate
July 20, 2017 10:50 - 46 minutes - 64.4 MBThis episode focuses on the way Islam was shaped by the experience of the crusades. We talk about the historical development of the concept of “jihad” and how it was defined over time. Providing a brief overview of the major events of the first and second crusades, we talk about the politicization of jihad in...
Shariah, Orthodoxy, & Cultural Islam
July 13, 2017 18:59 - 42 minutes - 58.6 MBLike all religions, Islam took several hundred years to develop its orthodoxy. This episode is dedicated to the history behind how sharia and orthodoxy developed in Islam. We discuss the historical circumstances from the political aspiration of the Abbasids to redefine the caliphate along a divine monarchy lines to the intellectual debates between the Mutazili...