Oriental Journeys
Guided and inspired by Ibn Battuta’s (d.1369) footsteps, in a series of conversations with international scholars and prominent practitioners, the Oriental Journeys Podcast aims to deliver intriguing, historically accurate, relatable, curiosity-provoking and well-researched episodes that open a portal into the world of the East for people who are curious about the past, contemplate the wonders of cities and hunger for the marvels of travelling.
Podcasting since 2023 • 8 episodes
Oriental Journeys
Latest Episodes
The Arabs: In Search of Identity and Solidarity in the Murky Centuries with Tim Mackintosh-Smith
The Arab world is enormously vast and diverse, in every imaginable way, and yet is deeply rooted in a lineage of shared values. Over three millennia, these evolving values have been transmitted from generation to generation, and traversed te...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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1:13:02
Kohl: A Cultural History of a Distinctive Fine Line with Zahra Hankir
Kohl is a generic term for a cosmetic eyeliner made using naturally-sourced materials, a pulverized powder which darkens the edges of the eyelids. A cosmetic with a long and captivating history, kohl has been widely used by men, women and ch...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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41:28
Hajj Mahmal: The Semiotics of Pilgrimage Carriage with Richard J. A. McGregor
A ‘Mahmal’ was an empty, richly decorated carriage, which was mounted on a camel and journeyed annually from Cairo to accompany the Hajj pilgrim caravan to Mecca. On his journey toward Mecca in year 1326, Ibn Battuta was lucky enough to witn...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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39:00
Mamluks II: The Sultanate of Slaves? With Doris Behrens-Abouseif
Inspired by Ibn Battuta observations from Cairo in the 14th century, in this episode we walk through Cairo at the time of the Mamluks (13th-16th CE) and reach across the ages to touch upon dazzling facets of the city, as well as the sultanat...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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25:59
Mamluks I: The Sultanate of Slaves? With Doris Behrens-Abouseif
Inspired by Ibn Battuta observations from Cairo in the 14th century, in this episode we walk through Cairo at the time of the Mamluks (13th-16th CE) and reach across the ages to touch upon dazzling facets of the city, as well as the sultanat...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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37:29
