The Islamic Golden Age

The Establishment of the Islamic State

Professor Hugh Kennedy explains how the Islamic state was established.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Ali ibn Abi Talib

Professor Robert Gleave discusses Ali ibn Abi Talib and the origins of Shia Islam.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Imam Bukhari

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi gives her personal take on Persian scholar Imam Bukhari.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Paper

Jonathan Bloom explains how Islamic scholars and thinkers became early adopters of paper.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Harun al-Rashid

Julia Bray explores the figure of Harun al-Rashid from the Thousand and One Night tales.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Rabia Balkhi and Mahsati Ganjavi

Narguess Farzad of SOAS discusses Persian poetesses Rabia Balkhi and Mahsati Ganjavi.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Al-Khwarizmi

Jim Al-Khalili explores the legacy of mathematician and astronomer al-Khwarizmi.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Al-Kindi

Professor James Montgomery discusses the life and work of Arab philosopher Al-Kindi.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Al-Tabari

Hugh Kennedy discusses the life and times of the great historian of early Islam, al-Tabari

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Al-Farabi

Professor Peter Adamson discusses the great Muslim philosopher Al-Farabi.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Avicenna

Dr Tony Street assesses the great philosopher and physician Avicenna.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Islamic Architecture

Dr Sussan Babaie discusses the architectural glories of the Islamic world.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Al-Biruni

Professor James Montgomery discusses the Islamic scholar Al-Biruni.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Al Hakim

Dr Simonetta Calderini discusses Al Hakim, the controversial Egyptian imam-caliph.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Al-Ghazali

Professor Mona Siddiqui discusses religious thinker and mystic Al-Ghazali.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Ibn Rushd

Professor Charles Burnett considers the philosopher Ibn Rushd.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Cities of Learning

Dr Amira Bennison considers the intellectual powerhouses of Baghdad and Cairo.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Salah al-Din

Historian Jonathan Phillips reassesses the influence of 12th-century hero Saladin.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Episode 19

Narguess Farzad celebrates the much loved 13th-century Persian poet Al-Rumi.

• 15 mins

The Islamic Golden Age

Lubna of Cordoba

Kamila Shamsie discusses Lubna of Cordoba, a female intellectual from the 10th century.

• 15 mins

Commonwealth Questions

Dr Sue Onslow

Exploring the Commonwealth's history. Has it made a difference and does it have a future?

• 15 mins

Commonwealth Questions

Fakir Aijazuddin

Historian Fakir Aijazuddin on Pakistan's chequered relationship with the Commonwealth.

• 15 mins

Commonwealth Questions

Noah Richler

Author Noah Richler asks if Canada still needs ties like the Commonwealth.

• 15 mins

Commonwealth Questions

Farah Ghuznavi

Writer Farah Ghuznavi explains why she no longer sees the Commonwealth as an irrelevance.

• 15 mins

Commonwealth Questions

Tolu Ogunlesi

Poet and author Tolu Ogunlesi asks if young people in Lagos can relate to the Commonwealth

• 15 mins

Secret Admirers

Sarah Walker on John White

Sarah Walker celebrates English experimentalist composer John White.

• 15 mins

Secret Admirers

Tom Service on Arnold Bax

Radio 3 presenter Tom Service celebrates the music of Scots-inspired composer Arnold Bax.

• 15 mins

Secret Admirers

Lucie Skeaping on Thomas Ravenscroft

Radio 3 presenter Lucie Skeaping celebrates Shakespeare's contemporary Thomas Ravenscroft.

• 15 mins

Secret Admirers

Martin Handley on Malcolm Arnold

Radio 3 presenter Martin Handley celebrates English composer Malcolm Arnold.

• 15 mins

Secret Admirers

Sara Mohr-Pietsch on Hildegard of Bingen

Radio 3 presenter Sara Mohr-Pietsch celebrates 12th-century composer Hildegard of Bingen.

• 15 mins