How can we use objects to understand Islamic history?
Designed to accompany the book, Encounters: Medieval Islamic History in 50 Objects(Routledge, 2025), these podcasts on this site introduce the diverse objects – everything from coins to buildings – discussed in the book. They show how we can gain historical insights through close attention to the materials, decoration, inscriptions, and signs of use. Each podcast is presented by the author of the chapter in which the object appears.
The Qutb Mosque in Delhi
Why was spolia used in the architecture of the Qutb Mosque? This talk examines the first congregational mosque of Delhi to find what its range of use of spolia tells us about the Ghurid attitude towards Indian art, culture, and people. Figure 1. Delhi, Qutb Mosque,...
A Rock-Cut Panel from the Viar
Was Viar a Buddhist temple or an Islamic monument? This talk explores how dragon reliefs and Islamic motifs at the unfinished Dash Kasan complex reveal the eclectic religious and artistic climate of the Ilkhanate. Figure 1. Rock-cut panel on the western façade with a...
A Talismanic Shirt
How did the Muslim elite utilise the Qurʾan as protection in life and death in the early modern world? This talk examines an example of a type of shirt that was made for the protection of its elite wearers in the early modern Islamic world. Figure 1. Talismanic shirt,...
An Iranian Gold Seal Ring
Can jewellery shape more than just its owners’ fashion and taste? This talk examines the social and historical significance of jewellery, specifically seal rings, in Medieval Iran. From dazzling possessions to protective talismans, rings travelled across the globe...
Emin Minaret in Turfan, China
Why is the tallest minaret in China more than just a tower? Discover how the Emin Minaret in Turfan reveals centuries of Silk Road culture, religion, and architecture.Figure 1. Emin Minaret and Mosque, Turfan (Turpan), the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China....