96. Pre-Islamic Arabia, with Valentina Grasso

A conversation with Valentina Grasso on Arabia before Islam. This used to be known primarily from preserved Arabic poetry, but the picture is now filling in from inscriptions and contemporary texts. There were competing kingdoms, tribal coalitions, and foreign empires with a stake in trade routes. There were pagans, Jews, and Christians, as well as generic or “cautious” monotheists. The cultural background of the Quran has never been known in such richness and complexity.
Valentina A. Grasso is an Assistant Professor of Medieval History at Bard College. The conversation is based on Valentina’s recent book, Pre-Islamic Arabia: Societies, Politics, Cults, and Identities during Late Antiquity (Cambridge University Press, 2023).
Byzantium & Friends is hosted by Anthony Kaldellis, a Professor at the University of Chicago.
Medievalists.net: Where the Middle Ages Begins - visit our site at www.medievalists.net/
You can also find us on
Facebook: / medievalists.net
Twitter: / medievalists
Instagram: / medievalistsnet
Tumblr: www.tumblr.com/medievalistsnet
You can also support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon: / medievalists

[@LouveAsterion]

great work as always!

[@hoppenbrauer17]

A lot of interesting information. It is a pity that it is at times difficult to understand the words spoken.