David Chaffetz in his book traces the role of horses in empire building from the Danube to the Yellow River, from their early domestication in pre-history up to a bozkashi match in Kabul in 1973. His view is that, given the constant trading in horses for military or banditry purposes between Iran, Central Asia, […]
This lecture is based on Professor Matthee’s book, Angels Tapping at the Wine-shop’s Door*: A History of Alcohol in the Islamic Middle East. (*from Hafez). The book debunks the myth that, since alcohol is forbidden in Islam, “good” Muslims do not drink. It argues that, rather than extraneous to Islam, alcohol is integral to the […]
The artistic patronage of the second Qajar ruler Fath Ali Shah (r. 1797-1834) is well known. Less studied is his patronage of the major shrines within his lands, in Qom, Mashhad and Iraq. This included the building of new courtyards, the gilding of domes and iwans, and the gifting of doors inlaid with rubies and […]
