S2 Ep 10: Islam and the Indian Ocean
For centuries, the Indian Ocean has been a vast crossroads of cultures, goods, and ideas - but what role did Islam play in weaving this intricate web of connections? Arab, Berber, Persian and Indian merchants spread Islam from the seventh century onwards across the vast geographic areas of the Sahara and the Indian Ocean. Muslims in turn fostered diasporas, built architectural marvels, and circulated ideas, from the spice routes of Gujarat to the Swahili coast of Zanzibar. This episode unravels the “longue durée” of Islam’s influence, tracing how faith, trade, and culture transformed global interactions and local identities across continents. Join Walid Ghali and Farouk Topan from the Aga Khan University’s Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, and Daren Ray, from Brigham Young University as we challenge conventional narratives and spotlight the centrality of Muslim cultures in understanding the Indian Ocean’s interconnected past - and its enduring legacy today.