Al Fusaic Al Fusaic

Known as one of the last Zoroastrian dynasties to exist prior to the Islamic Iranian dynasties, the Qarinvand Dynasty ruled parts of the Tabaristan highlands in today’s northern Iran. Tabaristan was ruled by the Dabuyid Dynasty through Dabuyid Ispahbads. As one of two Dabuyid vassal kingdoms, the other being Bavand, the Qarinvand Dynasty ruled from the 550s until the 11th-century, persisting even after the Abbasids defeated the Dabuyid ruler and annexed Tabaristan. Little is known about Tabaristan’s history under the Dabuyid Ispahbads, especially the Qarinvand Dynasty. Nevertheless, its history can be understood through linked dynasties including the Bavand, Abbasid, and Dabuyid dynasties. Thank you to Courtney Blankenship for this article.

The Dabuyid Dynasty, otherwise known as the Gaubarid Dynasty, was an Iranian Zoroastrian Dynasty ruled by a group of independent kings, called Ispahbads. Most of what is known about the Dabuyid Dynasty is from the later historian Ibn Isfandiyar’s Tarikh-I Tabaristan, written in the 13th Century. Although the dynasty was founded by Gil Gavbara in 642 CE, it was named after his son, Dabuya, who controlled the kingdom after his father’s death. Dabuyid rule extended over Tabaristan and western Khorasan until the Abbasid conquest in 760. The dynasty ended with the suicide of Khurshid after a surprise invasion by the Abbasid Caliphate. Thank you to Amineh Najam-ud-din for this article.

In this podcast episode, Amer from Real Arabic translates and discusses the first half of the article: The Impact of the Russia/Ukraine Conflict on MENA Countries. This recording is also cross-posted to the Real Arabic Podcast’s website. 

The emergence of the Funj Sultanate completely altered the existing power dynamics between the Ottoman Empire and Ethiopia in the 16th-18th centuries. The Funj established their capital city at Sinnar, a port along the banks of the Blue Nile in what is now northeastern Sudan, where they maintained tight control over a flourishing trade of gold and slaves. Under Funj's rule, Islam spread and it is still the dominant religion in modern-day Sudan. For nearly 300 years, the Funj presence in the region frustrated Ottoman attempts at southern expansion until they succumbed to an invasion led by Egypt’s viceroy, Muhammad Ali. Thank you to Andy Mendez for this article.

In this podcast episode, Amer from Real Arabic translates and discusses the first half of the article: The Impact of the Russia/Ukraine Conflict on MENA Countries. This recording is also cross-posted to the Real Arabic Podcast’s website. 

From the 9th to 11th century, a Shiite denomination known as the Qarmatian civilization prospered in areas known today as Iraq, Yemen, and Bahrain. The civilization was named after Hamdan Qarmat, their leader in the late 9th century. The Qarmatian civilization is known for its excellent social management and egalitarian society, which attracted those considered “low-class” members of society such as farmers and craftsmen. The Qarmatian empire is also remembered for the abduction of the sacred Black Stone, which they kept for 23 years. The Qarmatians played a major role in history through the development of their profound vision for a social utopia. Thank you to Elaine Haddox for this article.