Matthew Melvin-Koushki on Islam, ‘the West’, and Western Esotericism

Matthew Melvin-Koushki, a Professor of Islamic History at the University of South Carolina, returns to discuss the vital interconnections between Islam and the West. He argues for a more inclusive historical framework that embraces Islamic contributions to Western esotericism, challenging Eurocentric narratives. The conversation explores significant historical upheavals, the cultural richness of the Islamic Golden Age, and innovations like Idrisi's landmark map, all of which reveal a complex, intertwined heritage that reshapes our understanding of history.