James McDougall

In this enlightening conversation, James McDougall, a Professor at Oxford and author of Worlds of Islam: A Global History, explores the interwoven histories of Islam and the West. He challenges the myth of Islamic resistance to modernity, emphasizing how Islamic empires shaped global dynamics. McDougall discusses the implications of the Mongol sack of Baghdad, the role of Central Asia in Islamic history, and how Muslim thinkers redefined civilization concepts. He calls for a nuanced understanding of modernity as a shared global experience rather than a Western-dominated narrative.

James McDougall, historian and author of Worlds of Islam, traces Islam’s long transformations worldwide. He explores its diverse histories, early rapid expansion, gradual conversions, and administrative innovations from Baghdad to Southeast Asia. The conversation highlights shifting centers of power, encounters with empires and nomads, and Islam’s global adaptability across centuries.