BBC History UK 04.2020

ENCOUNTERS

DIARY

CTVC–OLIVER

ROSE/FASHION

MUSEUM

BATH/PETER

J^

STONE/GETTY

IMAGES

LISTEN

Power and influence

When Qasem Soleimani was killed by an

American drone strike in January, there was a

fear Iran would lash out in retaliation at the

assassination of such a senior military-political

figure. Instead, the Iranian government used

the attack, near Baghdad International Airport,

as an opportunity to build support for the idea

of evicting American troops stationed in Iraq.

As Owen Bennett-Jones explores in a

documentary tracing the story of the interplay

between Baghdad, Tehran and Washington in

the wake of the Iran-Iraq War (1980–88), it’s

not the first time the Iranians have surprised

the Americans.

Events in 2003 are central to the story. While

George Bush Jr saw the Iraq invasion as a way

to create a democratic state in the Middle East

and check Iranian power, the US underestimat-

ed Iran’s ability to resist via proxy militias.

One result is that, ironically enough, Iran –

greatly thanks to the machinations of Soleimani

• now enjoys more influence than ever in Iraq.

How Iran Outwitted the West

BBC Radio 4 / Scheduled for 14 April

LISTEN

Islam and capitalism

The 2008 banking crisis revealed weaknesses

in the global finance system. Could Islamic

thinking help us out? It’s an idea explored by

Kamal Ahmed, the BBC’s former economics

editor, in a programme that charts the influence

of Islamic thought within business and finance.

This proves to be deeper than many in the

west might imagine. The Prophet Mohammed,

Ahmed reminds us, was a successful mer-

chant. From a later era, it was the work of

Islamic scholar Ibn Khaldun (1332–1406) rather

than Adam Smith [pictured]

that influential US econo-

mist Arthur Laffer drew

on when he argued for

lower taxes during the

Reagan era.

Mohammed

and the Market

BBC Radio 4 / Scheduled for 7 April

A mourner in Tehran holds pictures

of Qasem Soleimani and Iranian

leader Ali Khamenei at a funeral for

victims of an Isis attack in 2017

WATCH

A walk of faith

The Sultan’s Trail is named for Suleiman the

Magnificent, who led his forces into Europe

before being checked at the siege of Vienna in

1529. Today, a route taken by Ottoman invaders
      has been recast as a path of peace, where
      people of all faiths and cultures can meet.
      The third series of Pilgrimage finds seven
      celebrities – Adrian Chiles, Edwina Currie,
      Fatima Whitbread, Mim Shaikh, Amar Latif,
      Dom Joly and Pauline Mclynn – walking a
      section of the trail. Starting at Belgrade, and
      heading for Istanbul‘s Suleymaniye Mosque,
      they travel through Bulgaria and the mountain-
      ous Balkans, while bedding down in shared
      dorms en route. Will the journey change how
      they think about themselves and their beliefs?

Pilgrimage: The Road to Istanbul

BBC Two / Scheduled for 27 March

VISIT

Step back in time

With more than 3,000 pairs of shoes,

Bath’s Fashion Museum is a haven for

any footwear fanatic. From a pair of

iron-soled overshoes of the kind

described in Jane Austen’s Persua-

sion, to heels designed by Jimmy

Choo, it’s home to a particularly

diverse array of treasures.

From March, visitors can view

these and other highlights from the

shoe collections, displayed side-by-

side with garments in the museum’s

permanent exhibition, A History of

Fashion in 100 Objects.

Shoephoria!

Fashion Museum, Bath / 28 March 2020 – 31 March

2021 / fashionmuseum.co.uk/events/shoephoria

WEEKLY TV & RADIO

Visit historyextra.com for weekly

updates on upcoming TV and

radio programmes

Seven famous faces tread a historic path to Istanbul

More than 100 pairs of shoes will be displayed,

half of which have never been on show before

ENCOUNTERS

DIARY

CTVC–OLIVER

ROSE/FASHION

MUSEUM

BATH/PETER

JSTONE/GETTY

IMAGES

LISTEN

Powerandinfluence

WhenQasemSoleimaniwaskilledbyan

Americandronestrikein January,therewasa

fearIranwouldlashoutin retaliationat the

assassinationof sucha seniormilitary-political

figure.Instead,the Iraniangovernmentused

the attack,near BaghdadInternationalAirport,

asanopportunityto buildsupportfortheidea

of evictingAmericantroopsstationedin Iraq.

AsOwenBennett-Jonesexploresin a

documentarytracingthe story of the interplay

betweenBaghdad,Tehranand Washingtonin

the wake of the Iran-IraqWar (1980–88),it’s

not the first time the Iranians have surprised

theAmericans.

Eventsin 2003 are centralto the story. While

GeorgeBush Jr saw the Iraq invasionas a way

to createa democraticstatein theMiddleEast

andcheckIranianpower,theUSunderestimat-

edIran’s ability to resist via proxy militias.

One result is that, ironicallyenough,Iran –

greatlythanksto the machinationsof Soleimani

• now enjoys more influence than ever in Iraq.

HowIranOutwittedtheWest

BBC Radio 4 / Scheduled for 14 April

LISTEN

Islam and capitalism

The 2008 bankingcrisis revealedweaknesses

in the global financesystem.Could Islamic

thinkinghelp us out? It’s an idea exploredby

Kamal Ahmed,the BBC’s formereconomics

editor, in a programmethat charts the influence

of Islamicthoughtwithin businessand finance.

This provesto be deeperthan many in the

west might imagine.The ProphetMohammed,

Ahmedremindsus,wasa successfulmer-

chant.From a later era, it was the work of

IslamicscholarIbn Khaldun(1332–1406) rather

thanAdamSmith[pictured]

that influentialUS econo-

mistArthurLaffer drew

on when he arguedfor

lower taxes during the

Reagan era.

Mohammed

andtheMarket

BBC Radio 4 / Scheduled for 7 April

A mournerin Tehranholdspictures

of QasemSoleimaniandIranian

leaderAliKhameneiat a funeralfor

victims of an Isis attack in 2017

WATCH

Awalkoffaith

The Sultan’sTrail is namedfor Suleimanthe

Magnificent,who led his forces into Europe

beforebeing checkedat the siege of Viennain

1529. Today,a route taken by Ottomaninvaders
      hasbeenrecastasa pathof peace,where
      peopleof all faiths and culturescan meet.
      ThethirdseriesofPilgrimagefinds seven
      celebrities– AdrianChiles,EdwinaCurrie,
      FatimaWhitbread,MimShaikh,AmarLatif,
      Dom Joly and PaulineMclynn– walkinga
      sectionof the trail. Startingat Belgrade,and
      headingfor Istanbul‘sSuleymaniyeMosque,
      they travel throughBulgariaand the mountain-
      ousBalkans,while beddingdown in shared
      dormsen route. Will the journeychangehow
      they think about themselves and their beliefs?

Pilgrimage:TheRoadto Istanbul

BBC Two / Scheduled for 27 March

VISIT

Stepbackintime

With more than 3,000 pairs of shoes,

Bath’sFashionMuseumis a havenfor

any footwearfanatic.From a pair of

iron-soledovershoesof the kind

describedin Jane Austen’sPersua-

sion,to heels designedby Jimmy

Choo, it’s home to aparticularly

diversearray of treasures.

FromMarch,visitorscan view

these and otherhighlightsfrom the

shoe collections,displayedside-by-

sidewith garmentsin themuseum’s

permanentexhibition,A History of

Fashion in 100 Objects.

Shoephoria!

FashionMuseum,Bath/ 28 March 2020 – 31 March

2021 /fashionmuseum.co.uk/events/shoephoria

WEEKLYTV& RADIO

Visithistoryextra.comforweekly

updatesonupcomingTV and

radio programmes

Seven famous faces tread a historic path to Istanbul

Morethan 100 pairsof shoeswillbedisplayed,

half of which have never been on show before