On November 22, 2024, The Walker Institute hosted Professor Emeritus of Middle Eastern History Richard Bulliet, from Columbia University. This event, titled A Conversation with Richard W. Bulliet, focused on a discussion of global history, technological history, and religion in the Middle East and Islamic World.

Dr. Bulliet began the discussion by talking about the prominent use of animals for working purposes in the Middle East during the early post-Islamic period. Notably, the caravan that utilized the camel as a mode of transporting people and goods was popularized and helped connect people all the way from Morocco to Mongolia. Overland transportation was a competitor to maritime transportation at the time because it was less expensive and generally safer. Islamic society became quickly influenced by the use of caravans as transportation. By the 1400s, virtually all caravan traders were Muslim, whereas historically they were Muslim in addition to Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian, etc. Caravan trade also helped share languages and cultures, and Persian became the ‘lingua caravana’. 

Through the discussion, the faculty and students that attended were able to interact with, and pose questions relating to the material being discussed. They were presented with a unique opportunity to interact with an expert in the field, and we are thankful to have hosted Dr. Bulliet in the Walker Institute’s first Islamic World Studies event in over a year!