The Radhanites: Jewish Merchants of the Silk Road

Long before the Geniza and the Khazars, a network of Jewish merchants known as the Radhanites connected Europe, Africa, and Asia. Drawing on medieval sources like Ibn Khordadbeh's Book of Roads and Kingdoms, this episode traces their four main trade routes—from the Rhône to the Indus, from the Caspian to the Great Wall. Lucas and Luna explore how these multilingual entrepreneurs carried swords, silks, slaves, and spices while weaving a web of letters and credit that foreshadowed modern global finance. The Radhanites operated from the Carolingian era to the dawn of the Mongol Empire, and their disappearance raises fascinating questions about how religious networks adapt when trade shifts. Specific stops include the Volga route to the Khazars, the Mediterranean ports of al-Mahdia and Palermo, and the land routes through Baghdad. Listeners also learn about the mysterious origins of the name 'Radhanites' and why some scholars link them to the Rhineland valley of the same name. #Radhanites #IbnKhordadbeh #JewishMerchants #SilkRoad #MedievalTrade #Carolingian #AbbasidCaliphate #Khazars #VolgaRoute #CairoGeniza #MediterraneanTrade #Baghdad #Palermo #AlMahdia #IndusValley #GlobalTrade #History #FexingoHistory #HanDynasty #RomanEmpire Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo