The Silk Road's Bengal Connection: Temples, Pirates, and a Venetian Merchant

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the fascinating intersection of Bengal and the Silk Roads, focusing on the 14th-century travels of Venetian merchant Niccolò da Conti. After Ibn Battuta's visit, da Conti spent months in the Bengal Sultanate under Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah, documenting its wealth, textiles, and the unique practice of sati. They delve into the architecture of Bagerhat, a UNESCO site founded by saint Khan Jahan Ali, with its 360 mosques and massive water reservoirs. The conversation also covers the piracy of the Arakanese and Portuguese in the Sundarbans, and the lasting Bengal influence on Southeast Asian temple motifs. This episode illuminates Bengal's role in global medieval trade, far beyond the famous overland routes. #NiccolòDaConti #BengalSultanate #SilkRoad #Bagerhat #KhanJahanAli #JalaluddinMuhammadShah #Sati #ShatGombujMosque #Arakanese #PortuguesePirates #Sundarbans #MedievalTrade #BengalTextiles #Muslin #Travelers #FexingoHistory #History #SouthAsia Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo