So You Think You Can Rule Persia

The tyrant is dead and now we have a man in charge who thinks that rulers should be held accountable for their actions. How will the caliphate react to a new regime and is more turmoil soon to follow?    Find Alexandria: A Hellenistic Age Podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/033pLdpkNR5saAWRfqrH0R You can find all the images on our website! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/2026...

The caliphate is in crisis: rebellions wrack the provinces and the eternal expansion has ceased. Who better to deal with this than an entitled manchild? Join us for rude poems, wine drinking, and all the symptoms of decline. You can find all the images on our website! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/2026/06/21/104-al-walid-ii/ Here's the link to our Patreon! www.patreon.com/soyout...

We've resisted reform for decades, and now the whole caliphate is on fire: the empire is contracting from al-Andalus to Khorasan with threats both internal and external. Will Hisham be able to hold it together, or is this the end for the Umayyads? You can find all the images on our website! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/2026/06/14/103-hisham-ibn-abd-al-malik/ Here's the link to...

Yazid II was deemed to be an insufficient successor to Umar, but the succession happened before anyone could change things. Will Yazid beat expectations and make the caliphate prosper, or will he follow in the footsteps of his namesake? You can find all the images on our website! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/2026/05/17/102-yazid-ii/ Here's the link to our Patreon! www.patreon.c...

Umar II is known by many sources as the only good Umayyad, comparable to the Rashidun caliphs themselves, but does he live up to the hype? Join for the end of the siege of Constantinople, a reform of the administration, and a horse kick to the face.   You can find all the images on our website! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/2026/05/10/101-umar-ii/ Here's the link to our Patreon!...

After our 100th ruler, have a peek behind the curtain into our Patreon! We'll tell you about the extra episodes that await you there and, to entice you further, here is the first half of our special episode on Alcibiades.  The most chaotic man of Ancient Athens is ready to hop between every available faction, break the balance of power in the Aegean, and have a good time doing it   Join our Patreo...

Find Kingdom Podcast at https://aflatpackhistoryofsweden.com/ You can find all the images on our website! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/2026/04/19/100-sulayman-ibn-abd-al-malik/ Here's the link to our Patreon! www.patreon.com/soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia Our new merch store is here! https://sythycarp-store.printify.me/  

The caliphate is at peace and has only to rise and grasp its destiny. Al-Walid will oversee the greatest expansion since the caliphate's founding, leading us to Transoxiana, Sindh, and al-Andalus.   You can find all the images on our website! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/2026/03/22/99-al-walid-i/ Here's the link to our Patreon! www.patreon.com/soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia Our new...

A new Marwanid Umayyad caliphate has risen from impossible odds and now needs stable foundations that it may flourish. Abd al-Malik will rise out of civil war with the powers of friendship, administration, and incredible violence.   Find History of Venice Podcast at https://histvenicepod.podbean.com/ You can find all the images on our website! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/2026/...

Our latest release is a statement we have prepared about the ongoing attack on Iran by the United States and Israel. We appreciate your attention

The Sufyanid Umayyad caliphate has fallen and ibn al-Zubayr will do his best to reshape its ashes into something more in line with the ideals of the Rashidun Caliphs. But as they fell into hardship, will he be drawn towards a grisly end?   Find Autocrat Podcast at https://autocratpodcast.wordpress.com/ You can find all the images on our website! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/202...

The second ruler of the Umayyad Caliphate has some mighty big shoes to fill but is he up to the challenge? Tune in for multiple tragedies, an assault on Mecca, and a pet monkey.   You can find all the images on our website! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/2026/02/15/96-yazid-i/ Here's the link to the Intelligent Speech tickets!! https://intelligentspeechonline.com/tickets/ Here's...

Our latest release is a statement we have prepared about the ongoing protests in Iran and their brutal repression. We appreciate your attention The sources of information we recommend are the Human Rights Activists News Agency which can be found in English at https://www.en-hrana.org/; Amnesty International at https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/middle-east/iran/; and...

The Umayyad Caliphate has arrived but how rightly-guided will it be? Mu'awiya is planning to stabilize his new empire and mold it into a fief that can be passed down for generations; however, there are those who would halt this project...   You can find all the images on our website! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/2026/02/01/95-muawiya-i/ Here's the link to the Intelligent Speech...

The caliph Uthman has been murdered, but the caliphate must go on. Enter Ali, closely tied to the Prophet since his youth, he will try his best to avoid the caliphate spiraling out of control, but pleasing everyone is hardly possible...   You can find all the images on our website! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/2026/01/18/94-ali-ibn-abi-talib/ Here's the link to the Intelligent...

We have returned at last with a new world brought about by the final prophet! Join us for an exploration of the Rise of Islam, how the caliphate came to be and expanded so quickly, and the dangerous intersection between ruling an empire and trying to be a good man.   You can find all the images on our website! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/93-uthman-ibn-affan/ Here's...

After many moons, we're back to talk to you about another 1300 years of history! But first, let us remind ourselves of what happened in the previous 92 episodes before we jump into the rise of Islam.   Here's the link to the Intelligent Speech tickets!! https://intelligentspeechonline.com/tickets/ Here's the link to our Patreon! www.patreon.com/soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia Our new merch store is her...

Get your tickets at https://intelligentspeechonline.com/tickets/ Remember to use the promo code RULE for 10% off

A short message about our plans for Season 2 and ways to support the podcast!   Here's the link to our Patreon! www.patreon.com/soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia Our merch store is here! https://sythycarp-store.printify.me/  

It's all come to this, Khosrow II Parviz or Darius I the Great! To help us decide, we are joined by Trevor from the History of Persia and Plumas from Las Plumas de Simurgh who will sponsor their champions. And listen to the end for a special announcement...   You can find the current rounds here! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/final-rounds/ Here's the link to our Patreon! www.pat...

Today there will be two great challenges. First the semifinal between Khosrow II and Antiochus III, quickly followed by the mini-final between the loser and Seleucus I to determine our third and fourth places.   You can find the current rounds here! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/final-rounds/ Here's the link to our Patreon! www.patreon.com/soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia Our new merc...

The group has been narrowed to only four contestants, and today we are facing off Darius I and Seleucus I. Both somewhat founders of empires in a time of turmoil, who will gain an edge over the other? You can find the current rounds here! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/final-rounds/ Here's the link to our Patreon! www.patreon.com/soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia Our new merch store is...

We have made it to the last of our rounds, it's only champions from here on out! Tune in to find out which of these rulers will gain a seat in the semifinals: Seleucus I, Kavad I, Bahram VI, Antiochus III, Musa.   You can find the current rounds here! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/final-rounds/ Here's the link to our Patreon! www.patreon.com/soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia Our new me...

Our first set of champions felled, it's time to make some really difficult decisions. Only two among these greats will survive to see the semifinals: Darius I, Mithridates II, Khosrow I, Shapur I, Khosrow II.   You can find all the images on our website! https://soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/face-of-faces-round/ You can find the current rounds here! https://soyouthinkyoucanru...

Today we're joined by David Chaffetz to discuss his new book Raiders, Rulers, and Traders: The Horse and the Rise of Empires. In it we discuss the relevance of this most important of animals and how it shaped the history of Iran and the world. Links for the book can be found at https://raiders-rulers-and-traders.com/   Here's the link to our Patreon! www.patreon.com/soyouthinkyoucanrulepersia Our...