13-The Great Caliph

The peak of Golden Age power and achievement came in the reign of the seventh Abbasid caliph, al-Ma'mun, who sponsored the arts and sciences, debated the great intellectuals of the day, considered himself the ultimate religious authority and the defender of the faith, while he also aimed to reunite the Sunni and Shi'a.  Although al-Ma'mun would only achieve some of his dreams, his rule set the pattern for Sunni Islam for centuries, but also carried the seeds of decline and eventual collapse.  In this episode, we examine one of the greatest, and most controversial caliphs.