Queens, Poets and Paymasters – The Women of the Ancient and Medieval Persianate World
with Shabnam Nasimi
From the archives of Persepolis to the courts of the Sasanian and Timurid empires, this lecture reveals the rulers, poets, patrons and paymasters whose lives shaped the Persianate world – and challenges the idea that women’s authority in the region is a modern invention.
About the speaker:
Shabnam Nasimi is a writer, journalist and storyteller exploring history, culture, and politics of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
This project has been supported by the British Institute of Persian Studies.
The Annual General Meeting of the Steppe Sisters will take place the following day on Saturday 14th of November 2026 at 9am. This will be followed by a workshop titled ‘Surveying the field: ECR women in human sciences in Central Asia and neighbouring regions’ from 10am-1pm. The Annual General Meeting and the workshop will take place at the Department of Archaeology, Durham University (D210, Dawson Building). For in-person attendance, please email k.a.hopper@durham.ac.uk. Registration for online attendance can be found here.