The Rustamid Dynasty survived for ~150 years as a landlocked desert empire centered in modern Algeria with a solid emphasis on trading, irrigation, and innovation. Largely credited as the reason for the spread and promulgation of Islam throughout Northern Africa, this dynasty emphasized intellectual curiosity and trade routes spanning Spain to China. Thank you Leah Shedrow for sharing your research on this empire and your global experiences in Southern Spain that connected you to North African architecture and culture.