My ancestor Moses Montefiore, a British magnate, knew everyone from sultans to tsars in the Victorian era. In the 1820s, he befriended Muhammad Ali, Turco-Albanian ruler of Egypt. Nowadays, I admire how Moses coped with anti-Semitism. Attending a royal dinner, a bigot denounced him: ‘I just visited Japan which I loved because Japan has no Jews and no pigs!’ ‘Then you and I should go to Japan together,’ answered Montefiore. ‘So they have one of each.’ ✍️ Simon Sebag Montefiore Article | | @simonmontefiore

Author Simon Sebag Montefiore explains why Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution was one of history's genuinely defining moments, and why the West is both afraid and envious of Middle East religious leaders. Watch in full | | @michaelgove | @simonmontefiore

In command of an army second only to that of the United States, what does President Erdogan want for the future of Turkey? Watch the full episode of Quite Right to hear more from Simon Sebag Montefiore | | @michaelgove | @simonmontefiore

'Legacy powers' with nuclear weapons and small armies allied with 'war democracies' who actually understand the stakes. Simon Sebag Montefiore explains the blueprint for the future of European defence. Watch the full episode of Quite Right to hear more from Sebag Montefiore: @michaelgove | @simonmontefiore

On this week's Quite Right podcast: This week, Michael Gove is joined by historian Simon Sebag Montefiore to discuss the rulers, revolutionaries and nation builders who shaped one of the world's most turbulent regions. From Ibn Saud's dramatic conquest of Riyadh and Atatürk's creation of modern Turkey to Ben-Gurion, Reza Shah and Nasser, Simon explores the extraordinary personalities who built states from the ruins of empire. What made these leaders so successful – and why did so many of their projects end in dictatorship, war or collapse? Listen | | @michaelgove