Ibn Fadlan and the Land of Darkness: Arab Travellers in the Far North (Penguin Classics)

**A fascinating collection of medieval Arabic travel writing in an important new translation**Between the ninth and fourteenth centuries, Arab explorers journeyed widely and frequently into the far north, crossing territories that now include Russia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. Ibn Fadla-n's chronicles of his travels are one of the most important documents from the period, and this illuminating new translation offers insight into the world of the Arab geographers and the medieval lands of the far north. Based on an expedition to the upper Volga River in 922 AD, __Ibn Fadla-n and the Land of Darkness__ provides a rare and valuable glimpse of Viking customs, dress, table manners, religion, and sexual practices, including the only eyewitness account ever written of a Viking ship cremation.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. A fascinating collection of medieval Arabic travel writing in an important new translation Between the ninth and fourteenth centuries, Arab explorers journeyed widely and frequently into the far north, crossing territories that now include Russia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. Ibn Fadla-n's chronicles of his travels are one of the most important documents from the period, and this illuminating new translation offers insight into the world of the Arab geographers and the medieval lands of the far north. Based on an expedition to the upper Volga River in 922 AD, Ibn Fadla-n and the Land of Darkness provides a rare and valuable glimpse of Viking customs, dress, table manners, religion, and sexual practices, including the only eyewitness account ever written of a Viking ship cremation. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. In 922 Ad, An Arab Envoy From Baghdad Named Ibn Fadlan Encountered A Party Of Viking Traders On The Upper Reaches Of The Volga River. In His Subsequent Report On His Mission He Gave A Meticulous And Astonishingly Objective Description Of Viking Customs, Dress, Table Manners, Religion And Sexual Practices, As Well As The Only Eyewitness Account Ever Written Of A Viking Ship Cremation. Between The Ninth And Fourteenth Centuries, Arab Travellers Such As Ibn Faḍlān Journeyed Widely And Frequently Into The Far North, Crossing Territories That Now Include Russia, Uzbekistan And Kazakhstan. Their Fascinating Accounts Describe How The Numerous Tribes And Peoples They Encountered Traded Furs, Paid Tribute And Waged Wars. This Accessible New Translation Offers An Illuminating Insight Into The World Of The Arab Geographers, And The Medieval Lands Of The Far North-- Ibn Fadlan ; Translated With An Introduction By Paul Lunde And Caroline Stone. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [214]-221) Translated From The Arabic Into English; Glossary In Arabic With English Translations. "In 922 AD, an Arab envoy from Baghdad named Ibn Fadlan encountered a party of Viking traders on the upper reaches of the Volga River. In his subsequent report on his mission he gave a meticulous and astonishingly objective description of Viking customs, dress, table manners, religion and sexual practices, as well as the only eyewitness account ever written of a Viking ship cremation. Between the ninth and fourteenth centuries, Arab travellers such as Ibn Fadlan journeyed widely and frequently into the far north, crossing territories that now include Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Their fascinating accounts describe how the numerous tribes and peoples they encountered traded furs, paid tribute and waged wars. This accessible new translation offers an illuminating insight into the world of the Arab geographers, and the medieval lands of the far north."--Publisher's website Between the 9th and 14th centuries, Arab travellers such as Ibn Fadlan journeyed widely and frequently into the far north, crossing territories that now include Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. This translation offers an illuminating insight into the world of the Arab geographers, and the medieval lands of the far north