Ibn Fadlan's Journey To Russia
" Exceptional"- --Today's BookThis is the first complete English translation of one of the great documents of world history--Ibn Fadlan's account of his journey to Baghdad to the King of the Bulghars of the middle Volga (921CE). This historical as well as ethnological document contains observations uncharacteristically devoid of flattery and exaggerations. As such, it represents the earliest notice of the customs and beliefs of the so-called "Rus" people. Invaluable commentaries by translator Frye (emer., Harvard), a distinguished specialist in the history of the peoples of Middle East and Central Asia, accompanies the original text. Frye's background enables him to correctly interpret the passages referring to the Rus as covering a mixture of Slavs and Vikings preoccupied in mutually gainful trade. Another benefit to having both original text and commentaries are the eyewitness examples of certain ways of life of the ancestors of other people of Russia, such as the Bulghars (modern Tatars) and Alans (modern Ossetians), as well as the historical Khazars. Especially significant are the descriptions of burial customs, which help specialists to draw reliable ethnological parallels. The reconstruction of historical trading connections is another attraction of this edition. Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. --Review in Choice magazine