title: Ibn Fadlan's Journey to Russia: A Tenth-Century Traveler from Baghad to the Volga River
author: Ahmad Ibn Fadlan
description: " Exceptional"- -- <i>Today's Book</i><br /><br />This 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. -- <i>Review in Choice magazine</i>
zlib_text: # Table of Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The Mahabharata Quest: A Secret Revealed
  
  
  Part 1
  
  
  TWELVE MONTHS AGO
  
  
  CHAPTER 1
  
  
  Muynak, Uzbekistan
  
  
  Van Klueck beamed with satisfaction at the collection of bags that lay on the
  floor. Each bag had bulges, which moved and shifted at intervals, as the
  snakes within them explored the confines of their prisons, seeking a way out.
  The sound of angry hissing filled the little room but he was not concerned.
  
  
  The Order had secured their prize.
  
  
  Instructions had gone out to the agents of the Order in Uzbekistan while they
  were en route here. Muynak had been the closest airport to the Kazakh border.
  After the flight from Aktau to the Ustyurt plateau, it had become imperative
  to land at the nearest airport to the border, lest the helicopters run out of
  fuel.
  
  
  More helicopters had been commandeered and would be landing soon at Muynak to
  transport Van Klueck and his treasure to Bukhara, which had the nearest
  international airport. His Gulfstream jet was al