Mission to the Volga

Ahmad ibn Fadlan · 921 CE – 922 CE · Earth

Carry an Abbasid embassy to the Volga Bulgars.

Historical context

The Abbasid caliphate sent embassies far north to secure allies and trade in furs and silver. Ibn Fadlan's report is one of the most detailed outside accounts of the Vikings ever written.

The voyage, step by step

1. Embassy from Baghdad

   21 June 921

   The caliph sends Ibn Fadlan north to the king of the Volga Bulgars.

2. Through Rayy

   921 CE

   The embassy crosses the Iranian plateau by the great pilgrim road, waiting out a local war at Rayy.

3. Khorasan and Merv

   921 CE

   They reach the Samanid cities of the east, the last place where the caliph's name still carries.

4. Through Khwarazm

   921 CE

   The caravan crosses the steppe, its journey growing harder with each stage.

5. Among the Oghuz

   922 CE

   North of the Ustyurt the party enters Oghuz Turkish country, where the caliph is a rumour and hospitality is the only law.

6. The Bashghird crossings

   922 CE

   They ford river after river on inflated camel skins through the country Ibn Fadlan calls the worst of the Turks.

7. The Rus on the Volga

   922 CE

   He reaches the Volga and records the Rus traders and their ship burials.

Outcome

Reached the Volga and recorded the Rus and northern peoples.

Ahmad ibn Fadlan

Abbasid envoy who travelled to the Volga and left a vivid account of the Rus, the Khazars and the northern trade.

Read on Wikipedia

Sources

• Ahmad ibn Fadlan — Wikipedia

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