Origins & Early Life

Ahmad ibn Fadlan ibn al-Abbas al-Baghdadi (Arabic: أحمد بن فضلان بن العباس بن راشد بن حماد, romanized: Aḥmad ibn Faḍlān ibn al-ʿAbbās al-Baghdādī) or simply known as Ibn Fadlan, was a 10th-century Arab traveler from Baghdad, Abbasid Caliphate, famous for his account of his travels as a member of an embassy of the Abbasid caliph al-Muqtadir to the king of the Volga Bulgars, known as his risāla ("account" or "journal"). His account is most notable for providing a detailed description of the Volga Vikings, including eyewitness accounts of life as part of a trade caravan and witnessing a ship burial. He also notably described the lifestyle of the Oghuz Turks while the Khazars, Cumans, and Pechenegs were still around. Ibn Fadlan's detailed writings have been cited by numerous historians.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

They have also inspired works of fiction, including Michael Crichton's novel Eaters of the Dead and the novel's subsequent film adaptation The 13th Warrior. Ahmad ibn Fadlan was described as an Arab in contemporaneous sources. However, the Encyclopedia of Islam and Richard N. Frye add that nothing can be said with certainty about his origin, his ethnicity, his education,...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

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