Reading Ibn Fadlān and the Land of Darkness: Arab Travellers in the Far North | Alexandria
Read Ibn Fadlān and the Land of Darkness: Arab Travellers in the Far North by ibn Fadlan. Journeying beyond medieval borders, Ibn Fadlān's account shatters our assumptions about cultural exchange, revealing sophisticated trade networks and philosophical dialogues between Arabs and Vikings that challenge the myth of isolated civilizations. His razor-sharp observations of Norse customs offer timeless insights into how we misread "foreign" cultures today.