Robin Bidwell tells the story of the great explorers of Arabia. The exploits of Niebuhr, who made the first intrepid exploration into the interior of southern Arabia in the 1760s, of Burton and Philby (the greatest of Arabian explorers), of Charles Montagu Doughty, Wilfred Thesiger, Freya Stark and many others are recounted -not only their adventures but also the contributions they made to Western knowledge and understanding of Arabia. This is a fascinating account by the late Robin Bidwell who spent many years in Arabia and was Secretary of the Middle East Centre in the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Cambridge.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the rugged, mountainous land through which the River Jordan flows was a region of untouched beauty and deeply held tribal traditions. 'Beyond the River' gathers over 200 black and white photographs of Transjordan from the collections of the Palestine Exploration Fund in London, taken during the dying days of the Ottoman Empire, through the First World War, and the establishment of the Hashemite Emirate of Jordan in 1921 from which the modern Kingdom evolved. These beautiful images of the peoples, monuments, and landscapes of Transjordan capture the powerful spirit of the place, and provide an unsurpassed documentation of the region's archaeological heritage, and a unique visual record of a crucial moment in Levantine history. The pictures are set in context with an introductory text and detailed captions, researched and written by the distinguished Jordanian historian, Dr. Raouf Sa'd Abujaber, and archaeologist and Curator of the PEF's collections, Felicity Cobbing.
In 922 AD, an Arab envoy from Baghdad named Ibn Fadlan encountered a party of Viking traders on the upper reaches of the Volga River. In his subsequent report on his mission he gave a meticulous and astonishingly objective description of Viking customs, dress, table manners, religion and sexual practices, as well as the only eyewitness account ever written of a Viking ship cremation. Between the ninth and fourteenth centuries, Arab travellers such as Ibn Fadlan journeyed widely and frequently into the far north, crossing territories that now include Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Their fascinating accounts describe how the numerous tribes and peoples they encountered traded furs, paid tribute and waged wars. This accessible new translation offers an illuminating insight into the world of the Arab geographers, and the medieval lands of the far north.
In its ports, we find a priceless cargo of information; here are the first foreign descriptions of tea and porcelain, a panorama of unusual social practices, cannibal islands, and Indian holy men--a marvelous, mundane world, contained in the compass of a novella. In Mission to the Volga, we move north on a diplomatic mission from Baghdad to the upper reaches of the Volga River in what is now central Russia. This colorful documentary by Ibn Fadlan relates the trials and tribulations of an embassy of diplomats and missionaries sent by caliph al-Muqtadir to deliver political and religious instruction to the recently-converted King of the Bulghars. During eleven months of grueling travel, Ibn Fadlan records the marvels he witnesses on his journey, including an aurora borealis and the white nights of the North. Crucially, he offers a description of the Viking Rus, including their customs, clothing, tattoos, and a striking account of a ship funeral.
Lebanese novelist and scholar of classical Arabic literature Yared reminds westerners that her people have travelled among them and written accounts as well as vice versa. Though acknowledging classical travel literature, she focuses on Arab travellers of the 19th and 20th centuries. She analyzes writers who represent a train of thought shared by intelligencia of their time or who had an important impact on contemporaries or future generations. Her topics include nationalism and the state, democracy, principles of the French revolution, and western scientific thought. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher Lonely Planet's Oman, UAE & the Arabian Peninsula is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Feel the desert's allure in Oman's Sharqiya Sands, dine at the top of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, and see faith expressed in the masterpieces of the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha - all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Oman, UAE & the Arabian Peninsula and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet's Oman, UAE & the Arabian Peninsula: Full-colour images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights provide a richer, more rewarding travel experience - covering history, art, food, sport, politics Covers Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and more The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet's Oman, UAE & the Arabian Peninsula is our most comprehensive guide to Oman, UAE & the Arabian Peninsula, and is perfect for discovering popular and off-the-beaten path experiences. Looking for more comprehensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet's Dubai & Abu Dhabi for an in-depth look at all these cities have to offer. About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, video, 14 languages, nine international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more. 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' - New York Times 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves, it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' - Fairfax Media (Australia) eBook Features: (Best viewed on tablet devices and smartphones) Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience Seamlessly flip between pages Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash Embedded links to recommendations' websites Zoom-in maps and images Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing Important Notice: The digital edition of this book may not contain all of the images found in the physical edition.
