The Oriental Geography of 'Ebn Haukal' (a 10th-century Islamic geography)
A 10th-century Arabic geography of the Islamic world, in a Persian version translated by William Ouseley in 1800, with an early description of the Khazar capital on the Volga.
This is a Persian version of a 10th-century Arabic 'Routes and Realms' geography, attributed by the translator William Ouseley to Ibn Hawqal. Scholars now link it more closely to al-Istakhri, whose work Ibn Hawqal revised. The author describes the lands of Islam province by province, from Arabia to Transoxiana, with notes on the peoples beyond, including the Khazars, Volga Bulgars and Rus. Its information comes partly from travel and partly from earlier books and merchants' reports. It uses 'Turks' (glossed by the translator as 'Tartars') for the Turkic peoples; it predates the Mongol conquests. This corpus copy is Ouseley's English translation (London, 1800), made from his own manuscript collated with one at Eton College.
How they knew
Compiled from others
Who “Tartar” means here
The original text speaks of 'Turks', not Tartars; the 1800 translator adds '(or Tartars)' in brackets for Turkic peoples such as the Khazars and the Khalaj.
Why read it
An eyewitness-era description of the Volga before the Mongols: the Khazar capital Atil with its tents and single brick palace, and the Muslim town of Bulgar, both later part of what Europeans called Tartary.
Watch out
The attribution to Ibn Hawqal is uncertain (the text is closer to al-Istakhri), much is secondhand, and the '(or Tartars)' glosses are the 1800 translator's, not the medieval author's.
Editorial contextThe author notes that the Burtas live in wooden houses, and that Bulgar is a city with Muslims and mosques, with a second Muslim town nearby, about ten thousand people in all. This is the Bolgar whose later ruins Russian and German travellers credited to the Tatars or the Bulgars. He also remarks on the very short summer nights.
In the district of Bertas the houses are built of wood. … Bulgar is the name of a city, where there are Mussulmans and mosques ; and near Bulgar is another town called *, where there are also Mussulmans and mosques. In these two cities there are about ten thousand inhabitants.
The 10th-century author attributed to Ibn Hawqal (translated by William Ouseley, 1800)
Editorial contextThe Khazar capital on the Volga is described as mostly tents. Only a few market halls and bathhouses were of clay, and the king's residence was the only burnt-brick building in the country, because nobody else was allowed to build in brick. It is a precise picture of a steppe capital before the Mongols, on the same river where Sarai and Astrakhan later stood.
Here are many tents ; and in this country there are but a few edifices of clay, such as bazars (market-places) and bathing houses. … it is constructed of burnt bricks ; and this is the only building of such materials in all the country : they will not allow any body but the king to erect such a dwelling.
The 10th-century author attributed to Ibn Hawqal (translated by William Ouseley, 1800)
A Jewish king ruling Muslims, Christians and pagans
Editorial contextThe author describes Atil's four gates and a king who is Jewish, with judges from each faith: Muslim, Jewish, Christian and pagan. Most inhabitants were Muslims and Christians, and the leading citizens were Muslim merchants. On the same page he notes that their language resembles that of the Turks, glossed by the translator as 'Tartars'.
The king of this country is a Jew : he has in his train four thousand Mussulmans, and Khozrians (Christians), and Idolaters ; but his principal people are Jews … The principal persons of Atel are Mussulmans and merchants: their language is like that of the Turks (or Tartars), and is not understood by any other nation.
The 10th-century author attributed to Ibn Hawqal (translated by William Ouseley, 1800; bracketed words are Ouseley's)
Editorial contextWhen a new Khazar khagan was made, a silk cord was tied tight around his throat and he was asked how many years he would reign. If he outlived the number he named, he was put to death. The author also says the khagan had a golden throne and pavilion, and that nobles would kill themselves on his order.
they bring him forth, and tie a piece of silk about his throat, so tight that he can scarcely draw his breath. At that moment they ask him, how long he will hold the sovereignty ? He answers, " so many years." … when that space is fulfilled, they put him to death.
The 10th-century author attributed to Ibn Hawqal (translated by William Ouseley, 1800)