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The Book of Roads and Kingdoms

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The Book of Roads and Kingdoms

By: Richard Fidler
Narrated by: Richard Fidler
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About this listen

When Richard Fidler came across the account of Ibn Fadlan—a tenth-century Arab diplomat who travelled all the way from Baghdad to the cold riverlands of modern-day Russia—he was struck by how modern his voice was, like that of a 21st century time-traveller dropped into a medieval wilderness. On further investigation, Fidler discovered this was just one of countless reports from Arab and Persian travellers of their adventures in medieval China, India, Africa and Byzantium. Put together, he saw these stories formed a crazy quilt picture of a lost world.

The Book of Roads and Kingdoms is the story of the medieval wanderers who travelled out to the edges of the known world during Islam's fabled Golden Age—an era when the caliphs of Baghdad presided over a dominion greater than the Roman Empire at its peak, stretching from North Africa to India. Imperial Baghdad, founded as the 'City of Peace', quickly became the biggest and richest metropolis in the world.

Winner of the Indie Book Awards Non Fiction 2023

©2022 Richard Fidler. Richard Fidler asserts his moral right to be identified as the author of this Work. First published in English by HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty Limited in (P)2022 Bolinda Publishing. This audio version produced by arrangement with HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty Limited Civilisation Middle East World Africa Thought-Provoking Middle Ages Royalty Iran Russia Imperialism
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Amazing book, thanks
There is so much lost historie, please write more books like this?

Very exciting book

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Richard Fidler is a knowledgeable narrator of his own novel of the history of the Middle East and the Silk Road. Well researched stories from a perspective on history rarely heard in western culture.

A great book for history lovers

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I don't get an overall narrative, it just feels like a series of short stories - amazingly structured and narrated. I hope the author produces more.

Entertaining non fiction

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Beautifully written, even better spoken. This tome weaves facts and fables in a tangible and enticing collection of histories of the middle east. Not only is it an enjoyable read, but also an important one.

stunning and beautiful overview of a vast empire

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Brilliant alternate perspective on the supposed “dark ages”. Really gets the imagination going the coming together of different cultures around the periphery’s of Arab /Muslim empire

Great starter and summary for those new to Arabic history.

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