Ibrahim ibn Yaqub

Abraham ben Jacob , better known under his Arabic name of Ibrâhîm ibn Ya`qûb ( al-Tartushi [often like this instead of 'al-Ṭurṭûshî']) was a 10th century Hispano-Arabic , plausibly Sephardi Jewish , traveller, probably a merchant, whose brief may have included diplomacy and espionage. His family hailed from Moorish-ruled Ṭurṭūšah close to the mouth of the Ebro : he himself may also have lived in Cordova . In 961–62 he travelled in Western and Central Europe and in Italy at least as far as Rome , where he was received in audience by the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I during the first week of February; nothing is known about his return to ' al-Andalus ' (the Muslim-ruled part of the Iberian Peninsula), nor of any other travel. The memoirs and commentaries of his journey, possibly first presented to the Cordovan caliph Al-Hakam II (961–76), have been lost; only excerpts by later authors have been preserved, i.e., in Abu Abdullah al-Bakri 's Book of Highways and of Kingdoms . His work is widely known as the first reliable description of the Polish state under Mieszko I , the first historical ruler of Poland. He is also noted for his description of the Vikings living in Hedeby , of the Nakonid fortification at "Dorf Mecklenburg" and of what was, in all likelihood, the nucleus of the later ducal castle and palace at Schwerin. Ibrahim ibn Yaqub has a unique place in the Czech history as the first person to mention the city of Prague in writing.

Abraham ben Jacob , better known under his Arabic name of Ibrâhîm ibn Ya`qûb al-Tartushi (or al-Ṭurṭûshî) was a 10th-century Hispano-Arabic , Sephardi Jewish traveller, probably a merchant, who may have also engaged in diplomacy and espionage. His family hailed from Moorish-ruled Ṭurṭūšah close to the mouth of the Ebro : he himself may also have lived in Cordova . Written and oral history, as well as his writings suggest that he had a Jewish background. However, it has also been argued by other historians that he was a Muslim of Jewish background, and Bernard Lewis states: "There is some uncertainty to whether he was a professing Jew or a Muslim of Jewish origin." In 961–62 he travelled in Western and Central Europe and in Italy at least as far as Rome , where he was received an audience with the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I during the first week of February. Nothing is known about his return to ' al-Andalus ' (the Muslim-ruled part of the Iberian Peninsula), nor of any further travel. The memoirs and commentaries of his journey, possibly first presented to the Cordovan caliph Al-Hakam II (961–76), have been lost; only excerpts by later authors have been preserved, i.e., in Abu Abdullah al-Bakri 's Book of Highways and of Kingdoms . His work is widely known as providing the first reliable description of the Polish state under Mieszko I , the first historical ruler of Poland. He is also noted for his description of the Vikings living in Hedeby , of the Nakonid fortification at "Dorf Mecklenburg" and of what was, in all likelihood, the nucleus of the later ducal castle and palace at Schwerin. Ibrahim ibn Yaqub has a unique place in Czech history as the first person to mention the city of Prague in writing. The [European] Other in Medieval Arabic Literature and Culture: Ninth-Twelfth Century AD .

Ibrahim ibn Yaqub's journey. Ibrāhīm ibn Yaqūb ( sometimes Ibrâhîm ibn Ya`qûb al-Tartushi or al-Ṭurṭûshî ; also , Abraham ben Jacob ; fl. 961–62) was a tenth-century Hispano-Arabic , Sephardi Jewish traveller, probably a merchant , who may have also engaged in diplomacy and espionage.

Ibrahim ibn Yaqub ( Ibrâhîm ibn Ya'qûb al-Ṭarṭûshi or al-Ṭurṭûshî ; , Avraham ben Yaʿakov ; fl. 961–62) was a 10th-century Hispano-Arabic, Sephardi Jewish traveler, probably a merchant , who may have also engaged in diplomacy and espionage. His travelogue, Kitab al-Istibsar includes descriptions of various cities and regions as well as accounts of the customs and daily life of the people he encountered on his travels.

Ibrahim ibn Yaqub ( Arabic : إبراهيم بن يعقوب Ibrâhîm ibn Ya'qûb al-Ṭarṭûshi or al-Ṭurṭûshî ; Hebrew : אברהם בן יעקב , Avraham ben Yaʿakov ; fl. 961–62) was a 10th-century Hispano-Arabic, Sephardi Jewish traveler, probably a merchant , who may have also engaged in diplomacy and espionage. His travelogue, Kitab al-Istibsar includes descriptions of various cities and regions as well as accounts of the customs and daily life of the people he encountered on his travels.