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The Book Of Roads And Kingdoms
A lost imperial city, full of wonder and marvels. An empire that was the largest the world had ever seen, established with astonishing speed. A people obsessed with travel, knowledge and adventure.
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 twenty-first 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 & 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. Standing atop one of the city's four gates, its founder Here is the Tigris River, and nothing stands between it and China.
In a flourishing culture of science, literature and philosophy, the citizens of Baghdad were fascinated by the world and everything in it. Inspired by their Prophet's commandment to seek knowledge all over the world, these traders, diplomats, soldiers and scientists left behind the cosmopolitan pleasures of Baghdad to venture by camel, horse and boat into the unknown. Those who returned from these distant foreign lands wrote accounts of their adventures, both realistic and fantastical - tales of wonder and horror and delight.
Fidler expertly weaves together these beautiful and thrilling pictures of a dazzling lost world with the story of an empire's rise and utterly devastating fall.
Praise for Ghost Empire
'...thanks to the stylish cleverness of an exceptionally curious and talented man, we can feast on what strange magic the city brought - and still brings today - to the world beyond. I am speechless with admiration. - Simon Winchester
'Fidler's story leaves its readers with a sense of faith in the renewing, illumination, social powers of historical narrative.' - Sydney Morning Herald
Praise for The Golden Maze
'The times, the places and the people are vibrant, arresting and breathing ... This is the magic and power of this work.' - Favel Parrett, The Age
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 twenty-first 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 & 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. Standing atop one of the city's four gates, its founder Here is the Tigris River, and nothing stands between it and China.
In a flourishing culture of science, literature and philosophy, the citizens of Baghdad were fascinated by the world and everything in it. Inspired by their Prophet's commandment to seek knowledge all over the world, these traders, diplomats, soldiers and scientists left behind the cosmopolitan pleasures of Baghdad to venture by camel, horse and boat into the unknown. Those who returned from these distant foreign lands wrote accounts of their adventures, both realistic and fantastical - tales of wonder and horror and delight.
Fidler expertly weaves together these beautiful and thrilling pictures of a dazzling lost world with the story of an empire's rise and utterly devastating fall.
Praise for Ghost Empire
'...thanks to the stylish cleverness of an exceptionally curious and talented man, we can feast on what strange magic the city brought - and still brings today - to the world beyond. I am speechless with admiration. - Simon Winchester
'Fidler's story leaves its readers with a sense of faith in the renewing, illumination, social powers of historical narrative.' - Sydney Morning Herald
Praise for The Golden Maze
'The times, the places and the people are vibrant, arresting and breathing ... This is the magic and power of this work.' - Favel Parrett, The Age
Paperback
First published October 1, 2022
195 people are currently reading
1585 people want to read
About the author
Richard Fidler
28 books241 followersRichard Fidler is one of ABC's (Australian Broadcasting Commission) most popular presenters, best known for his hour-long interview program, Conversations with Richard Fidler. The program is ABC Radio's most popular podcast, downloaded more than 1.5 million times per month. It features local and international guests from all walks of life, engaging in in-depth interviews.
He first came to prominence in the 1980s as a member of the Doug Anthony All Stars (DAAS), an Australian musical comedy group also comprising Tim Ferguson and Paul McDermott. The group disbanded in 1994.
Richard began his broadcast career on TV, and presented shows including: Race Around the World; Aftershock; Mouthing Off, and Vulture.
In 2011 Fidler was awarded a Churchill Fellowship[2] to investigate new forms of public radio in the United States and the United Kingdom.
He is the immediate past-President of Brisbane’s Institute of Modern Art (IMA) and a member of its board of directors.
He is married to Khym Lam and has 2 children.
. DAAS Book / by the Doug Anthony All Stars (released censored in the UK in 1989, uncensored in Australia in 1992) – co-authored with Tim Ferguson and Paul McDermott
. DAAS Kapital / by the Doug Anthony All Stars (1993) – co-authored with Tim Ferguson and Paul McDermott
. The Insider's guide to power in Australia / by Jack the Insider (2007) – co-authored with Peter Hoysted
He first came to prominence in the 1980s as a member of the Doug Anthony All Stars (DAAS), an Australian musical comedy group also comprising Tim Ferguson and Paul McDermott. The group disbanded in 1994.
Richard began his broadcast career on TV, and presented shows including: Race Around the World; Aftershock; Mouthing Off, and Vulture.
In 2011 Fidler was awarded a Churchill Fellowship[2] to investigate new forms of public radio in the United States and the United Kingdom.
He is the immediate past-President of Brisbane’s Institute of Modern Art (IMA) and a member of its board of directors.
He is married to Khym Lam and has 2 children.
. DAAS Book / by the Doug Anthony All Stars (released censored in the UK in 1989, uncensored in Australia in 1992) – co-authored with Tim Ferguson and Paul McDermott
. DAAS Kapital / by the Doug Anthony All Stars (1993) – co-authored with Tim Ferguson and Paul McDermott
. The Insider's guide to power in Australia / by Jack the Insider (2007) – co-authored with Peter Hoysted
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
July 26, 2023
I have read all of Richard Fidler’s books. He has a very readable writing style. This is an important book as it deals with Islamic history and culture, a topic avoided by many in the non-Islamic world because of prejudices and biases as an outcome of wars and conflicts in the Middle East and the use of terrorism by some Muslims as a means of punishing the West because of its perceived attacks on Muslims and their religion, Islam.
I am of the age where I can remember the Middle East as the land of magic carpets, harems and fantastical stories of 1001 nights, Sinbad the sailor, the beautiful Scheherazade. Today it is difficult to discuss Islam without prejudices arising. Pleasingly Fidler has written a book that dispassionately tells its readers so much about the rise of Islam and its influence in the known world.
The Muslim warriors came out of the Arabic peninsular at a most opportune time. The Sassanid (Persian) and Byzantine (Roman) empires were militarily and economically exhausted from decades of warfare against each other. Also, the Muslim warriors were great fighters.
Fidler briefly recounts the story of Muhammad and the beginning of the Islamic religion. He explains the dispute over leadership after the death of Muhammad and the division of Islam into Sunni and Shia. The book then takes you on a journey meeting the numerous Caliphates who ruled the Muslim empire. I did find it difficult to create a picture in my mind of the different Caliphates, their achievements and failures. Fidler retells intriguing stories both fictional and factional and often there is a blurring of the two.
Fidler used the name of one of his primary sources to name his own title. Ibn Khordadbeh wrote an account of his own travels north, south, east, and west from the caliphate capital of Baghdad.
In the journey of this book, we meet an array of characters from this time post 6th Century. In the west, Charlemagne and the city of Constantinople. In the east the Chinese emperors, their dynasties and the many walls that were built to keep invaders at bay. He delves back into the time of Alexander the Great.
On the journey south we meet the Muslim sailors who travelled to India, Sri Lanka and the far east. We hear the story of an Australian soldier during WW2 finding some ancient coins on Australian soil that indicated that there were visitors to this land centuries before the European explorers “discovered” it.
It is on the travels to the north that Fidler draws the material of Ibn Khordadbeh. The descriptions of the Viking ceremonies are breath taking.
After these travels to all the points of the compass the great Mongol leader, Ghengis Khan enters the story. Fidler explains his philosophy of conquest and what led to cities being destroyed and their inhabitants being annihilated in the hundreds of thousands. The magnitude of the slaughters carried out by the Mongols is mind numbing.
This is a worthwhile read that added to my understanding of Islam and it's history.
Fidler fits with Peter Fitzsimons, Paul Ham and Grantlee Kieza as experienced writers who use their creative writing skills to produce fascinating accounts of history.
If this topic interests you I would recommend:
The Silk Roads: A New World History by Peter Frankopan
The Fall of the Ottomans. The Great War in the Middle East by Eugene Rogan.
Ghost Empire by Richard Fidler
The Road to Oxiana by Robert Byron
Genghis Khan by Jack Weatherhead.
I am of the age where I can remember the Middle East as the land of magic carpets, harems and fantastical stories of 1001 nights, Sinbad the sailor, the beautiful Scheherazade. Today it is difficult to discuss Islam without prejudices arising. Pleasingly Fidler has written a book that dispassionately tells its readers so much about the rise of Islam and its influence in the known world.
The Muslim warriors came out of the Arabic peninsular at a most opportune time. The Sassanid (Persian) and Byzantine (Roman) empires were militarily and economically exhausted from decades of warfare against each other. Also, the Muslim warriors were great fighters.
Fidler briefly recounts the story of Muhammad and the beginning of the Islamic religion. He explains the dispute over leadership after the death of Muhammad and the division of Islam into Sunni and Shia. The book then takes you on a journey meeting the numerous Caliphates who ruled the Muslim empire. I did find it difficult to create a picture in my mind of the different Caliphates, their achievements and failures. Fidler retells intriguing stories both fictional and factional and often there is a blurring of the two.
Fidler used the name of one of his primary sources to name his own title. Ibn Khordadbeh wrote an account of his own travels north, south, east, and west from the caliphate capital of Baghdad.
In the journey of this book, we meet an array of characters from this time post 6th Century. In the west, Charlemagne and the city of Constantinople. In the east the Chinese emperors, their dynasties and the many walls that were built to keep invaders at bay. He delves back into the time of Alexander the Great.
On the journey south we meet the Muslim sailors who travelled to India, Sri Lanka and the far east. We hear the story of an Australian soldier during WW2 finding some ancient coins on Australian soil that indicated that there were visitors to this land centuries before the European explorers “discovered” it.
It is on the travels to the north that Fidler draws the material of Ibn Khordadbeh. The descriptions of the Viking ceremonies are breath taking.
After these travels to all the points of the compass the great Mongol leader, Ghengis Khan enters the story. Fidler explains his philosophy of conquest and what led to cities being destroyed and their inhabitants being annihilated in the hundreds of thousands. The magnitude of the slaughters carried out by the Mongols is mind numbing.
This is a worthwhile read that added to my understanding of Islam and it's history.
Fidler fits with Peter Fitzsimons, Paul Ham and Grantlee Kieza as experienced writers who use their creative writing skills to produce fascinating accounts of history.
If this topic interests you I would recommend:
The Silk Roads: A New World History by Peter Frankopan
The Fall of the Ottomans. The Great War in the Middle East by Eugene Rogan.
Ghost Empire by Richard Fidler
The Road to Oxiana by Robert Byron
Genghis Khan by Jack Weatherhead.
May 27, 2024
During much of the ninth century CE, the Abbasid Caliphate was arguably the most powerful political entity in the world and its capital, Baghdad, was possibly the most populous city in the world. Richard Fidler is one of a small percentage of persons in the English-speaking world who can see the word Abbasid without thinking that it refers to a certain group of Swedish musicians and, if you take a chance and read this book, you may well increase that percentage.
The Book of Roads and Kingdoms is essentially a history of the Abbasid Caliphate, however Fidler has organized his narrative around journeys undertaken by subjects of the caliphate into other portions of the world, giving insight into not only the Abbasids, but also their perspective on the rest of the world. He has included first person descriptions by these travelers who witnessed such things as a Viking funeral near the Volga and life in the Mongol Empire's capital at Karakorum. Fidler also draws much of his narrative from tales of the lives of the caliphs, some of which read more like folk tales than standard historical narratives. He also includes at least one story of Scheherazade from the 1001 Nights. All of this makes this book read more like a collection of short stories than a standard history book, but this may have been the author's intent.
The Book of Roads and Kingdoms is essentially a history of the Abbasid Caliphate, however Fidler has organized his narrative around journeys undertaken by subjects of the caliphate into other portions of the world, giving insight into not only the Abbasids, but also their perspective on the rest of the world. He has included first person descriptions by these travelers who witnessed such things as a Viking funeral near the Volga and life in the Mongol Empire's capital at Karakorum. Fidler also draws much of his narrative from tales of the lives of the caliphs, some of which read more like folk tales than standard historical narratives. He also includes at least one story of Scheherazade from the 1001 Nights. All of this makes this book read more like a collection of short stories than a standard history book, but this may have been the author's intent.
August 19, 2023
Когато “Хиляда и една нощ” най-сетне достигат и до европейците, ще мине известно време, докато те осъзнаят, че виждат последния за дълго време отблясък от два мощни пожара. Пожарът на духа през ислямския ренесанс, златната епоха на младия ислям, където философия, математика, медицина, поезия, история и география се наслагват пласт след пласт по времето на омаядите и абасидите. И пожарът от кланетата и разрухата на монголските орди на Чингис Хан и наследниците му, които погребват тази просветена епоха под руините на средновековните Багдад, Бухара, Самарканд и Мерв.
Често се забравя колко много красота и прогрес шестват между днешния Анадол и върховете на Памир между VIII и ХII век. Полетът на мисълта е впечатляващ, опитващ се да смеси донякъде вода и масло - логическата и творческа мисъл с едната-единствена непроменима истина на неръкотворния Коран. Дали тя е имала шанс, ако не са били монголите, може би е спорно, предвид вече наличната (често кървава) битка между теология и логика. Но тоталната разруха на човешки животи и цели просветени култури и техните достижения никак не са допринесли за напредък в посока, различна от религиозното капсулиране.
Книгата е като изпипан филм на Нешънъл
Джиографик - с приятна разходка по стъпките на Мохамед и първите му (въоръжени до зъби и любители на бедуинската устна поезия) последователи и на арабските пътешественици-хроникьори из близки и далечни за тях земи в четирите посоки на света. Често пъти украсени с модерните за времето си измислици и скрити ласкателства към силните на деня. И с карта на земята, където Юг е в горната и част, но пък е забележително точна.
Много са героите - управници и пътешественици. Много са и местата - от Леванта до пещерите Дунхуан в Китай, през Индия и иранското плато, по сухоземните и морските пътища на коприната. Разказът е почти романизиран, и има достатъчно за любопитните. Но структурата на мен ми дойде леко хаотична или отплесваща се в несъществени детайли, насмогвайки после с хвърляне на имена с лопатата, без много свързващи точки между тях или контекст. Набляга се предимно на изреждането, което е поднесено съвсем прилично, и не толкова на интерпретацията.
Живописно, кинематографично, информативно и леко повърхностно, но пък приятно. И рядко повдигано като тема.
3,5⭐️
На последващ преглед - закръглям нагоре.
Често се забравя колко много красота и прогрес шестват между днешния Анадол и върховете на Памир между VIII и ХII век. Полетът на мисълта е впечатляващ, опитващ се да смеси донякъде вода и масло - логическата и творческа мисъл с едната-единствена непроменима истина на неръкотворния Коран. Дали тя е имала шанс, ако не са били монголите, може би е спорно, предвид вече наличната (често кървава) битка между теология и логика. Но тоталната разруха на човешки животи и цели просветени култури и техните достижения никак не са допринесли за напредък в посока, различна от религиозното капсулиране.
Книгата е като изпипан филм на Нешънъл
Джиографик - с приятна разходка по стъпките на Мохамед и първите му (въоръжени до зъби и любители на бедуинската устна поезия) последователи и на арабските пътешественици-хроникьори из близки и далечни за тях земи в четирите посоки на света. Често пъти украсени с модерните за времето си измислици и скрити ласкателства към силните на деня. И с карта на земята, където Юг е в горната и част, но пък е забележително точна.
Много са героите - управници и пътешественици. Много са и местата - от Леванта до пещерите Дунхуан в Китай, през Индия и иранското плато, по сухоземните и морските пътища на коприната. Разказът е почти романизиран, и има достатъчно за любопитните. Но структурата на мен ми дойде леко хаотична или отплесваща се в несъществени детайли, насмогвайки после с хвърляне на имена с лопатата, без много свързващи точки между тях или контекст. Набляга се предимно на изреждането, което е поднесено съвсем прилично, и не толкова на интерпретацията.
Живописно, кинематографично, информативно и леко повърхностно, но пък приятно. И рядко повдигано като тема.
3,5⭐️
На последващ преглед - закръглям нагоре.
March 10, 2023
Richard Fidler is the host of Conversations, one of Australia’s best radio shows. Here is his fourth nonfiction book. Loosely defined, it’s about the early Islamic Arabian peninsula (with a special focus on Baghdad ) all the way to the last Abbasid Caliph, in the 10th century ad; while also covering all the other kingdoms around the world at that time as they relate to the Islamic empire, AND the accounts of travellers on trade routes of the era. A tall order.
Fidler picked a unique and fascinating topic and he nailed it. It takes skill to write so accessibility about a subject so foreign to the majority of Western readers.
Fidler’s own job as the host of Conversations must have been an asset. The job of a talk show host is to be a medium or a curator of someone else’s story. In this way, he assumes the role of Scheherazade the queen of tantalising stories, as he leads us through time and space across the Islamic golden age.
Fidler spent the lockdown years of covid scouring in dusty corners of the internet through obscure accounts and ancient books to bring to us this 21st century polished oriental gem.
Fidler summarises the accounts of famous Islamic writers, anthologists and biographers. al-Kindi, al-Tabari, Ibn Hawqal, Abu Zayd al-Sirafi, Ibn Miskawayh, al-Tanükhi, Ahmad ibn Fadlan, Ibn Jubayr, Ibn Khaldun, Atâ-Malek Juvayni, and al-Mas'üdi.
A standout account that has since gone viral online is that of ibn Fadlan’s ardours journey as an emissary to a remote northern tribe in Russia, where he sees Vikings for the first time. Ibn Fadlan described in detail the ‘beautiful’ vikings and how horrifying their personal hygiene was to him. These memoirs were lost for about ten centuries until they were found in 1928 and translated.
Richard Fidler wrote three other popular books that are now on my TBR. One about Constantinople, one about Prague and one about Iceland.
Fidler picked a unique and fascinating topic and he nailed it. It takes skill to write so accessibility about a subject so foreign to the majority of Western readers.
Fidler’s own job as the host of Conversations must have been an asset. The job of a talk show host is to be a medium or a curator of someone else’s story. In this way, he assumes the role of Scheherazade the queen of tantalising stories, as he leads us through time and space across the Islamic golden age.
Fidler spent the lockdown years of covid scouring in dusty corners of the internet through obscure accounts and ancient books to bring to us this 21st century polished oriental gem.
Fidler summarises the accounts of famous Islamic writers, anthologists and biographers. al-Kindi, al-Tabari, Ibn Hawqal, Abu Zayd al-Sirafi, Ibn Miskawayh, al-Tanükhi, Ahmad ibn Fadlan, Ibn Jubayr, Ibn Khaldun, Atâ-Malek Juvayni, and al-Mas'üdi.
A standout account that has since gone viral online is that of ibn Fadlan’s ardours journey as an emissary to a remote northern tribe in Russia, where he sees Vikings for the first time. Ibn Fadlan described in detail the ‘beautiful’ vikings and how horrifying their personal hygiene was to him. These memoirs were lost for about ten centuries until they were found in 1928 and translated.
Richard Fidler wrote three other popular books that are now on my TBR. One about Constantinople, one about Prague and one about Iceland.
November 10, 2024
November 2024. Interesting time to be reading about decaying empires and self seeking emperors.
January 16, 2024
richard fidler if you read this im free on Thursday night and would like to hang out. Please respond to this and then hang out with me on Thursday night when I’m free.
February 28, 2023
An enjoyable if not frustrating read. It presents a rich picture of medieval Baghdad, and contains some truly interesting and fun anecdotes, both fantastical and grounded.
However, as a consequence of being a pop history book written by a non-Historian, it promotes a singular view of early Islamic history, ignoring the complexities and controversies that time period holds. Similarly the book spends a lot of time detailing certain major events whilst completely skimming over others.
All in all, it feels incomplete. Obviously, the length has to be restricted, but what Fidler (and presumably his editor) chose to keep and what to throw ultimately feels arbitrary and uneven; and as a reader it was occasionally a challenging read. However, what Fidler does detail and explore was often fascinating and rarely expressed a western bias which is truly a rare treat in Islamic history texts.
Ultimately; this might best be treated as a launching off point for medieval Islamic history as opposed to a one stop shop.
However, as a consequence of being a pop history book written by a non-Historian, it promotes a singular view of early Islamic history, ignoring the complexities and controversies that time period holds. Similarly the book spends a lot of time detailing certain major events whilst completely skimming over others.
All in all, it feels incomplete. Obviously, the length has to be restricted, but what Fidler (and presumably his editor) chose to keep and what to throw ultimately feels arbitrary and uneven; and as a reader it was occasionally a challenging read. However, what Fidler does detail and explore was often fascinating and rarely expressed a western bias which is truly a rare treat in Islamic history texts.
Ultimately; this might best be treated as a launching off point for medieval Islamic history as opposed to a one stop shop.
September 21, 2023
While I love non-fiction, I normally stray towards the biographies of musicians or actors. When reading about history I normally read books much more focussed on specific events (like Killers of the Flower Moon for example). But Richard Fidler makes it so easy to take in centuries of history, and as such The Book of Roads and Kingdoms was a pleasure to read.
If you have read his preceding work, The Golden Maze, then you know exactly what to expect. If not you can look forward to a meticulously researched and expertly paced history of Abbasid Caliphate. Essentially it is a retelling of the birth of Islam, and how it shaped the ancient world in ways that might surprise you.
I was constantly floored by just how modern a religion Islam is, and surprised by its close ties to Judaism and Christianity.
It was wonderful to read about the impact Alexander the Great had on the Muslim Empire, as well as Genghis Kahn and the Mongols, and the extensive dealings they had with ancient China.
I can't recommend this book, or Richard Fidler in general, enough.
If you have read his preceding work, The Golden Maze, then you know exactly what to expect. If not you can look forward to a meticulously researched and expertly paced history of Abbasid Caliphate. Essentially it is a retelling of the birth of Islam, and how it shaped the ancient world in ways that might surprise you.
I was constantly floored by just how modern a religion Islam is, and surprised by its close ties to Judaism and Christianity.
It was wonderful to read about the impact Alexander the Great had on the Muslim Empire, as well as Genghis Kahn and the Mongols, and the extensive dealings they had with ancient China.
I can't recommend this book, or Richard Fidler in general, enough.
February 8, 2023
Another fabulous history from Richard Fidler. This one about The Middle-east. Some Arabian nights tales in the book, give it a fable quality. I listened to the audiobook, while flipping through the pages, looking at some of the illustrations of artefacts and maps.
February 24, 2024
So clear to read and absolutely fascinating! Super relevant to my work at the moment and has helped me get a much better grasp on the rise of Islam.
July 12, 2025
All roads lead to Rome Baghdad.
As a Western Millennial, I must confess that my only real knowledge of Baghdad has come from news reports of invasion, 'weapons of mass destruction' and devastating war. Tracing the 508 years from foundation to it's eventual fall to the Mogul Empire, Fidler has once again opened up the door to the incredible history of a part of the world often overlooked by Western writers.
As a Western Millennial, I must confess that my only real knowledge of Baghdad has come from news reports of invasion, 'weapons of mass destruction' and devastating war. Tracing the 508 years from foundation to it's eventual fall to the Mogul Empire, Fidler has once again opened up the door to the incredible history of a part of the world often overlooked by Western writers.
Read
December 4, 2022Totally engrossed in this book, starting with an excellent short history of the early centuries of the Islamic world. Then I savoured what motivated me to buy it in the first place: stories of Islamic travellers who ventured all over Eurasia, from China in the far east to the Vikings in the north, India and the African east coast, and the various unpredictable tribes of steppes people of Central Asia. Fidler is a very easy-to-read writer with a sometimes playful eye for the revealing small detail contained within a story. He manages to be both respectful and insightful of the many cultures he introduces you to: the ideal armchair medieval tour guide.
January 11, 2025
A fun meander through the history of a part of the world I'm not too familiar with.
With some friends going to live around there, a good chance to glimpse their worldview through the stories they tell about their history.
But, definitely not as good as "Sagaland" (which Fidler also co-wrote), because this was just a bundle of stories about the history, so not as engrossing.
Also, he was very pro-Islam (which I don't mind) but kept denigrating other religions in the process e.g. "Other religions are mystical, not like Islam which is historical" (um, Christianity is totally a historical religion!)
In a section on Islam's poets answering "What is love?" I was thankful for the bible's answer (which he didn't include), "God is love!" thank God for the eternal love of the triune God.
Fun fact: I also learnt that the oldest foreign object found in Aus is a coin with an Arabic inscription (from Indonesian traders they think)
With some friends going to live around there, a good chance to glimpse their worldview through the stories they tell about their history.
But, definitely not as good as "Sagaland" (which Fidler also co-wrote), because this was just a bundle of stories about the history, so not as engrossing.
Also, he was very pro-Islam (which I don't mind) but kept denigrating other religions in the process e.g. "Other religions are mystical, not like Islam which is historical" (um, Christianity is totally a historical religion!)
In a section on Islam's poets answering "What is love?" I was thankful for the bible's answer (which he didn't include), "God is love!" thank God for the eternal love of the triune God.
Fun fact: I also learnt that the oldest foreign object found in Aus is a coin with an Arabic inscription (from Indonesian traders they think)
August 7, 2023
In The Book of Roads & Kingdoms Richard Fidler tells the stories of medieval wanderers who travelled to the edges of the known world during Islam's fabled Golden Age. It’s a part of world history that I don’t know much about and this was an interesting and engaging introduction. The audiobook is narrated beautifully by the author and it was easy and enjoyable to listen to. The down side to audiobooks is not having pictures which is always a plus in history books.
June 18, 2024
Fascinating book deep diving into history that we seldom explore. Gaining an insight into the Arabic world was enlightening and rich with the rise & fall of some epic empires. I listened to this as an audiobook. The delightful Richard Fidler read his own book and it was a joy to listen to his voice narrate this amazing piece of work. It is heavy with many complex names, tribes and Islamic history but well worth your time.
January 6, 2023
a good way to start the reading year! my grandpa got me this as a christmas present, and i really enjoyed reading it. most of the stories were very interesting, and definitely approachable for someone like myself who knows absolutely nothing about islamic history. while i felt somewhat lost in parts of the book, i think this is only natural when acquainting yourself with an entirely new region and time period.
November 11, 2023
This is a rich and deep historical novel about the rise and geographic spread of Islam as a culture and series of kingdoms across and beyond the Middle East. Out to Cordoba, down into Africa, and butting against the western edge of Chinese dynasties. Wow the gore! Vikings, Genghis Khan and the French. So much I had no clue about.
January 15, 2023
Richard Fidler has again taken a little known history and brought it to sparkling life. Taking the words of some ancient Islamic writers, he explores the world of the mediaeval near East, mostly centreing around the once glorious city of Bagdad and the Caliphs of the Islamic empires that ruled there in the period from the time of Muhammed til the Mongol invasion in the 13th century. There was much here I didn't know and Fidler did a good job of bringing cohesion to a diverse range of sources.
March 5, 2023
I really enjoyed this book and learning about the Middle Ages from an Islamic perspective. There was so much in this book, I know I'll have to go back to it time and again. I did find reading it all at once overwhelming; it covers a lot of stories, people and time periods, but I'd still recommend it to anyone interested in Eastern history.
November 30, 2024
Tried to listen to this on audio which I sometimes finds me concentrate more especially on non fiction or more difficult books but couldn’t get into this one of Richard Filders
December 21, 2024
Such a fascinating overview of the Islamic empire during the Middle Ages. I appreciated how it told the history through different stories, making it a very approachable and enjoyable experience, Haven’t read a proper history book since high school but this will encourage me to seek more out!
March 16, 2025
Another great book from Richard. Amazing history, stories and legends
December 12, 2025
A compilation of travelogues that transports you to a different age.
October 24, 2022
The release of another Richard Fidler history book is cause for celebration - I loved each of The Ghost Empire, Saga Land and The Golden Maze for their rich mixture of history and myth/legend, but also for the way Fidler wrote of his personal connection to the topic of each book. I left feeling like I'd been immersed in the histories and cultures of Istanbul, Iceland and Prague respectively, making me instantly want to go out and buy and plane ticket.
The Book of Roads and Kingdoms is his fourth such history book, this time focusing on the Islamic empire, from the rise of Muhammad through to the fall of Baghdad from the invading Mongols. He tracks the expansion and contraction of the Islamic empire across the centuries, zooming in on important historic figures and key moments. The Islamic world of the middle ages, much unlike most of Europe, was alive with culture, thought and commerce that was the envy of all others. It's all interesting stuff, particularly as much of it is not well known to many in Western societies who often see Persian and Arab nations as nothing more than war torn and desolate.
Unfortunately, I didn't find Roads and Kingdoms as instantly gripping as Fidler's other novels. Maybe he tried to do to much - he often moves away from the focus on Islamic power to look at contemporaneous histories (Charlemagne, Ghenkis Khan etc), but by doing so lacks the depth he might have otherwise had with a more streamlined account. Additionally, this is Fidler's first book of this kind not to include himself in the storytelling. I missed this aspect, but I reckon we can put it down to Covid getting in the way of Fidler's travels (...or the fact that Baghdad isn't really at the top of many people's bucket lists).
Having said this, Fidler still writes beautifully and engagingly - I'd love his next novel to be the phone book - but I perhaps felt the Book of Roads and Kingdoms was missing the spark and intensity of his best work.
The Book of Roads and Kingdoms is his fourth such history book, this time focusing on the Islamic empire, from the rise of Muhammad through to the fall of Baghdad from the invading Mongols. He tracks the expansion and contraction of the Islamic empire across the centuries, zooming in on important historic figures and key moments. The Islamic world of the middle ages, much unlike most of Europe, was alive with culture, thought and commerce that was the envy of all others. It's all interesting stuff, particularly as much of it is not well known to many in Western societies who often see Persian and Arab nations as nothing more than war torn and desolate.
Unfortunately, I didn't find Roads and Kingdoms as instantly gripping as Fidler's other novels. Maybe he tried to do to much - he often moves away from the focus on Islamic power to look at contemporaneous histories (Charlemagne, Ghenkis Khan etc), but by doing so lacks the depth he might have otherwise had with a more streamlined account. Additionally, this is Fidler's first book of this kind not to include himself in the storytelling. I missed this aspect, but I reckon we can put it down to Covid getting in the way of Fidler's travels (...or the fact that Baghdad isn't really at the top of many people's bucket lists).
Having said this, Fidler still writes beautifully and engagingly - I'd love his next novel to be the phone book - but I perhaps felt the Book of Roads and Kingdoms was missing the spark and intensity of his best work.
August 12, 2024
As someone who knows little of the medieval era, The Book of Roads and Kingdoms was an accessible and really interesting recounting of Islamic history and culture through the lens of Islamic figures across that time period.
Reading this off the back of Reza Aslans ‘Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth’ in particular was interesting to then read Fidler’s explanation of the Prophet Muhammad and consider the similarities between these two revolutionary religious leaders.
I appreciated that Fidler gave acknowledgment to the brutal treatment and oppression of women’s voices across cultures in the Middle Ages and also included the stories of some influential female leaders such as Shaghab and Al-Kahina.
My favourite part from the book is Fidler’s description of the religious practices of the pre-Islamic tribespeople of Arabia, which I found quite beautiful:
“Bedouin herders would typically select four stones from their surroundings. Three to prop up their cooking pot and a fourth to worship as their little god for the night, which they honoured by walking around the stone in a circle, just as Muslim’s later would circumambulate around the Kaaba in Mecca”
Reading this off the back of Reza Aslans ‘Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth’ in particular was interesting to then read Fidler’s explanation of the Prophet Muhammad and consider the similarities between these two revolutionary religious leaders.
I appreciated that Fidler gave acknowledgment to the brutal treatment and oppression of women’s voices across cultures in the Middle Ages and also included the stories of some influential female leaders such as Shaghab and Al-Kahina.
My favourite part from the book is Fidler’s description of the religious practices of the pre-Islamic tribespeople of Arabia, which I found quite beautiful:
“Bedouin herders would typically select four stones from their surroundings. Three to prop up their cooking pot and a fourth to worship as their little god for the night, which they honoured by walking around the stone in a circle, just as Muslim’s later would circumambulate around the Kaaba in Mecca”
December 26, 2022
Easy to read history of Islamic travellers from Baghdad in the 700-1300 period.
March 15, 2023
An intriguing look at the histories and lives of the Islamic caliphates of the Abayysid dynasty, and including the partial story of Genghis Khan among others. A very long book, which I found hard to get into, but enjoyed more the further I went.
November 16, 2024
This fascinating history book traces the rise and fall of the medieval ‘golden age’ of the Muslim empire, between the 8th and 13th century. Centred around Baghdad, which was once one of the greatest and most beautiful cities of the world, it portrays a civilisation where arts and sciences flourished, and its citizens were encouraged to explore and seek knowledge from around the world.
Built between two rivers, Baghdad became an international trade centre along the overland and maritime ‘Silk Road’ between India, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. The author takes the unique approach of chronicling events and making them come alive through the recorded stories of those who travelled the ‘roads and kingdoms’. These include explorers, diplomats, traders, pilgrims, soldiers, sailors, poets, musicians and others.
Fidler’s narration of the audiobook is well-paced and engaging, making sure his well-researched and comprehensive book is never dry or boring. He has a smooth voice, honed from years as a radio broadcaster, and is a pleasure to listen to.
Spanning over 500 years, the book covers the early days of Muhammad founding Islam in Medina, to its rapid expansion out of Arabia into Iraq and Iran, and the founding of the city of Baghdad. It then details the ‘golden age’ of Islam, when the Abbasid caliphs of Baghdad presided over an empire greater than the Roman Empire at its peak. It ends with the capture and ransacking of Baghdad in 1258 by the Mongols.
I enjoyed how the historical events were interwoven with the travellers tales, poetry and folk stories from books like ‘The Thousand and One Nights’. The reports of the medieval travellers are full of wonder and terror. It was definitely dangerous and difficult to travel in those days, but the fascination and strangeness far outweighed this. Many of the tales and maps of foreign lands were so accurate that they unfortunately helped later explorers to pillage ancient archaeological sites. Other tales were parables about power, romance and magic.
Al Ghazal, was an Arab poet and diplomat whose trip to Horik the Viking King was one such tale. His story of thwarting the Viking’s demand that he bow to him, by entering the deliberately low doorway ‘feet first’, is funny and indicative of the cleverness and sense of cultural supremacy of the Muslims.
Ibn Fadlan, a pious diplomat who travelled on an embassy to the Volga Bulgars, was appalled by the pagan ways and uncleanliness of the locals. They’d converted to Islam but he had an uphill battle to deliver religious instruction. His report of a Slav Viking funeral tells of the rape and human sacrifice of a female slave who accompanied her master on his fiery boat into the next world. What a clash of cultures!
I loved hearing about the many valuable contributions the ‘Muslim golden age’ made to society. Public Universities, a large Library and Hospitals were founded. Philosophy and literature were studied and diverse works were written, collected and translated. There were also advances in medicine (including the first cataract surgery), mathematics (they pioneered algebra and introduced the Arabic numeral system), astronomy (they built the astrolabe and quadrant and improved navigation and map-making), art and architecture (creating arabesque decoration and mosaics, producing paper mills, and developing illuminated manuscripts and calligraphy).
The book doesn’t only dwell on the ‘good’ though. There’s plenty of bloodshed and destruction as potential rulers fought for succession and then maintained brutal suppression of any opposition. The rivalry of Sunni and Shia Muslims contributed to changes between Umayyad (Sunni) and Abbasid (Shia) caliphates over the years. (Sunnis believe political succession should be chosen by consensus, Shias believe in succession based on descendancy from Muhammad’s line). After being toppled in 750, the Umayyads established a Muslim dynasty in Cordoba, Spain which was a ‘rival Muslim court’ and also part of the ‘golden age’. Ironically, the Abbasid dynasty apparently embraced Sunni Islam once in power and disavowed support for Shia beliefs.
The Abbasid’s were obsessed with the conquest of Christian Constantinople, but minor victories were followed by setbacks. The use of ‘Greek fire’ by the Byzantine Navy was devastating! Ultimately, incursions into Eastern and Western Europe were unsuccessful.
I was surprised to learn that early Muslim dynasties in the ‘golden age’ were quite ‘inclusive’ of other religions. Although they demanded taxes from non-believers, they allowed them to practice their faith and to enter politics and commerce. This increased peace and political stability, something we could benefit from in today’s world!
Ultimately, the ‘Muslim golden age’ ended with the invasion and sacking of Baghdad in 1258, but factionalization had already started to fragment the Abbasid empire. Sadly, the Mongols (led at first by Genghis Khan) destroyed many of the Muslim world’s achievements.
It’s hard to encapsulate everything that this book covered. It was so sweeping. The book won’t appeal to everyone but history buffs, travellers and those with an inquisitive mind about civilisations will find it rewarding.
Built between two rivers, Baghdad became an international trade centre along the overland and maritime ‘Silk Road’ between India, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. The author takes the unique approach of chronicling events and making them come alive through the recorded stories of those who travelled the ‘roads and kingdoms’. These include explorers, diplomats, traders, pilgrims, soldiers, sailors, poets, musicians and others.
Fidler’s narration of the audiobook is well-paced and engaging, making sure his well-researched and comprehensive book is never dry or boring. He has a smooth voice, honed from years as a radio broadcaster, and is a pleasure to listen to.
Spanning over 500 years, the book covers the early days of Muhammad founding Islam in Medina, to its rapid expansion out of Arabia into Iraq and Iran, and the founding of the city of Baghdad. It then details the ‘golden age’ of Islam, when the Abbasid caliphs of Baghdad presided over an empire greater than the Roman Empire at its peak. It ends with the capture and ransacking of Baghdad in 1258 by the Mongols.
I enjoyed how the historical events were interwoven with the travellers tales, poetry and folk stories from books like ‘The Thousand and One Nights’. The reports of the medieval travellers are full of wonder and terror. It was definitely dangerous and difficult to travel in those days, but the fascination and strangeness far outweighed this. Many of the tales and maps of foreign lands were so accurate that they unfortunately helped later explorers to pillage ancient archaeological sites. Other tales were parables about power, romance and magic.
Al Ghazal, was an Arab poet and diplomat whose trip to Horik the Viking King was one such tale. His story of thwarting the Viking’s demand that he bow to him, by entering the deliberately low doorway ‘feet first’, is funny and indicative of the cleverness and sense of cultural supremacy of the Muslims.
Ibn Fadlan, a pious diplomat who travelled on an embassy to the Volga Bulgars, was appalled by the pagan ways and uncleanliness of the locals. They’d converted to Islam but he had an uphill battle to deliver religious instruction. His report of a Slav Viking funeral tells of the rape and human sacrifice of a female slave who accompanied her master on his fiery boat into the next world. What a clash of cultures!
I loved hearing about the many valuable contributions the ‘Muslim golden age’ made to society. Public Universities, a large Library and Hospitals were founded. Philosophy and literature were studied and diverse works were written, collected and translated. There were also advances in medicine (including the first cataract surgery), mathematics (they pioneered algebra and introduced the Arabic numeral system), astronomy (they built the astrolabe and quadrant and improved navigation and map-making), art and architecture (creating arabesque decoration and mosaics, producing paper mills, and developing illuminated manuscripts and calligraphy).
The book doesn’t only dwell on the ‘good’ though. There’s plenty of bloodshed and destruction as potential rulers fought for succession and then maintained brutal suppression of any opposition. The rivalry of Sunni and Shia Muslims contributed to changes between Umayyad (Sunni) and Abbasid (Shia) caliphates over the years. (Sunnis believe political succession should be chosen by consensus, Shias believe in succession based on descendancy from Muhammad’s line). After being toppled in 750, the Umayyads established a Muslim dynasty in Cordoba, Spain which was a ‘rival Muslim court’ and also part of the ‘golden age’. Ironically, the Abbasid dynasty apparently embraced Sunni Islam once in power and disavowed support for Shia beliefs.
The Abbasid’s were obsessed with the conquest of Christian Constantinople, but minor victories were followed by setbacks. The use of ‘Greek fire’ by the Byzantine Navy was devastating! Ultimately, incursions into Eastern and Western Europe were unsuccessful.
I was surprised to learn that early Muslim dynasties in the ‘golden age’ were quite ‘inclusive’ of other religions. Although they demanded taxes from non-believers, they allowed them to practice their faith and to enter politics and commerce. This increased peace and political stability, something we could benefit from in today’s world!
Ultimately, the ‘Muslim golden age’ ended with the invasion and sacking of Baghdad in 1258, but factionalization had already started to fragment the Abbasid empire. Sadly, the Mongols (led at first by Genghis Khan) destroyed many of the Muslim world’s achievements.
It’s hard to encapsulate everything that this book covered. It was so sweeping. The book won’t appeal to everyone but history buffs, travellers and those with an inquisitive mind about civilisations will find it rewarding.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2023
I heard Richard Fidler talk about this book at the Auckland Writers Festival in May. He was such an interesting raconteur that I bought the book immediately after the talk.
The book focusses on the rise and fall of the Abbasid empire, which, he states, at its peak was the largest contiguous empire in history. It was the Golden Age of Islam from from the rise of Muhammad in the 6th Century, through to the formation and rule of the Caliphates, to their destruction wrought by a combination of incompetence of the final two Caliphs, and the ferocity of the Mongol invaders in the 13th Century. Along the way, he charts the alliances and skirmishes with the surrounding empires including those of Rome and Constantinople. However what makes this book different are the personal stories, the descriptions of the beautiful art, poetry and song that prospered in this Golden Age, and the tales of amazing scientific and mathematical advances.
Richard Fidler is respectful to the many cultures introduced in the book. However, I can see that his propensity to cherry-pick stories from each era might be disappointing to citizens of the region, and/or those with some prior knowledge of the history. Nevertheless I think his target reader is someone like me, with little previous knowledge , but with subliminal prejudices brought about by western interpretation of events in news media. In this regard ‘The Book of Roads and Kingdoms’ succeeds in making the reader question any biassed assessment of Arab civilisation brought about by contemporary events.
While there is no evidence that Mr Fidler visited many of the places he discusses, he does have an eye for providing a contemporary insight into the historical events. One that springs to mind is where he discusses how the Abbasid empire came to an end in in 1258 when the Mongol army led by Hulagu Khan - the grandson of Genghis Khan sacked Baghdad , massacred most of its citizens, and looted any destroyed its cultural heritage (including some 36 libraries). He notes, as an aside, that after the US invaded Iraq, Osama bin Laden released a video statement in which he blamed the US Vice president Dick Cheney, and General Colin Powell, for causing more cultural devastation to Baghdad than that caused by the Mongol Hulagu.
Overall, this book is a thoroughly enjoyable and an engaging read.
The book focusses on the rise and fall of the Abbasid empire, which, he states, at its peak was the largest contiguous empire in history. It was the Golden Age of Islam from from the rise of Muhammad in the 6th Century, through to the formation and rule of the Caliphates, to their destruction wrought by a combination of incompetence of the final two Caliphs, and the ferocity of the Mongol invaders in the 13th Century. Along the way, he charts the alliances and skirmishes with the surrounding empires including those of Rome and Constantinople. However what makes this book different are the personal stories, the descriptions of the beautiful art, poetry and song that prospered in this Golden Age, and the tales of amazing scientific and mathematical advances.
Richard Fidler is respectful to the many cultures introduced in the book. However, I can see that his propensity to cherry-pick stories from each era might be disappointing to citizens of the region, and/or those with some prior knowledge of the history. Nevertheless I think his target reader is someone like me, with little previous knowledge , but with subliminal prejudices brought about by western interpretation of events in news media. In this regard ‘The Book of Roads and Kingdoms’ succeeds in making the reader question any biassed assessment of Arab civilisation brought about by contemporary events.
While there is no evidence that Mr Fidler visited many of the places he discusses, he does have an eye for providing a contemporary insight into the historical events. One that springs to mind is where he discusses how the Abbasid empire came to an end in in 1258 when the Mongol army led by Hulagu Khan - the grandson of Genghis Khan sacked Baghdad , massacred most of its citizens, and looted any destroyed its cultural heritage (including some 36 libraries). He notes, as an aside, that after the US invaded Iraq, Osama bin Laden released a video statement in which he blamed the US Vice president Dick Cheney, and General Colin Powell, for causing more cultural devastation to Baghdad than that caused by the Mongol Hulagu.
Overall, this book is a thoroughly enjoyable and an engaging read.
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