Abu-l-Qasim 'Ubeidullah-ibn-' Abdullah-ibn-Ibn Khordadbeh is the author of the earliest extant Arabic book on administrative geography. His grandfather Orradamb was a Zoroastrian who converted to Islam at the insistence of the Barmakids. His father Abd-Allah was in 201 / 816-17 the governor of Al-Mamun in Tabarestan, where he campaigned in the mountains and overthrew the local ruler Shahriar b. Sharvin (Tabari, III, p. 1014-15; tr. XXXII, p. 64; compare Rabino, p. 262). His son was apparently born in Khorasan, but grew up in Baghdad, receiving the cultural education of Adib and studying music with his father's friend, the famous singer Eshak Mavsheli, who sparked his interest in music. Upon reaching maturity, he became director of the postal and intelligence service in Jebal, and then in Samara and Baghdad. Obviously, it was the experience gained here that he used for his road book "Kitab Al-Masalik Wal-Mamalik", compiled in its first version when he was in Samarkand, in ca. 232/846. He spent most of his later life as a benefactor (Nadim) of the Caliphs and Masudi (Morūj VIII, PP.88-100; ed. Pellat, V, PP. 125-31) describes how he gave Caliph Al-Mohammed a lengthy exposition of the lute and its development, for which he received an honorary mantle. Fehrest (ed. Tajaddud, p. 165, tr. 326) lists eight works of Ibn Khordadbeh: 1. "Kitab al-masalik" - "geography"; 2. "Adab as Samakh" - "a book on the etiquette of listening to music"; 3. "Kitab Jamharat Ansab Al-Fars Van-Nawakil" - "A book about the geniology of the Persians, the deported and resettled peoples"; 4. "Kitab Al-Tabik" - "The Book of Cookery"; 5. "Kitab Ash-sharab" - "The Book of Drinking"; 6. "Kitab All Lakhv Val Malakhi" - "The Book of Music and Musical Instruments" (Publishing House of Khalifa, Beirut, 1964); 7. "Kitab Al Anwah" - "The book about the rising and setting of the stars"; 8. "Kitab Al-Nudamah Wal Julasah" - "The Book of Good Companions". Masoudi (Moruj; ed. Pellat, I, p. 14) and Qalibi (Ḡorar, p. 130) and referred to him as "Kitab al-Kabir fi-t-tariq." Masudi praises her for her detailed information on the kings of Persia and others peoples. "Kitab Al masalik wa-l-mamalik" has its significance in the development of geographical science in the Islamic world. Ibn Khordadbeh provides very detailed information on postal routes through the Caliphate, intermediate points and distances between them, expressed in farces. It starts from Sawad Iraq and extends north and east through Persia to the land of the Turks, Farhan and Sindh, and then south and west to the Arabian Peninsula, Syria, Armenia, the Byzantine borders, Egypt and the Maghreb. It includes details of the tax revenues of several provinces of the Islamic world, and it had a special bearing on the titularity of various local rulers, their officials and their commanders, including the Byzantines. Masoudi claimed that it was the best job of its kind in his time. It was widely used by Ibn Al Fakih and Samanid vizier Jayhani for his lost guide. Ibn Hawkal always took with him a copy of this book about his travels (p. 329, tr. Kramers, p. 322). According to Mukaddasi, Ibn Khordadbe's work was too condensed to be of value, but Mukaddasi himself used her routes for his own book. In fact, the work of Ibn Khordadbe is not only a catalog of routes and stages, but includes many valuable historical sources.

Excerpts from the book of Ibn Khordadbeh - "The Book of Ways and Kingdoms"

The titles of the kings of the earth The kings of the Turks, Tibetans and Khazars are all called "Khakan" ... The kings whom Ardashir calls shahs: Buzurk-Armeshan-shah; Azarbazkan Shah; Allan Shah (Mukan); Barashkan Shah (in Azerbaijan); Shiryan Shah (in Azerbaijan) These are the titles of the kings. Jerby News Jerbi, the countries of the north, make up a fourth of the entire state, and the northern waspechback, during the time of the Persians was called Azarbazkan-ispehbed.This area includes: Armenia, Azerbaijan ... Bebr, Tailasan, Khazars, Allans, Slavs and Abar are still located in this country (Avars). The way to Aderbeydzhan and to Armenia. Travelers leave the Khorasan road at Sinn-Sumeir. From Sinn-Sumeir to Dinavir 5 farsakhs (2 crossings). From Dinaver to Zanjan there are 29 crossings. Then to Meragi 11 crossings. Then to Meyanij 2 crossings. Then there are 11 transitions to Ardabil, and finally to Varsan, which is the most extreme point of the Aderbeidzhan region, 11 transitions. Cities and volosts in Azerbaijan. Meraga; Mayanidge; Ardabil; Varsan; Sisear; Berza; Saburkhast (a: A: "and Sa-r-hast", B: "and Sar-hast".); Tabriz, are in the possession of Muhammad-ibn-ar-Rabbad Azdiyts; Merand, belonging to Ibn-Bagis (b: Named "Muhammad".); Huwei; Kulsera; Mukan belongs to Shakla; Berzend; Janza, city of Abarviza; Jabravan; Nariz, the city of Ali-ibn-Murra; Urmia, city of Zardushta 2; Salamas; Ash-Shiz, and in it the fire temple of Azerjushnas (c: A: Azerhash.), Very revered by magicians; every king, before accession to the throne, makes a pilgrimage from Medain here on foot. Next is Bajarvan; al-Salak volost; Sindabay volost; al-Buzz; Urm parish; Belvankerge; Serat volost; Daskiaver and Meyanherj volost (d: A: "Mubikherj" B: "Malbuhuj".). The paths from Denawer to Berzend. From Dinavir to al-Khabarjan 7 farsakhs. Then 6 farsakhs to the Van hill. Further to Sisar 7 farsakhs. Then to Sisar. Andarab 4 farsakhs. Further to Baylakan 5 farsakhs. Further to Berze 6 farsakhs. Then there are 8 farsakhs to Saburkhast, then 7 farsakhs to Meraga, then 11 farsakhs to Dakharrakan, then 9 farsakhs to Tabriz, 10 farsakhs to Merand, then 4 farsakhs to al-Khan. Finally, 6 farsakhs in Khuvei. From Meragi to Kulsere 10 farsahs. ... - Further up to Serat 10 farsakh. - Then to Nir 5 farsakhs. - Then to Ardabil 5 farsakhs. - Finally in Mukan 10 farsakhs. From Ardabil to Khushsh 8 farsakhs. Further to Berzend 6 farsakhs. Berzend was destroyed, but Afshin rebuilt it and settled in it. From Berzend to Sadarasp, where Afshin's first trenches were, 2 farsakhs. Further to Zakharkash (a: B: "Raharkas".), places of Afshin's second trenches 3, 2 farsakhs. Further to Du-ar-Rud (b: Tabari: "Ruz-ar-Ruz".), places of Afshin's third trenches, 2 farsakhs. Finally, to Buzz, the city of Babek, 1 farces. The poet Hussein-ibn-Dahhav says: "He left nothing of the inhabitants of Buzz except images similar to those of the Irem." The path from Berzend to the Belasadzhan desert, and from there to Varsan, the extreme point of the Azerbeydjan region, 12 farsakh .From Meragi to Janza 5 6 farsakhs. Then to Musa-Abad 5 farsakhs. Further to Berze 4 farsakhs. Then to Jabrovan 8 farsakhs. Then to Nariz 4 farsakhs. Then to Urmia (a: B: adds: “the city of Zardusht”. ) 14 Farsakhs. Finally, to Salmas, partly by land, partly along Lake Urmia, 6 Farsakhs. Kharaj Aderbeidzhan reach 2,000,000 dirgems. The path along which Muhammad-i walked bn-Khumeid by land when he brought out the leaders of the uprising in Aderbeidzhan: he rode from Meragi to Berz, then to Sisar, then to Shiz, which is 4 farsakh away from Dinaver, and then to Dinaver. The way to Armenia . From Varsan to Berd'a 8 transitions. Then to Mansur, which is in Armenia, 4 transitions. From Berd'a to Tiflis 10 transitions. From Berd'a to Bab-ul-Abvab 15 transitions. From Berd'a to Dabil 7 transitions .From Meranda to the valley (river) 10 Farsakhs. From there to Nashav there are 10 farsakhs. Then to Dabil 20 (a: B B is corrected to “ten farsakhs”.) Farsakhs. From Varsan to Darman 3 farsakhs. - Then, to Baylakap there are 9 farsakhs. - Further up to Berd'a 14 farsakhs. From Berd'a to Buzz 30 farsakhs. Armenia I: Sisadzhan, Arran, Tiflis, Berda'a, Baylakan, Kabala and Sharvan. Armenia II: Jurzan (b: A: "Khurzan".), Sugdabil, Bab-Feiruz-Qubad and al-Lakzy. Armenia III: Busfurrajan, Dabil, Siraj-Tayr, Bagravend and Nashava. Armenia IV: Shimshat, Khilat, Kalikala, Arjish and Badjuneis. The regions of Arran, Jurzan and Sisajan are in the kingdom of the Khazars. The regions of Dabil, Nashava, Siraj, Bagravend, Khilat and Badjunais are in the state of Rum. The Persians conquered the entire side to the lands of Sharvan, where the rock of Moses is located, from which a source of living water gushes.In the region of Shimshat, not far from Hisn Ziyad, is the tomb of Safwan-ibn-Mu'attal from the Sulyaym tribe, the ambassador of God - may the Lord have mercy on him ! A tree grows not far from it, and none of the people knows what kind of tree it is. Its fruits are similar to almonds, they are eaten with the skin, and they are sweeter than honey. Qubad 7 built the cities of Baylakan, Berda'a and Kabala and built a brick wall. Anusharvan 8 founded the cities of Shabiran, Kerkera and Bab-ul-Abwab. And Abwab (gate) is 360 castles or fortifications in mountain gorges. He also founded Belendzher and Semender and built the city of Sugdabil in the Jurzan land; there he built his castle and named it : "Bab-Feiruz-Qubad". Khuvey also belongs to Armenia, and as-Sanaria, Albak, Kisal, Abkhaz and the fortress of al-Dardaman, Khaizan, Shakki and the city of Bab. Al-Abwab These are actually exits from the gorges formed by the Kabk mountains, protected by fortifications, of which the outstanding are: Bab-Sul, Bab-al-Lan, Bab-ash-Shabiran, | Bab-Lazika, Bab-Barika, Bab-Samsakhi, Bab -Sahib-as-Serir (the owner of the throne), Bab-Filan-shah, Bab-Karunan, Bab-Tabarseran-shah, Bab-Liran-shah, Bab-Liban-shah and Bab-Anusharvan . The city of Semender lies behind Bab, and the whole country behind him is in the power of the Khazars . In the story of Moses - may salvation be over him! - it says: “Don't you remember when we stopped at the rock? I forgot the fish that came to life. " The rock is Sharvan's rock, the sea is the Jilan sea (a: A: "Jailan".) And the city is the city of Bajarvan. "They continued on their way until they met a young man, and he (unknown) killed him", in the Khaizan district. Kharaj of Armenia 4,000,000 dirgems. The path from Djurdjan to Hamlidj, the capital of the Khazars I mentioned this city here because it is located in the northern part, from Djurdjan to Hamlidj, the capital of Khazaria, lying on the banks of the river that leaves the lands of the Slavs and flows into the Djurdjan Sea, with a favorable wind 8 days of sailing. : Hamlidge, Belenger and Beida. Al-Bukhturi said: “Glory in Iraq was added to that which was considered for him in Hamlij or Belendzher.” Behind the Bab are the kingdoms of Suvar, al-Lakz, Allan, Filan and Muscat, the kingdom of Sahib al-Serir and the city of Semender. the land is divided into four parts: 1st Arufa (Europe); 2nd Lubia (Libya); 3rd Ityufia (Ethiopia); 4th Ascutia (Scythia); the latter includes Armenia, Khorasan and the lands of the Turks and Khazars. About the amazing transformations of water. There is a stream in Azerbaijan, the waters of which, after flowing for some time, harden and turn into a ridge of stones. About amazing mountains. The al-Arj mountain range, located between Mecca and Medina, stretches towards Syria until it connects with Lebanon near Hims and with Sapir near Damascus; then it stretches further until it connects with the mountains of Antioch and Massisa, and is called ... zdesal-Luqam; further it connects with the heights of Malatia, Shimshat and Kalikala and extends to the Khazar Sea, on which Bab-ul-Abvab lies. There it bears the name: Kabk. Who is sent (for presentation to Khosroy) from the lands of the Khazars and Allans, for those the place of waiting for Bab-ul-Abvab. Khosroy is informed about them by letter, and they wait until his order regarding them comes. The chapter on the headwaters The origins of Ar-Rass, the rivers of Armenia, are located near Kalikala. It flows through Arran and the Arran River flows into it; then it flows near Varsan, until it reaches Mejma '(the place of connection); the merging of the two seas is mentioned by the Lord - He is Glorified and Holy! Ar-Rass and Kura are connected, and between them is the city of Baylakan; having united they flow together until it flows into the Djurdjan Sea. The sources of Ispidrud are at the gates of the city of Sisar. The sources of Shahirud are at Talakan Reisky. They join and flow into the Djurdjan Sea. Translated from Arabic by N.A. Karaulov Source: "Information of Arab writers about the Caucasus, Armenia and Aderbeydzhan": III. Ibn-Khordadbe // Collection of materials for the description of localities and tribes of the Caucasus, Vol. 32. Tiflis. 1903