Uploaded October 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Ahmad ibn Rustah Isfahani, better known as Ibn Rusta was a 10th-century Persian explorer and geographer born in Rosta district, Isfahan, Persia. He wrote a geographical compendium known as Book of Precious Records, based on first hand accounts and his own travels. His information on the non-Islamic peoples of Europe and Inner Asia makes him a useful source for these obscure regions and for the prehistory of the Turks and other steppe peoples.
This is a direct quote from Ibn Rusta, written between 903 and 913.
Music:-
From purple-planet.com
- Chimera
- Fallen Angels
- Wrong Turn
Kevin MacLeod - Disquiet
youtube.com/watch?v=eWYGWeQ5cU4
History Time is now a podcast. You can find us on iTunes.
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Are you a budding artist, illustrator, cartographer, or music producer? Send me a message! No matter how professional you are or even if you’re just starting out, I can always use new music and images in my videos. Get in touch! I’d love to hear from you.
I try to use copyright free images at all times. However if I have used any of your artwork or maps then please don't hesitate to contact me and I’ll be more than happy to give the appropriate credit.
Ahmad ibn Rustah Isfahani, better known as Ibn Rusta was a 10th-century Persian explorer and geographer born in Rosta district, Isfahan, Persia. He wrote a geographical compendium known as Book of Precious Records, based on first hand accounts and his own travels. His information on the non-Islamic peoples of Europe and Inner Asia makes him a useful source for these obscure regions and for the prehistory of the Turks and other steppe peoples.
This is a direct quote from Ibn Rusta, written between 903 and 913.
Music:-
From purple-planet.com
- Chimera
- Fallen Angels
- Wrong Turn
Kevin MacLeod - Disquiet
youtube.com/watch?v=eWYGWeQ5cU4
History Time is now a podcast. You can find us on iTunes.
Become a patron for as little as a dollar a month to vote on upcoming videos & help keep the channel going:-
patreon.com/historytimeUK
—Join the History Time community on social media:-
Facebook Page:-
facebook.com/HistoryTimeOfficial
Facebook Group:-
facebook.com/groups/410224606007519
Instagram:-
instagram.com/historytime_ig
Twitter:-
twitter.com/HistoryTimePete
Are you a budding artist, illustrator, cartographer, or music producer? Send me a message! No matter how professional you are or even if you’re just starting out, I can always use new music and images in my videos. Get in touch! I’d love to hear from you.
I try to use copyright free images at all times. However if I have used any of your artwork or maps then please don't hesitate to contact me and I’ll be more than happy to give the appropriate credit.

![Ancient Chinese Historian Describes The Xiongnu // Before The Mongols // Book of Han (111 AD)
A thousand years before the Mongols, China had to build the worlds longest wall to defend against incursions from a truly ancient enemy: The Xiongnu. Here we have an extract from the Book Of Han that describes their customs and origins - a people amongst whom the strong and robust were held in esteem, while the old and feeble were treated with contempt.
https://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/texts/hantxt1.html#beginning
If this channel is something you like, if you think saving primary sources is important, head over to the patreon and join up!
patreon.com/voicesofthepast
— Don’t forget to subscribe to my brothers channel History Time, where he makes full length historical documentaries:-
https://www.youtube.com/historytime
— Music courtesy of:-
- Epidemic Sound
— Voice actor & editor:-
David Kelly
We try to use copyright free images at all times. However if we have used any of your artwork or maps then please dont hesitate to contact me and we’ll be more than happy to give the appropriate credit.
Thanks to:
Thomas Lessman
Philg88 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27876174
https://worldhistorypics.weebly.com/about.html
JesseW900
Khiruge [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)] Ancient Chinese Historian Describes The Xiongnu // Before The Mongols // Book of Han (111 AD)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wnNEAQkADFM/mqdefault.jpg)


![Japanese Historian Describes First Contact With Europeans // 16th cent. Teppo-ki // Primary Source
Get MagellanTV here: https://try.magellantv.com/voicesofthepast & get an exclusive offer extended to our viewers: an extra month FREE. MagellanTV is a new kind of streaming service run by filmmakers with 2,000+ documentaries! Check out our personal recommendation and MagellanTV’s exclusive playlists: https://www.magellantv.com/explore/history
Here we have something special - the Japanese perspective of the first Europeans in Japan. In 1543 two Portuguese traders - men whose physical features differed from the locals - arrived on a Chinese junk, with a gift that would change the course of Japanese history. Recorded for posterity by Nanpo Bushi half a century later, this account gives us the view of a people coming into contact with Europe for the first time.
Translated by Olof G Lidin in his book Tanegashima: The Arrival Of Europe In Japan and published by NIAS press: http://www.niaspress.dk
If this channel is something you like, if you think saving primary sources is important, head over to the patreon and join up!
patreon.com/voicesofthepast
— Don’t forget to subscribe to my brothers channel History Time, where he makes full length historical documentaries:-
https://www.youtube.com/historytime
— Music courtesy of:-
- Epidemic Sound
— Voice actor & editor:-
David Kelly
We try to use copyright free images at all times. However if we have used any of your artwork or maps then please dont hesitate to contact me and we’ll be more than happy to give the appropriate credit.
Thanks to:
Image Credit: NASA Goddard/MODIS Rapid Response Team
alisdair [CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]
ryochiji [CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]
みっち
PHGCOM Japanese Historian Describes First Contact With Europeans // 16th cent. Teppo-ki // Primary Source](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xZnaCel6LdU/mqdefault.jpg)
