Introduction Summary

The introduction provides the reader with detailed background information on the Ibn Fadlan Manuscript. In A.D. 921, the king of Bagdad sends Ibn Fadlan north to the king of the Bulgars. However, Ibn Fadlan's journey is interrupted when he encounters a group of Viking warriors and is forced to accompany the band on a mission to kill mist monsters. After being gone for three years, Ibn Fadlan returns to Bagdad and records his adventure in an official court document. Although the original document no longer exists, there are several fragmentary documents which now constitute the manuscript.

Following the discussion of the manuscript, Crichton discusses the differences between Ibn Fadlan's observations about the Vikings and the common European view of the Northmen. Crichton reviews the numerous ways that show the Vikings were not the barbarians Europeans made them out to be. The Viking lifestyle...