Arsania
Encyclopedia
Artania or Arsania was one of the three centers of the Saqaliba
(early East Slavs) described in a lost book by Abu Zayd al-Balkhi (dating from ca. 920) and mentioned in works by some of his followers (Ibn Hawqal
, Al-Istakhri, Hudud ul-'alam). The two other centers were Slavia
(tentatively identified with the land of Ilmen Slavs
, see Rus Khaganate) and Kuyaba
(usually identified with Kiev
).
Ibn Hawqal
claims that nobody has ever visited Arsa (the capital of al-Arsaniya) because the locals kill every foreigner attempting to penetrate their land. They are involved in trade with Kuyaba
, selling sable furs, lead, and a modicum of slaves.
Modern historians have been unable to pinpoint the location of Artania. A linguistic line of argument leads some historians to such far-away places as Cape Arkona
on the Baltic Sea
and the land of the Erzya
(also known as Mordva). George Vernadsky
located Arsa on the Taman Peninsula
(see Tmutarakan
), while Vladimir Minorsky connected "Arsa" with Ryazan
. No archaeological confirmation of these linguistic speculations has ever been produced.
Modern Russian historiography tends to identify Artania with the land of the Merya serving the Volga trade route
. Archaeological evidence points to Sarskoe Gorodishche and Timerevo
as its main centers. The native name of either town remains unknown; either may have been called Arsa in a native dialect.
Saqaliba
Saqaliba refers to the Slavs, particularly Slavic slaves and mercenaries in the medieval Arab world, in the Middle East, North Africa, Sicily and Al-Andalus. It is generally thought that the Arabic term is a Byzantine loanword: saqlab, siklab, saqlabi etc. is a corruption of Greek Sklavinoi for...
(early East Slavs) described in a lost book by Abu Zayd al-Balkhi (dating from ca. 920) and mentioned in works by some of his followers (Ibn Hawqal
Ibn Hawqal
Muḥammad Abū’l-Qāsim Ibn Ḥawqal was a 10th century Muslim writer, geographer, and chronicler. His famous work, written in 977, is called Ṣūrat al-’Arḍ ....
, Al-Istakhri, Hudud ul-'alam). The two other centers were Slavia
Slavia
Slavia may refer to:* Medieval toponymy** One of the tribal centers of early East Slavs, see Saqaliba** The medieval name for the Wendish settlement area** The medieval name for the duchy of Pomerania** The medieval name for Mecklenburg...
(tentatively identified with the land of Ilmen Slavs
Ilmen Slavs
The Ilmen Slavs was the northernmost tribe of the Early East Slavs, which inhabited the shores of the Lake Ilmen and the basin of the rivers of Volkhov, Lovat, Msta, and the upper stream of the Mologa River in the 8th to 10th centuries....
, see Rus Khaganate) and Kuyaba
Kuyaba
Kuyavia, Kuyabia or Kuyaba was one of the three centers of the Saqaliba described in a lost book by Abu Zayd al-Balkhi Kuyavia, Kuyabia or Kuyaba was one of the three centers of the Saqaliba (early East Slavs) described in a lost book by Abu Zayd al-Balkhi Kuyavia, Kuyabia or Kuyaba was one of the...
(usually identified with Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
).
Ibn Hawqal
Ibn Hawqal
Muḥammad Abū’l-Qāsim Ibn Ḥawqal was a 10th century Muslim writer, geographer, and chronicler. His famous work, written in 977, is called Ṣūrat al-’Arḍ ....
claims that nobody has ever visited Arsa (the capital of al-Arsaniya) because the locals kill every foreigner attempting to penetrate their land. They are involved in trade with Kuyaba
Kuyaba
Kuyavia, Kuyabia or Kuyaba was one of the three centers of the Saqaliba described in a lost book by Abu Zayd al-Balkhi Kuyavia, Kuyabia or Kuyaba was one of the three centers of the Saqaliba (early East Slavs) described in a lost book by Abu Zayd al-Balkhi Kuyavia, Kuyabia or Kuyaba was one of the...
, selling sable furs, lead, and a modicum of slaves.
Modern historians have been unable to pinpoint the location of Artania. A linguistic line of argument leads some historians to such far-away places as Cape Arkona
Cape Arkona
Cape Arkona is a cape on the island of Rügen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Cape Arkona is the tip of the Wittow peninsula, just a few kilometres north of the Jasmund National Park....
on the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
and the land of the Erzya
Erzya
Erzya could refer to:*Erzya language, a Uralic language spoken in Russia.*Erzya Oblasts, the areas of Russian in which Erzya is spoken.*Erzya literature, literature written in the Erzya language....
(also known as Mordva). George Vernadsky
George Vernadsky
George Vernadsky , Russian: Гео́ргий Влади́мирович Верна́дский) was a Russian-American historian and an author of numerous books on Russian history.- European years :...
located Arsa on the Taman Peninsula
Taman peninsula
The Taman Peninsula is a peninsula in the present-day Krasnodar Krai of Russia. It is bounded on the north by the Sea of Azov, on the west by the Strait of Kerch and on the south by the Black Sea. The peninsula has evolved over the past two millennia from a chain of islands into the peninsula it is...
(see Tmutarakan
Tmutarakan
Tmutarakan was a Mediaeval Russian principality and trading town that controlled the Cimmerian Bosporus, the passage from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov. Its site was the ancient Greek colony of Hermonassa . It was situated on the Taman peninsula, in the present-day Krasnodar Krai of Russia,...
), while Vladimir Minorsky connected "Arsa" with Ryazan
Ryazan
Ryazan is a city and the administrative center of Ryazan Oblast, Russia. It is located on the Oka River southeast of Moscow. Population: The strategic bomber base Dyagilevo is just west of the city, and the air base of Alexandrovo is to the southeast as is the Ryazan Turlatovo Airport...
. No archaeological confirmation of these linguistic speculations has ever been produced.
Modern Russian historiography tends to identify Artania with the land of the Merya serving the Volga trade route
Volga trade route
In the Middle Ages, the Volga trade route connected Northern Europe and Northwestern Russia with the Caspian Sea, via the Volga River. The Rus used this route to trade with Muslim countries on the southern shores of the Caspian Sea, sometimes penetrating as far as Baghdad...
. Archaeological evidence points to Sarskoe Gorodishche and Timerevo
Timerevo
Timerevo is an archaeological site near the village of Bolshoe Timeryovo, seven kilometers southwest of Yaroslavl, Russia, which yielded the largest deposits of early medieval Arabic coins in Northern Europe.- Description and history :...
as its main centers. The native name of either town remains unknown; either may have been called Arsa in a native dialect.