al-Mas'udi

Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali al-Mas'udi (282–346 AH) was an Arab historian, geographer, and traveler of wide-ranging intellectual interests. Known as the 'Herodotus of the Arabs,' he traveled extensively across the Muslim world, India, East Africa, and other regions, recording his observations and compiling historical and geographical knowledge. His major work Muruj al-Dhahab wa-Ma'adin al-Jawhar (Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems) is a universal history combining history, geography, natural science, and social observation. His work is a primary source for the history of the Islamic world in the 10th century CE.