Ebook: The History of al-Ṭabarī: An Annotated Translation, Volume 34: Incipient Decline. The Caliphates of Al-Wathiq, Al-Mutawakkil, and al-Muntasir, A. D. 841-863; A.H. 227-248

The events described in this volume took place during al-Tabari's own time. Al-Tabari was thus writing "contemporary history," and his narrative, often based on first-hand reports, is drawn in vivid and arresting detail. The volume portrays the summit of "the Samarra period," following al-Mu'tasim's transfer of the 'Abbasid capital upstream from Baghdad to Samarra.