Iran, Islamic Republic of expeditions

Zheng He was a famous Chinese explorer who is known for his Treasure Voyages, a series of expeditions sponsored by the Ming dynasty between 1405 and 1433. These voyages involved a massive fleet of ships that traveled to Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, East Africa, and the Horn of Africa. The main goals of the Treasure Voyages were to spread Chinese culture and diplomacy, gather tribute from foreign lands, and establish trade routes. They also helped establish China as a major maritime power and brought back valuable knowledge about the world beyond China's borders.

Ahmad Ibn Fadlan was a 10th-century Arab traveler and writer who is known for his account of a journey he made to the Volga region in present-day Russia. His mission was to serve as an ambassador from the Abbasid Caliphate, the ruling Islamic dynasty at the time, to the king of the Bulgars, a Turkic people who lived in the region. Ibn Fadlan's account of his journey, known as the Risala (or "Book of Instruction"), is an important source of information about the culture and society of the Bulgars and other peoples he encountered during his travels. In it, he describes the customs and practices of the Bulgars, as well as their religious beliefs and rituals. He also provides detailed accounts of the physical appearance and behavior of the people he encountered, and gives descriptions of the landscapes and natural features of the region. Despite the wealth of information contained in the Risala, it is not a particularly well-known work, and has been largely overshadowed by other, more famous accounts of medieval travel and exploration. However, it remains an important primary source for historians and students of medieval culture and society.