T R AV E L T R E N D S
Meetings
BALTIC
ISLAMIC HERITAGE TRAIL Islam in the Baltic has a surprisingly long history, with evidence of Muslim travelers and geographers in the area as early as the 10th century. However beyond the odd adventure and mapping exercise, the Baltic held little interest for them. The first real Muslim community was established in the 14th century in Lithuania when Muslim Tatars from the Crimea were brought over by Lithuania’s Duke Vytautas to help with fighting the intolerant Christian Teutonic Knights. These Tatars were invited to stay and have been resident here for over 600 years now. 80 DESTINATION RIYADH JANUARY 2016
In this Baltic Islamic heritage itinerary, Tharik Hussain takes us on a magical journey through the region’s Muslim history, one country at a time, concluding in sleepy little Lithuanian villages that are still home to what might just be Europe’s oldest surviving Muslim community.
ESTONIA
Estonian History Museum
The Estonianan History Museum is housed in Tallinn’s Great Guild Hall and contains the earliest evidence of Islam in the Baltics. These are Abbasid, Samanid and Karachanid coins minted as early as the eighth century believed to have been dropped in the area by ancient Viking traders. Estonian History Museum, Great Guild Hall, Pikk 17, 10123, Tallinn. Web: ajaloomuseum.ee
COURTESY PHOTO/ bpr.berkeley.edu • themathematicaltourist.wordpress.com • inspirock.com
The region’s Muslim history.