The historical referents of the term “assassin,” the Hashshashin were a secret society of Ismaili Shia Muslims who specialized in politically motivated killings of Crusaders and Muslim rulers. Much of the lore surrounding the feared sect, which originated in Persia and was active from 1090 to 1272, stems from Marco Polo’s likely fictional account of his visit to the city of Alamut in 1273. What drug is believed to be the root of the term “Hashshashin,” and what was its connection to the sect? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary