The mountainous terrain of Persia, Syria and Iran during the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries held much more than nature's deadly touch. These lands were run amok with of heretics, murderers and mischievous schemers - the Assassins, mountain dwellers who held their political grip in the same hand as a dagger. Their story continues to inspire historians and scholars to seek out how they held their fragile relation with the surrounding Seljūq Empire for around 160 years. The question is more easily answered by some, and the key term is "terror." The fear that withheld the many enemies of the Assassins from speaking ill of them was exactly what made them the first ever Islamic terrorist group.