The Travels of Ibn Battuta reviewed

Take a journey through time with The Travels of Ibn Battuta review. Discover its vivid landscapes and exotic characters and why Ibn Battuta is still celebrated today.

Ibn Battuta is a world most famous Arab explorer. His remarkable journey and adventures, documented in The Travels of Ibn Battuta, have fascinated adventurers, academics, and readers from all backgrounds for centuries.

This article will outline his incredible journey and examine his observations about the various cultures he encountered along the way. It will also evaluate the historical impact of this pioneering traveler on subsequent generations of adventure seekers.

The Travels of Ibn Battuta and the journeys that inspired the book

The Travels of Ibn Battuta is an insightful, engaging, and vibrant account of the journey taken by the 14th-century Moroccan traveler and scholar Ibn Battuta. This book meticulously chronicles the expansive travels he undertook to more than 40 countries across three continents, from Morocco in 1325 to China in 1354.

The Travels of Ibn Battuta is a fascinating account of the envoy's remarkable travels over a span of 29 years - from early adulthood to middle age - and gives us a comprehensive glimpse at the various cultures he encountered during his journeys.

In the book, he shares detailed descriptions of lands, events, customs, religions, economies, and people he observed and interacted with during his voyages. He also offers valuable insights into how those societies functioned and how they were organized while highlighting certain features that defined them.

As well as providing a captivating narrative of history spanning nearly three decades, The Travels Of Ibn Battuta serves as an important window through which we can gain insight into various cultures and legal scholars across different regions. It showcases diverse places and peoples with all their variety, beauty, and richness - something which is often overlooked in conventional histories that usually focus on political developments.

It offers readers evidence-based world history about numerous aspects such as politics, religion, and social customs rather than relying solely on biased interpretations or superficial accounts from other sources.

From Morocco to China - The complete account of Ibn Battuta's journeys

Ibn Battuta is primarily known for his extensive travels throughout the Muslim world during the 14th century, spanning nearly three decades. He is often considered one of the greatest travelers of all time and went on to write a detailed account of his travels in a book known as "The Rihla." He was born to a family of renowned scholars in the Islamic world. His immediate family belonged to a Berber tribe by the name Lewata.

His journey began in 1325, when he set out from Tangier in his native Morocco and headed toward North Africa, determined to study the Dar al-Islam (World of Islam). During his expedition through the Sahara desert, he visited Tunis, Alexandria, and Cairo in Egypt before continuing to Jerusalem, Damascus (in Syria), Medina, Baghdad, and Mecca, completing the Hajj pilgrimage along the way. In Mecca, he encountered many talented Muslim scholars.

He continued his journey toward the Middle East into Iraq and Persia (Iran). He first arrived in Tabriz, where he encountered various warring factions between local rulers and Mongol invaders that occupied most of Persia at that time. He also made stops in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, where he experienced many marvels of traveling, including seeing nomadic tents for the first time.

Continuing towards Baghdad after leaving Uzbekistan, Ibn Battuta traveled through Anatolia (the land of the Turks), Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), and the Volga shores. Here, he encountered Byzantine architecture, which further intensified his admiration for Islamic architecture that had begun as he traversed Muslim cities like Damascus and Fez throughout earlier portions of his travels.

Ibn Battuta, accompanied by an entourage, set sail from Jiddah on a remarkable journey. Sailing along the Red Sea coast, he reached Yemen and continued his voyage southward along the eastern African seaboard. He made stops in esteemed trading cities such as Kilwa (Tanzania) before returning to Arabia via Oman, Hormuz, and the shores of southern Persia. He then spent some more time in Anatolia. During this remarkable voyage, Ibn Battuta encountered many exotic peoples and cultures, giving him invaluable insight into life on the Indian Ocean coasts.

From 1332-1333, Ibn Battuta visited lands belonging to The Golden Horde and Chagatai Khanate in Central Asia before making his way further east through Afghanistan into India. In Delhi, he was received by the Sultan of Delhi at that time - Muhammad bin Tughluq - with whom he stayed for seven years. During that time, he served as a judge (qadi) after impressing the Sultan with his eloquence and mastery of Muslim and Hindu teachings.

In 1341 Ibn Battuta decided it was time to escape from Delhi amid political turmoil. His preferred destination was China, but he had to make detours into Sri Lanka and the Maldives in search of a reliable sailor. He then sailed to Sumatra, Indonesia, before arriving at the Chinese port of Quanzhou, near Xiamen. Battuta stayed In China for almost a year, exploring its majestic cities from Beijing all the way down to Quanzhou. After that, Battuta decided to return home to Morocco via Fez.

Resuming his travels again after a brief period in Morocco, Ibn Battuta headed southwards, where he visited Granada in Spain, followed by Mali in West Africa, where he met king Mansa Suleyman. Finally, he traveled back home to write a book documenting all his travels spanning almost 30 years. The book is titled A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling. However, it’s commonly known as The Rihla.

Many other works have been written to celebrate Battuta's incredible journey. A good example would be The Adventures of Ibn Battuta by Dunn Ross.

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FAQ

How did Ibn Battuta impact the world?

His writings are considered some of the most important works in Arabic literature and provide valuable information about the medieval world.

Did Ibn Battuta get the Black Death?

No, Ibn Battuta did not get the Black Death.

Is Ibn Battuta the greatest explorer of all time?

Considering the distance he traveled and the richness of his voyages in terms of detail, Ibn Battuta is certainly worthy of being crowned "the greatest explorer."

What other explorers did Ibn Battuta meet?

Ibn Battuta met many people during his travels, including Mongol rulers, Chinese merchants, and sultans from North Africa and the Middle East. He also encountered merchants from India and Central Asia, Christian priests, rulers of Muslim states, and even slavers.

Who did Ibn Battuta travel with?

Initially, he traveled alone but was later joined by servants and a harem.