Ibn Battuta was a Muslim scholar who travelled the known world in the fourteenth century. The son of a qadi, or Muslim judge, he was born in Tangier, Morocco, to a wealthy family of scholars. At the age of 22, having finished his education, Ibn Battuta went on a pilgrimage to Mecca in the year 1325. After reaching Mecca, he decided to continue travelling, which he did for the next 29 years of his life. During these years, Ibn Battuta met many rulers and held important positions in foreign lands. His travels spanned from West Africa all the way to China in the Far East. He covered approximately 75,000 miles by land and sea, which is three times the distance Venetian explorer Marco Polo covered. in 1354 Ibn Battuta returned to Morocco and dictated an account of his travels to Ibn Juzayy, who
…show more content…
Ibn Battuta should be considered the greatest traveler in world history; his journey, documented in the Rihla, was an important account of the fourteenth century world for the importance of its content as well as its uniqueness.
Throughout the Rihla, Ibn Battuta shares his discoveries on the history, culture, and geography of many parts of the world; these discoveries also included civilizations that were previously not known. The beginning of his journey took him through Northern Africa, in which Ibn Battuta visited places such as Cairo and Alexandria. When Ibn Battuta reached Cairo, he described its greatness and wealth (since it was in a Golden Age in the fourteenth century), as well as culturally important places within Cairo. Also, his geographic description of the Nile River was followed by one about how the towns and cities nearby were culturally connected to it. Further along his route to Mecca, Ibn Battuta visited Damascus. His accounts of the city reveal the customs and traditions of the people; these include funeral customs and the tradition of generosity among themselves as well as towards travelers. Travelling through Eastern Africa and
Ibn Battuta should be considered the greatest traveler in world history; his journey, documented in the Rihla, was an important account of the fourteenth century world for the importance of its content as well as its uniqueness.
Throughout the Rihla, Ibn Battuta shares his discoveries on the history, culture, and geography of many parts of the world; these discoveries also included civilizations that were previously not known. The beginning of his journey took him through Northern Africa, in which Ibn Battuta visited places such as Cairo and Alexandria. When Ibn Battuta reached Cairo, he described its greatness and wealth (since it was in a Golden Age in the fourteenth century), as well as culturally important places within Cairo. Also, his geographic description of the Nile River was followed by one about how the towns and cities nearby were culturally connected to it. Further along his route to Mecca, Ibn Battuta visited Damascus. His accounts of the city reveal the customs and traditions of the people; these include funeral customs and the tradition of generosity among themselves as well as towards travelers. Travelling through Eastern Africa and