The Book of Route and Realms was written by Abu Ubaydallah Al-Barki in the year 1067 to 1068. The author, Abu Al-Barki, is reliable because he was a first-hand witness to the events and happenings of that period of time. The role of the author is not directly stated in the document; however, from the information provided, we can infer that he was a Muslim leader among the people of Awkar. This document was intended for the people of Ghana and Mali and the environs that might have little or no knowledge about their ancestry. This document serves as an enlightenment to shed some light on things that happened way before our time. Nevertheless, these intentions may not be met well, as people might not accept his story and the messages he was trying
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For example, according to the document some culture and traditions observed by the people included the men having to shave their beards and the woman shaving their heads. The king and his heir were also the only ones allowed to wear sewn clothes while the others were left with options of wearing robes made out of cotton, silk or brocade. This information has been found to be true. This information was valid because it was supported by enough evidence. Should there be inaccuracies in the details of the document, it might be deliberate out of the author’s effort to make the information more believable to his audience and project a more accepting view of Ghana and Mali to future generations and foreigners. However, the information that was left out is unknown because that question can only be answered based on the knowledge of what actually happened. As stated earlier, this document makes a case for Ghana and Mali, a resourceful detail of things unknown to a lot of people outside these two African nations.
The author also made an effort to further shed lights on some relationship between Ghana and Mali like the trade relationship and transactions between both countries. This document was written in the first decade of the 11th century. The happenings of the outside world were not particularly elaborated on by the author, but the outside world did not exactly know what was going on between Mali and Ghana either. This might have affected what was included and in the journal and what was excluded from
For example, according to the document some culture and traditions observed by the people included the men having to shave their beards and the woman shaving their heads. The king and his heir were also the only ones allowed to wear sewn clothes while the others were left with options of wearing robes made out of cotton, silk or brocade. This information has been found to be true. This information was valid because it was supported by enough evidence. Should there be inaccuracies in the details of the document, it might be deliberate out of the author’s effort to make the information more believable to his audience and project a more accepting view of Ghana and Mali to future generations and foreigners. However, the information that was left out is unknown because that question can only be answered based on the knowledge of what actually happened. As stated earlier, this document makes a case for Ghana and Mali, a resourceful detail of things unknown to a lot of people outside these two African nations.
The author also made an effort to further shed lights on some relationship between Ghana and Mali like the trade relationship and transactions between both countries. This document was written in the first decade of the 11th century. The happenings of the outside world were not particularly elaborated on by the author, but the outside world did not exactly know what was going on between Mali and Ghana either. This might have affected what was included and in the journal and what was excluded from