Sydney, Jun 25 (The Conversation) In our series on classic literature, experts illuminate seminal works. One such figure is Ibn Battuta, renowned for his 14th-century travelogue. Born in Tangier, Morocco, on February 24, 1304, Ibn Battuta hailed from an intellectually distinguished family, as suggested by his assertion in the "Rihla" that legal affairs were his ancestral profession.
Embarking on his travels at age 22 with the goal of performing the Hajj in 1325, Ibn Battuta left Tangier with fervor. By the time of his final return to Morocco in 1355, his adventures had taken him across a staggering 73,000 miles (117,000 kilometers), a feat that spanned what are today more than 50 countries.
Apart from his extensive voyages through the medieval Islamic world, he endeavored into regions beyond, excluding Northern Europe. Upon his ultimate return home, he dictated his experiences to the Andalusian scholar Ibn Juzayy, culminating in a compilation completed in 1355 or 1356. This work, formally titled "A Gift to Researchers on the Curiosities of Cities and the Marvels of Journeys," is more commonly known as the "Rihlat Ibn Battuta" or simply "Rihla."
Far from a mere travelogue, the "Rihla" offers insights into 14th-century social and political spheres, capturing cultural diversity across various nations. It details local customs in lifestyle, language, beliefs, clothing, cuisine, holidays, art, and gender relations. Commercial activities, currencies, and geographical features like mountains and rivers also find description within its pages. His encounters with more than 60 sultans and over 2,000 notable figures mark it as a valuable historical resource.
The Journey Begins Inspiration struck Ibn Battuta in a dream while in Fuwwa, near Alexandria, Egypt. In his dream, a massive bird carried him across lands, landing in a mysterious country. Testing a local sheikh's wisdom, Ibn Battuta decided that if the sheikh knew of his vision, he truly possessed extraordinary insight. To his astonishment, the sheikh revealed knowledge of the dream and foretold a pilgrimage through Yemen, Iraq, Turkiye, and India.
At the time, the Middle East was under the Mamluk Sultanate's control, Anatolia was divided among principalities, and the Mongol Ilkhanate state governed Iran, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. His journeys initially led him through North Africa, Egypt, Palestine, and Syria, completing his first Hajj in 1326. He later explored Iraq and Iran before returning to Mecca.
By 1328, his travels took him to East Africa, reaching cities like Mogadishu and Mombasa, continuing through Yemen, Oman, and Anatolia. He vividly described places like Dimyat on the Nile: "Many of the houses have steps leading down to the Nile. Banana trees are especially abundant there..." He praised Anatolia, declaring it the most beautiful in the world, noting the people's hospitality and the delectable food.
Cultural Observations and Marriages Although he dictated the "Rihla," the influence of the scribe is apparent, seamlessly blending educated narrative with common speech. At times, the narrative details may suggest reliance on external sources. Yet, the "Rihla" captivates with engaging style and rich anecdotes, drawing readers into Ibn Battuta's world.
His explorations took him through Crimea, Central Asia, and various regions within the Indian subcontinent. In 1332, he met Byzantine Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos and traveled with Uzbek Khan’s caravan to Istanbul. Such caravans featured bustling markets and offered the poor sustenance during travel.
In 1333, Ibn Battuta arrived in Delhi, serving as a judge under Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq for seven years. His marriages spanned different cultures, including ties with the administrative class. Despite the Sultan’s generosity and intelligence, his unpredictable decisions required cautious navigation from Ibn Battuta. With the Sultan's support, he stayed in India for an extended period and was named ambassador to China in 1341.
However, a shipwreck off the coast of Calcutta derailed his mission in 1345, losing most of his belongings. Resilient, he remained in India before venturing through Sri Lanka and the Maldives, where he served as a judge for 18 months. Continuing, he reached China in 1345 via Bengal, Burma, and Sumatra. His description of Guangzhou and the interactions between Muslims and Hindu-Buddhist communities in the Malay Archipelago provides critical insights.
On his return, Ibn Battuta explored Iran, Iraq, North Africa, Spain, and the Kingdom of Mali, documenting the vast Islamic world in his narratives. He eventually served as a judge in Morocco until his death around 1368-1369, buried in his birthplace, Tangier.
Women and Culture Ibn Battuta offers intriguing insights into the status of women, observing matriarchal practices in West Africa, and noting the freedom of Turkish women who rode horses and traded actively. In the Maldives, women, including the ruler, did not veil, a practice Ibn Battuta unsuccessfully tried to change.
He also chronicled food cultures, mentioning Siberian weddings and the mangoes he sampled in the Indian subcontinent. His accounts of the Hajj rituals he performed six times offer a nuanced view, especially in relation to religious sects in shifting Iran. Inclined toward Sufism, his spiritual perspective enriched his observations on mystical education and practices.
Though primarily traveling in Muslim lands, Ibn Battuta ventured into non-Muslim territories, documenting diverse religious cultures and offering insights into Christian and Buddhist practices. His observations of Tibet, India, and Chinese burial customs remain compelling historical records.
Despite some criticisms of historical inconsistencies, the "Rihla" gained recognition, especially in the 19th century. Today, Ibn Battuta’s legacy endures through museums and landmarks named in his honor. His expansive travels offer a broader range of human anecdotes compared to his Venetian counterpart, Marco Polo.
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