Ibn Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa, 1325-1354 - Essay Example

?Ibn Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa, 1325-1354 Geographical discoveries and new trade routes to distant places initiated a different genre within the context of literature, namely travel narrative. One can see that the development of trade and commerce between European nations and the Middle East/ Asia deeply influenced the growth and development of travel narratives. Within this context, travel narratives by merchants and pilgrims are considered as important. The travel narrative by Ibn Battuta is a semi-historical cum political and geographical narrative of Asia and Africa. Thesis statement: Ibn Battuta’s Travels in Asia and Africa, 1325-1354 both enriches and complicates the reader’s understanding of cultural encounter in the 14th century because this work is a semi-historical narrative of Asia and Africa with principal difficulties involved in considering the as a historical source. Discussion: The discussion section is divided into two: Ibn Battuta’s Travels in Asia and Africa, 1325-1354 as a travel narrative which enriches and complicates one’s perception of cultural encounter in the fourteenth century, and some of the principal difficulties involved in using Ibn Battuta’s work as a historical source. A. Ibn Battuta’s Travels in Asia and Africa, 1325-1354 as a travel narrative which enriches and complicates one’s perception of cultural encounter in the fourteenth century Ibn Battuta’s endeavor starts from Tangiers to the heart of the Islamic world, i.e., Mecca and Medina. One can see that Battuta’s aim was to travel through the Islamic world as a pilgrim who is interested in pilgrim places. Battuta stated that “Swayed by an overmastering impulse within me, and a long-cherished desire to visit those glorious sanctuaries, I resolved to quit all my friends and tear myself away from my home” (43). During Battuta’s time, pilgrimage was considered as an important way to experience the world. One can easily identify that 14 century Africa and Asia were connected by trade and commerce. So, the pilgrims used to accompany the merchants and it helped them to be safe from robbers. Besides, the travelers used camels to travel to distant places. In this modern world, travelling distant places with the help of animals is unimaginable. Besides, the pilgrims used to receive alms from the emperors and kings. For instance, the Governor at Constantine helped Battuta by giving him some money to continue his expedition. Besides, the work is helpful to have deeper understanding on the religious celebrations in the 14th century Middle East Asia. Battuta’s account on the different towns and cities in the Middle East Asia and Africa is helpful to understand the cross-cultural encounter among these towns and cities. At the same time, Battuta’s portrayal of his marriage with a lady in Tunis and the related issues proves that short term marital relationships were common. Battuta’s description of Alexandria as a fortified area with a port proves the importance of military preparedness and trade relations with distant places. Battuta made clear that “It is a beautiful city, well-built and fortified with four gates and a magnificent port” (46). Within this context, trade relation with distant places leads to cross-cultural communication. One can easily identify that Battuta’s description of Damietta (an ancient city on the banks of River Nile) is helpful to have deeper understanding on the lifestyle of the people in this area. Besides, Damietta was famous for the export of fish to other areas of the Middle East Asia. Battuta’s portrayal of Cairo in Egypt reveals the cultural background of the people in this area. According to Battuta, there were a number of mosques, hospitals, and other buildings in Cairo. On the other side, Battuta’s description of Gaza, Jerusalem, Sur, Akka and Lebanon enriches one’s understanding on the cultural context of the 14th century. Besides, Battuta’s visit to Mecca and Medina does not hinder his expedition to Asia. His journey to India unveils the cultural context of India under Delhi Sultanate. On the other side, his journey to the Mediterranean Europe unveils the cultural context of Europe in the 14th century. B. Some of the principal difficulties involved in using Ibn Battuta’s work as a historical source As pointed out, Battuta’s journey was based upon his internal urge to visit the holy places of the Islamic world. Within this context, Battuta’s journey cannot be considered as an expedition with historical aim. From a different angle of view, Battuta’s work should be considered as a firsthand account of a pilgrim, which unveils the political and geographical realms of Africa and Asia. Crossley opined that “For twentieth-century historians coming out of the domination of historical work by nation narratives, Ibn Battuta was an important model of a traveler and an observer who saw the world, though vast and diverse, as united by fundamental patterns of trade, cultural influences, migration, religious communities, and historical development” (27). During this time, the Islamic lands in the Middle East and Africa enjoyed political stability under the sultans/ caliphs. For instance, Egypt was under sultanate and Iraq and Persia were under the direct control of Mongol rulers. On the other side, India was under the control of Muhammad Bin Tuglaq, the Sultan of Delhi. One can see that the control of Islamic ideology over the religious and political contexts deeply influenced the development of these areas. For instance, Arabia and Egypt can be considered as the most important area within the Islamic world which helped to preserve Islamic culture and Islamic way of life in the 14th century. On the other side, trade and commerce with India was totally under the control of Egypt. This monopoly over international trade and commerce created clashes between Egypt and other nations like Iraq and Persia. But Battuta’s work is not helpful to have deeper understanding on the political and historical facts/events about Asia and Africa. Instead, Battuta’s work provides ample importance to the development of Islamic culture in the Middle East and Africa. Dunn stated that “First he was a pilgrim, joining the march of pious believers to the spiritual shrines of Mecca and Medina at least four times in his career” (11). Besides, Battuta’s work provides importance to his belief in hypnotism, and to the miracles by Islamic saints. So, Battuta’s work cannot be considered as a pure historical source because the work is deeply influenced by his personal opinions and evaluation as a traveler. Still, the work does not totally ignore the political and geographical contexts of Asia and Africa. Summing, Battuta’s work unveils the rich historical, cultural, political and geographical heritage of Asia and Africa. At the same time, the work cannot be considered as an accurate historical narrative of Asia and Africa because Battuta was a pilgrim tourist. His aim was to visit the holy places of Islam and to pay homage to the saints. But the work is helpful for the readers to have deeper understanding of the cultural encounter in the 14th century because Batutta visited almost all the important places in Asia and Africa. Besides, the first hand narrative technique made use by Battuta leads the readers to the realm of cross-cultural encounter between Asia and Africa. Works Cited Battuta, Ibn. Travels in Asia and Africa, 1325-1354. Oxon: Routledge, 2004.Print. Crossley, Pamela Kyle. What is global history. Cornwall: Polity, 2008. Print. Dunn, Ross E. The adventures of Ibn Battuta, a Muslim traveler of the fourteenth century. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1986. Print. Read More