PDP2- Travels to Africa
Author Bio: Ibn Battuta was a well known traveler in both Asia and Africa in the 1300s. He was born in Morocco and valued religion during his lifetime. He traveled to many different places within Africa and Asia and wrote about his experiences within those places.
Date/Context: This document is written in 1352, during the period in which kingdoms and empires such as the Malian Empire were at the height of their power. This document supports the ideas of the importance that salt and gold played in African and Malian history. It also supports the idea that the Empire of Mali had a strong military and high security, and that they highly valued religion. Finally, it explains how difficult the terrain was to adapt to and survive in.
Summary: Ibn Battuta discusses his journey through the Empire of Mali, and the confusing ways of the people. Battuta was part of a caravan that traveled the difficult and dry terrain of the Malian empired. They struggled to find clean water until they reached the Sudanese people. Then, in the town of Iwalatan, Battuta stayed for 50 days and he was shocked by the way the people acted. The women and men were both in control of themselves, and the women did not have to travel with their husbands. Also, both genders kept "friends" of the opposite gender even if they were already married. The Malian Empire was also incredibly secure, with no thieves being present, and the people viewing religion with great importance. In fact, religion played such a substantial role in their lives that they often punished their children for not knowing every word of the Koran. The one aspect of their lives that Ibn Battuta disapproved of the most, was the fact that many female servants and young girls walked around completely naked all the time. Ibn Battuta was used to women always being modest and covering up, which did not happen in the Malian empire. Overall, Ibn Battuta is amazed at the importance of religion within the empire, the freedom of the women, and the overall sense of security.
Key Quotation:"I went into the house of the qadi on the day of the festival and his children were fettered so I said to him 'Aren't you going to let them go?' He replied: 'I shan't do so until they know the Koran by heart!'"
Sarah explains that the document was written in 1352 by a traveler by the name of Ibn Battuta. Ibn went traveling throughout Africa and Asia. Sarah throughout explained in detail how Ibn Battuta was moved by the attitudes and lifestyles of the people he associated with. She did a remarkable job of explaining his feelings and confusion with the male and female lifestyle in the empires. Sarah also elaborated on the struggles that Ibn Battuta faded as he was travelling. One thing I would add is the people he ran into while travelling and the ways they reacted with seeing other people during their travels to get to each destination.
ReplyDeleteOne should also note that Ibn Battuta was a Muslim observing another Muslim society. This document illustrates the reach and influence of Islam in Africa.
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