Ibn Battuta: the Journey of a Medieval Muslim

by Edoardo Albert

Ibn Battuta was no ordinary traveller. Between 1325 CE when he set off and 1354 CE when he finally returned home to stay, he had visited about 40 modern countries and travelled roughly 75,000 miles, going on foot, camel, horse, wagon, boat and even sled.

His travels took him to nearly every part of the Muslim world at the time, from Morocco to Mecca, through Persia and Iraq, down the west coast of Africa, into Russia, over to India and even across to China.

Ibn Battuta's journey gives us a fascinating window into what the world was like in the fourteenth century. With illustrations, photographs, and maps, the rich and diverse world that produced Ibn Battuta is vividly brought alive.

96 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2018

About the author

Edoardo Albert is a writer of Sri Lankan and Italian extraction based in London. He writes about history and archaeology, particularly of the early Medieval period, as well as writing historical and speculative fiction.

Find out more about him and his work at www.edoardoalbert.com. Follow him on Twitter @EdoardoAlbert or like him on Facebook.

Reviews

[Abeer Arain · Rating 5 out of 5]

One extra star (to make it 5) for the good writing by the author. Ibn Battuta had an intoxication of traveling. He traveled, at times, aimlessly, and with the greed of seeing more, doing more. Allah knows best what was his intention of spending decades in traveling the world, but at least we get to know the glimpse of the Islamic Golden Age through his Rihla. There were no visa bounds, or any grudge against Muslims. The world was a much better place when Islamic Gold era existed.

[sawaaiiq · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and consice but interesting enough to make me want to know more... It may finally be time to read the more detailed books on his journeys

[Shoohada Khanom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: Ibn Battuta The journey of a medieval Muslim by Edoardo Albert
There's something about Islamic geometric designs on a book that pull me in. With this book, it doesn't stop with just the cover, there's beautiful designs in the inner pages too.
I purchased a picture book about Ibn Battuta for my kids a few years ago. When this book arrived in the post, they already knew who he was.
Ibn Battuta was a traveller, who's desire to explore the world took him further than any other man during the medieval times. He travelled roughly 75,000 miles, that's said to have been about 40 countries, 40 COUNTRIES!
It reminds me of an verse from the Qur'an, in Surah Al Ankabut, verse 29:
Say: Travel through the earth
And see how Allah did
Originate creation; so will
Allah produce a later creation:
For Allah has power Over all things.
Ibn Batuta did just that, he literally travelled the earth! To follow his journey was amazing, it showed us how passionate he was about travelling and how he hustled his way from once place to another. Most importantly how he followed and stood firm in his faith–Islam. He wasn't influenced, he was the influencer, carrying Allah words where ever he went. It definitely ignited a spark in me to travel, MarShaAllah.
The author has used simple and clear writing, making it easy for readers to understand. Although it's aimed at older children, I appreciated reading this too. There are beautiful illustrations throughout, mainly of historic places and art, all with descriptions which always adds to the illustrations.
I liked the timeline at the back of the book, it was useful to refer back to with my kids. It starts from his birth and finishes at his final journey, where he passed away.
In between the text, we get little paragraphs 'in his own words' where snippets were taken from his journal–the Rihla. I absolutely loved reading those the most, reading his own words made the journey more real.
I found the explanations useful, they added more depth to my understanding. I was amazed at my 9 year old, who made a connection with the Mongol Empire with Ertugrul, a series we've been watching as a family. Loosely based on history. My smile was big when he connected the dots!
I know this author has written more non-fiction books and I look forward to adding them to my collection, InShaAllah. Thank you Kube Publishing for sending me a copy for a honest review.

[Ismail Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Ibn Battuta, not just any traveller, but a legend who roamed the world like no other. From 1325 to 1354 CE, he embarked on a thrilling journey spanning from Morocco to China, covering a staggering 75,000 miles. Whether on foot, camel, horse, boat, or even sled, Ibn Battuta ventured into what today would be around 40 countries. For context, Marco Polo covered 15,000 miles in his total journeys.

Ibn Battuta explored every corner that Islam had touched at the time. Upon his return, the Moroccan sultan, amazed by his tales, assigned a young scholar, Ibn Juzayy, to pen down his adventures. And so, the "Rihla" or the "Book of Travels" was made, offering a deeper dive into the 14th century and the life of Ibn Battuta overall.

But what drove Ibn Battuta's insatiable wanderlust? For him, it was the allure of the unknown, the thrill of discovering what lay just beyond the next frontier. In an era where travel was a mark of the highly educated, he was welcomed in the high courts of sultans and ministers across the Islamic world, painting a vivid picture of a cosmopolitan culture.

Edoardo Albert's "Ibn Battuta: the Journey of a Medieval Muslim" is a fun and engaging introduction to the life and travels of Ibn Battuta. In just 96 pages, Albert offers a glimpse into the world of one of history's most renowned travellers, making it highly accessible to younger audiences. The narrative is clear and straightforward. The writing style is engaging and captivating with an appropriate layer of historical context. Even in its brevity, the book offers thoughtful cultural insights into the Islamic world of the 14th century. It serves as a gentle introduction to the religious and cultural norms of the time. Given the younger target audience, including illustrations enhances the reading experience, helping young readers visualize Ibn Battuta's enthralling world.