Ibn Battuta Facts & Worksheets

Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan Muslim scholar and traveler, gained fame for embarking on extensive voyages known as the Rihla in the 14th century. His travels spanned across the entirety of the recognized Islamic realm, encompassing regions from North and West Africa, Southern and Eastern Europe in the western reaches, to the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and extending all the way to China in the east.

See the fact file below for more information about Ibn Battuta, or you can download our 26-page Ibn Battuta worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE

• Ibn Battuta was born in Tangier in 1304 to a family of judges (qadis). Expectedly, he received the traditional juristic and literary education. He started undertaking the pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca at age 21 to fulfill his religious duty and broaden his education. 
• He became qualified for judicial office after studying with famous scholars in western Arabia, which made him a respected guest at many courts.

FIRST VOYAGE

• His journey commenced as he ventured to Egypt, arriving there via the overland route through Tunis and Tripoli. He established a personal rule during this period to never traverse the same path twice. This newfound perspective not only brought him immense happiness but also became a means of livelihood. 
• As he shifted from being known primarily as a scholar to an accomplished traveler, he not only gained growing recognition but also encountered the benevolence of prominent individuals in the nations he traversed.
• Starting his journey in Cairo, he proceeded to explore upper Egypt. He reached the Red Sea before returning to Syria to join a caravan heading for Mecca. In 1326, he successfully completed the pilgrimage and embarked on a journey that took him across the Arabian Desert, leading him through Iraq, southern Iran, Azerbaijan, and finally, Baghdad. It was there that he had the opportunity to meet with the last Mongol khans of Iran, including Abū Saʿīd, along with other regional rulers.
• Setting sail from Jiddah, he embarked on a maritime journey with a group of companions, tracing the shores of the Red Sea on both sides until they reached Yemen. There, they crossed overland and then resumed their sea voyage from Aden. 
• On this leg of the journey, they followed the eastern coast of Africa, making stops at the prosperous trading city-states, reaching as far as Kilwa in Tanzania. His return voyage led him through southern Arabia, Oman, Hormuz, the southern regions of Persia, and eventually across the Persian Gulf, bringing him back to Mecca in the year 1332.

SECOND VOYAGE

• He continued his journey to the north, bypassing Egypt and Syria before embarking on a ship bound for Asia Minor (Anatolia) from Latakia. His objective was to reach the sultan of Delhi, Muhammad ibn Tughluq. 
• In his travel accounts, he detailed his extensive travels through the diverse regions of the “land of the Turks” during a period when Anatolia was fragmented into numerous small sultanates. This account later proved to be an invaluable historical source, shedding light on the region’s history between the decline of Seljuq power and the ascent of the Ottoman Empire.
• He continued across the Black Sea to the Crimean Peninsula, northern Caucasus, and Saray on the lower Volga River, the capital of the khan of the Golden Horde, Öz Beg. 
• In his narratives, he asserts that he journeyed from Saray to Bulgary, tracing the upper Volga and Kama rivers. However, there are reasons to question the accuracy of this assertion. On the other hand, his firsthand account of visiting Constantinople (now Istanbul) as part of the Khan’s wife’s entourage, a Byzantine princess, appears to be a credible eyewitness record, notwithstanding some minor discrepancies in chronology. 
• His depiction of Byzantine as a capital city is vivid and precise. While he held strong beliefs in line with the prevailing opinions of his fellow Muslims regarding non-believers, his portrayal of the “second Rome” presents that he was a relatively tolerant individual with a keen curiosity. Nonetheless, he consistently felt more at ease within the domain of Islam than in regions outside of it, whether they were Christian, Hindu, or pagan.
• He continued his journey to India through a caravan to Central Asia. On the journey, he visited the ancient towns of Bukhara, Samarkand, and Balkh, showing the scars of the Mongol invasion.
• He traversed intricate paths through Khorasan and Afghanistan, ultimately crossing the formidable Hindu Kush mountain range. His arrival in India on the banks of the Indus River is recorded as September 12, 1333. However, the accuracy of this date raises doubts due to the vast distances involved in his journey.

HIS TIME IN INDIA

• Ibn Battuta served as the Qadi to the Sultan of Delhi for a span of eight years, during which he found great pleasure in the diversity of architecture and the people he encountered. 
• His growing importance and fame led to the establishment of his own harem, which included legal wives and concubines, and he was accompanied by a substantial entourage. However, it became increasingly evident that his position as Qadi was fraught with danger.
• Sultan Muhammad, a complex figure characterized by a blend of generosity and cruelty, ruled with an iron fist that spared no one, affecting both high-ranking individuals and common citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation. 
• Ibn Battuta witnessed the highs and lows of the Sultan’s rule, and a growing fear of becoming a victim himself took hold. Fortunately, he gained favor and was appointed the Sultan’s envoy to the Chinese emperor in 1342.
• During his journey, Ibn Battuta faced peril from insurgents in India and got entangled in conflicts along the Malabar Coast in the southwestern region. Furthermore, he encountered a shipwreck near Calicut (now Kozhikode), leading to the loss of his belongings and gifts meant for the Chinese emperor. Instead of returning to the Indian Sultan, he opted to spend approximately two years in the Maldives, actively participating in political matters.
• Subsequently, he departed for Sri Lanka, where he visited the local ruler and the renowned Adam’s Peak. After another shipwreck on the Coromandel Coast in southeastern India, he joined a conflict led by his brother-in-law. He then journeyed again to the Maldives, then to Bengal and Assam. Eventually, he resumed his mission to China and set sail for Sumatra.
• Upon reaching the significant Chinese port of Zaytun (Quanzhou, near Xiamen), he embarked on inland waterways to reach Beijing and back, although his narratives may contain some inconsistencies.
• From his account, he returned to voyage via Sumatra, Malabar, and the Persian Gulf to Baghdad and Syria, where he witnessed the ravages of the 1348 Black Death.

FINAL VOYAGE

• In the year 1348, Ibn Battuta completed his final pilgrimage to Mecca. Subsequently, he embarked on his journey back home, traveling from Alexandria to Tunisia, then to Sardinia and Algiers, ultimately arriving in Fes, the capital of the Marinid Sultanate, in November of 1349.
• Ibn Battuta’s insatiable curiosity led him to plan another expedition to explore two Muslim regions he had not yet visited: the Kingdom of Granada and western Sudan. Acting upon the sultan’s directives, he undertook a daunting Sahara crossing and spent a year in the Mali Empire. His accounts of this sojourn later became a valuable historical source for a part of Africa.
• Upon his return to Morocco in the year 1353, he responded to a request from the ruler and enlisted the services of a skilled scribe to narrate his extensive travel experiences. The result was a comprehensive work titled “A Gift to Those who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling,” which is commonly referred to as the “Rihla of Ibn Battuta.”

HIS LEGACY

• Ibn Battuta’s narratives suggest that he passed away in either 1368/69 or 1377, having served as a qadi in a Moroccan town. He was laid to rest in his hometown of Tangier.
• He earned the title of “the traveler of Islam” for his remarkable journey spanning approximately 75,000 miles (120,000 km), a feat rarely surpassed before the era of steam power. Although he visited nearly all Muslim nations, he did not explore new or uncharted territories. While his contributions to scientific geography were modest, the enduring historical and geographical significance of his work lies in its documentary value, particularly his interactions with over sixty rulers.
• His book, the Rihlah, stands as a significant document, shedding light on various aspects of the social, cultural, and political history of a substantial portion of the Muslim world. His travel accounts in Asia Minor, East and West Africa, the Maldives, and India are primary sources for the histories of those regions. Simultaneously, the sections focusing on the Arab and Persian Middle East offer valuable insights into the rich tapestry of social and cultural life in those areas.

Ibn Battuta Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Ibn Battuta across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan Muslim scholar and traveler, gained fame for embarking on extensive voyages known as the Rihla in the 14th century.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Ibn Battuta Facts 
2. Tangier, the Hometown
3. History’s Greatest Traveller
4. Measured in Miles
5. Travelogue
6. Medieval Travelers
7. Two Great Adventurers
8. Themed Mall
9. Storytelling, the Ibn Way
10. The Pandemic
11. Gen Z on Marriage

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Ibn Battuta?

Ibn Battuta was a 14th-century Moroccan scholar and traveler known for his extensive journeys across the Islamic world and beyond. He is considered one of the greatest travelers in history.

Where did Ibn Battuta travel?

Ibn Battuta embarked on a remarkable journey that took him through much of the Islamic world, including North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, India, Southeast Asia, and parts of sub-Saharan Africa. He visited numerous cities and regions during his travels.

Why did Ibn Battuta undertake his travels?

Ibn Battuta’s primary motivation for traveling was to fulfill his desire to perform the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, which is a religious obligation for Muslims. However, his journeys extended far beyond this initial goal, driven by a thirst for adventure, a desire for knowledge, and a sense of wanderlust.

What is Ibn Battuta’s most famous work?

Ibn Battuta’s most famous work is “Rihla” (sometimes spelled “Rihlah”), which is an account of his travels and adventures. The Rihla provides valuable insights into the social, cultural, and political landscapes of the regions he visited.

How did Ibn Battuta’s travels impact the world?

Ibn Battuta’s travels had a significant impact on the world by contributing to a greater understanding of the interconnectedness of different societies and cultures in the medieval period. His writings continue to be studied and valued as historical sources that shed light on the diverse and dynamic world of the 14th century.

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

<a href="https://kidskonnect.com/social-studies/ibn-battuta-2/">Ibn Battuta Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com</a> - KidsKonnect, November 15, 2023

Link will appear as Ibn Battuta Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 15, 2023