The Travels of Ibn Battuta

The Travels of Ibn Battuta
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February 24, 2023
The works of Ibn Battuta has been one of the seminal works that shaped the literature on travel. Battuta’s book entitled Travels in Asia and Africa has not only influenced culture before the advent of modern transportation, but even today. Accordingly, this article would focus on the life of Battuta and discuss how his travels were able to shift the world’s idea about the “East”. It is the author's belief that as early as his time, Ibn Battuta's travels and his encounters with different cultures and religions have influenced modern perspectives on multiculturalism, diversity, and tolerance, as evidenced by the use of his quotes and ideas in contemporary cultural and political discourse.
Ibn Battuta’s Travels
Ibn Battuta was known for immersing himself in foreign cultures, learning their language and customs, and respecting their beliefs and traditions. His travels took him to several parts of the world, where he encountered people of different ethnicities, religions, and social backgrounds. He documented his experiences in his travelogue, now considered a valuable historical and cultural text. His encounters with different cultures and religions have influenced modern perspectives on multiculturalism, diversity, and tolerance, as evidenced by the use of his quotes and ideas in contemporary cultural and political discourse.
Multiculturalism, Diversity, and Unity
One of the most notable aspects of Ibn Battuta's writings is his emphasis on the importance of learning about different cultures and religions. In his book, he noted the ‘grandeur and beauty’ of the East as he described the scenery of the Egypt and other parts of Asia. He believed that knowledge of other cultures was essential for creating a tolerant and peaceful world. In his travels, he studied and interacted with people of different faiths, including Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism. He wrote extensively about these religions' customs and beliefs, and he respected their differences. For example, he described the beauty of the Hindu temples he visited and the piety of the Christian monks he met. This opened the eyes of the world to the presence of other places that were far from the reach of Western society during that period...