In 1326, Ibn Battuta began a pilgrimage to Mecca that ended 27 years and 75,000 miles later. His engrossing account of that journey provides vivid scenes from Morocco, southern Russia, India, China, and elsewhere. "Essential reading . . . the ultimate in real life adventure stories." — History in Review.
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45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Horridly translated & put together...,
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This review is from: The Travels of Ibn Battuta: in the Near East, Asia and Africa, 1325-1354 (Dover Books on Travel, Adventure) (Paperback)
This is actually a translation from the 1820s so the translation is very archaic & the spelling of the Arabic names is very nonstandard compared to modern transliteration equivalents. Likewise the notes are very dated and not very helpful. There seem to be missing parts and the ordering does not reflect the true itinerary.
Not to mention the fact that for all but experts in the Muslim world, much of this book would be very difficult to understand and much would be missed. To really get a good idea of Ibn's travels, read the 'Adventures of Ibn...' by Ross. It may not have every word of the work, but it more than makes up for it by providing tons of cultural and historical background and by being very readable. There's a new paperback version out. See my review on that page. If you must read the real book as well, don't try this one. Unfortunately, most other versions aren't complete and only cover parts of the travels. Even if you try a version of the full text, I recommend reading Ross 1st to help make the text more comprehensible & meaningful.
20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Is Reality,
By Notnadia (Currently upstairs.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Travels of Ibn Battuta: in the Near East, Asia and Africa, 1325-1354 (Dover Books on Travel, Adventure) (Paperback)
Ibn Battuta was certainly one of the bravest and most amazing human beings ever to walk the earth: and walk the earth he did! This Arab gentleman set out for the holy city of Mecca in about the year 1327, and he continued his journeys for the next quarter-century, traveling a total of about 75,000 miles! Ibn Battuta was not only an intrepid traveler, he was also, luckily for posterity, a skilled writer whose memoirs of his voyages abroad make for the read of a lifetime. Battuta's trek took him across Africa, Russia, India, China, Europe, Persia and the so-called Holy Land, as well as Mecca and vast portions of the Arabian peninsula. Those he meets, those with whom he trades, those he and his companions feared, loved, hated and looked on with fascination, they are all described in this absolutely authentic record of a journey across the surface of the known 14th century world. Battuta's writings give us a wealth of information and are truly a treasure!
17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Never travel the same route twice!,
By
This review is from: The Travels of Ibn Battuta: in the Near East, Asia and Africa, 1325-1354 (Dover Books on Travel, Adventure) (Paperback)
Ibn Batuta describes his encounters with peoples and lands west of his native Tangiers (Morocco) in the 14 C. By avoiding to travel the same route twice, he comes to the same places a number of times (Baghdad, Delhi) spinning and zigzagging his ways through mountains and seas. As he explores with brio this world, he unfolds himself and as in most cross-cultural encounters, this maybe one of the most interesting features of the book. He accepts miraculous events with a candor I have not found in any other Middle Age traveler of those lands (from Marco Polo to the Jesuits). He gives little description of the way people live in the places he visits - which I regret - apart from detailed descriptions of the gowns and other garments he is given by some of the Sheikhs of the places he visits. The descriptions of how those sheikhs succeeded to govern illustrate how (extremely) fragile power was and is in those regions.
Names are sometimes difficult to relate to those we know - which is regretful. Don't follow Ibn Batuta's advice, read (and enjoy) the book twice!
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