Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Battuta A Test of Abu-Lughod’s World System Theory

Ibn Battuta Bio Born in Tangier, Morocco (1304) Hajj, June 1325> 30 yrs. Qadi Fez, Morocco>Sultan’s role Ibn Juzay Dies 1369

Rihla Dar al-Islam 75,000 miles China, Sri Lanka, Byzantium

The Beginning I left Tangier, my birthplace, on Thursday, 2nd Rajab 725 [June 14,1325], being at that time twenty-two years of age [22 lunar years; 21 and 4 months by solar reckoning], with the intention of making the Pilgrimage to the Holy House [at Mecca] and the Tomb of the Prophet [at Medina]. I set out alone, finding no companion to cheer the way with friendly intercourse, and no party of travelers with whom to associate myself. Swayed by an overmastering impulse within me, and a long-cherished desire to visit those glorious sanctuaries, I resolved to quit all my friends and tear myself away from my home. As my parents were still alive, it weighed grievously upon me to part from them, and both they and I were afflicted with sorrow.

Baghdad “Then we traveled to Baghdad, the Abode of Peace and Capital of Islam. Here there are two bridges like that at Hilla, on which the people promenade night and day, both men and women. The baths at Baghdad are numerous and excellently constructed, most of them being painted with pitch, which has the appearance of black marble. This pitch is brought from a spring between Kufa and Basra, from which it flows continually. It gathers at the sides of the spring like clay and is shoveled up and brought to Baghdad. Each establishment has a number of private bathrooms, every one of which has also a wash-basin in the corner, with two taps supplying hot and cold water. Every bather is given three towels, one to wear round his waist when he goes in, another to wear round his waist when he comes out, and the third to dry himself with."

China “China was beautiful, but it did not please me. On the contrary, I was greatly troubled thinking about the way paganism dominated this country.Whenever I went out of my lodging, I saw many blameworthy things. That disturbed me so much that I stayed indoors most of the time and only went out when necessary. During my stay in China, whenever I saw any Muslim I always felt as though I were meeting my own family and close kinsmen.”

Some of Ibn Battuta’s Rules To see the extent of the Muslim world To not travel the same road twice in his travels. Hajj