Marco Polo is known as an Italian explorer who once walked the Silk Road. The Silk Road or The Great Silk Road is a trade route that connects two continents, namely Asia and Europe. Marco Polo explored these trails and was known for his interesting stories.
As a famous explorer, Marco Polo was not the only one who traveled far around the world. There was a Muslim who was even greater as an explorer. Who is she?
He is Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Bathuthah in Arabic محمد إبن otherwise known as Ibn Battuta (24 February 1304 – 1368 or 1377)
he is a person who comes from the country of Morocco, he poured his travel notes into a book, namely Rihlah Ibn Battuta.
This is the story of his journey.
One day in 1325 in Tangier, Morocco, Ibn Battuta decided to start the Hajj which is an Islamic religious obligation. To travel to Mecca, What should have been a year and a half or two took ended up turning out to be almost 30 years.
Ibn Battuta planned a trip to Mecca and then to India, Malaysia and Indonesia before returning to his place in Tangier.
On the way he decided not to go any further. He turned towards the south and walked past the Mali Kingdom. Historians do not give a fairly clear route on the path he took. There are several debated paths.
Here’s a map of the journey, courtesy of Univ. From Cal, Berkeley.
The road outlined in solid pink (1325-1327), gold (1327-1341), and red (1341-1353) is an undisputed route.
Here is a summary of the trip
1325 across south africa to Cairo
1326 is in Cairo
1326 from Cairo to Jerusalem, Damascus, Medina, Mecca
1326 Performed the pilgrimage from Medina to Mecca
1326 – 1327 Iraq and Persia
1328 – 1330 Red Sea to East Africa and Arabian Sea
1330 – 1331 Anatolia
1332 – 1333 Golden Horde and Chagatai
1334 – 1341 Delhi, India
1341 – 1344 Escape from Delhi to Maldive Islands and Sri Lanka
1345 – 1346 Via the Strait of Malacca to China
1346 – 1349 Back home
1349 – 1350 To al-Andalus and Morocco
1350 – 1351 Trip to Mali
1355 Writing Rihla
For comparison below is Marco Polo . route
Ibn Battuta often traveled alone and on his journeys he was often robbed more than once. However, from the story and the extraordinary travel route that surpassed Marco Polo, it is appropriate to call Ibn Battuta a Muslim who became the greatest explorer in the world.
Image source: wikipedia
