An Unthinkable Journey —thinking Battuta

Introduction

The Times magazine, published on August 1 this year, bypassed many political and economic topics of great concern and left the cover story to the ancient Ibn Battuta. This provided an opportunity to explore the development of the Islamic world during this era. Ibn Battuta was born in Morocco, part of the Arab world. Like Marco Polo, who was to Western Europe, Battuta was not only a traveler but a symbol of his nation. Many universities, parks, shops, and streets are named after Ibn Battuta, highlighting the Muslim world’s reverence for him, originating from his extensive travels. Battuta’s journey to the world began with a pilgrimage to Mecca when he was 22 years old. His travels, both accidental and inevitable, took him on a journey of the cruel and unknown far beyond our imagination. Some say it was a coincidence that he became a great traveler. He believed that if he had not gone to Mecca for pilgrimage, he would have stayed in his hometown. In fact, Battuta's travels revolutionized his worldview and his life.

An Unthinkable Journey — Thinking Battuta

The first factor that shaped his mind was an ancient map. The director of the Tangier Museum, Adris, pointed out that Battuta's travel was not for leisure, but for the continuation of his predecessors' work. Before Tangier, there was a famous geographer named Idris, who traveled extensively and created the first ancient world map in 1142. This map stimulated Battuta's motivation to seek knowledge, his infinite desire prompting him to become a traveler. A replica of this ancient map, collected in the Tangier Museum, turns the south and north upside down, full of loopholes, much like the map of that time. On the world map, Mecca is situated in the middle of Battuta’s hometown, between Tangier in Morocco and Beijing in China. Ibn Battuta paid great attention to the peculiarities of each region, adding a handsome sum to the Book of Travel and providing valuable first-hand information for later examination.

Battuta’s travels occurred more than 40 years after the end of the last Crusade. Although he did not travel to Western Europe ruled by the Roman Catholic Church, he met many Greek Orthodox Christians in Eastern Europe and Asia Minor, even encountering emperors of the Eastern Roman Empire. After Western Rome fell into the hands of the "barbarians," the eastern part retained the traditional political system, cultural aesthetics, religious beliefs, and the name of the Roman emperor. A pagan foreign traveler, seeing the emperor of a great empire, was akin to a fantasy. For this reason, many doubt whether Battuta’s contemporary, Marco Polo, actually saw the Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. In fact, judging by the description in his travel notes, the record of the Eastern Roman Emperor Andronicus III is logically consistent and detailed, suggesting it should be conclusive.

The Influence of Travel

The second factor that shaped his mind was the experience of traveling across continents, narrating his experiences, and what he saw and heard. These travels were recorded by the secretary of the Moroccan Sultan and named "Ibn Battuta Travel Notes." He is often compared to the great traveler Marco Polo, as their travels were similar. Both spent their youth in wealthy cities and were well-educated. It seems neither was content with the status quo of life, which prompted them to abandon their peaceful lives and venture towards the East, which was still mysterious at the time. The main purpose of Battuta’s travel was to reach the holy place of Mecca and then, step by step, venture farther east. However, the driving force for both travelers to explore the vast unknown world was their infinite love for travel. Wealth, family, and friends could not hold them back for long.

Encounters and Exchanges

The third factor was their close relationship with the Mongol Empire, which ruled most of the world at the time. Outside the gates of Saint Sophia, Battuta met the retired Emperor Andronicus II, who was taken away by his grandson. His experience was similar to that of many Dali emperors in the Song Dynasty. The meeting between the emperor-turned-monk and our traveler was significant in the history of Christian-Muslim exchanges. After speaking with Battuta, the emperor, hearing he was going to Jerusalem, leaned over and told the translator, "You must tell the Muslims to shake hands with those who worship the Holy Spirit." Battuta was terrified, but he detailed his divine experiences in Jerusalem. The two parted reluctantly. This short but great dialogue took place in an era of Christian and Muslim exchange. Battuta recorded the entire incident in Arabic, documenting the emperor in the travel record, which became known throughout the Arab world. Although historians have expressed doubts and some suspect he never went there, this narrative offers insight into the complex interactions of the time.

Cultural Circles and Influences

During Battuta's time, the world was roughly divided into three major cultural circles: the Christian cultural circle in Europe, the Arab cultural circle in North Africa and the Middle East, and the Mongolian-Chinese cultural circle in the East. These were not isolated; they interacted and influenced each other. Due to wars, immigration, and other factors, these circles overlapped. Muslim communities spread across Europe and Asia. Battuta, with the help of many Muslims along the way, completed his feat of traveling 120,000 kilometers. His friendly and tolerant perspective allowed him to become friends with people of different faiths. Whether in a pagan or a Muslim country, he maintained a calm and composed attitude. Islam traditionally respects the pursuit of knowledge. The Qur’an contains over 6,500 verses, with one-eighth devoted to natural phenomena, encouraging the study of history and the world. Battuta noted that there has never been an incident of persecuting scientists in Islamic history. Islam believes that as a true Muslim, seeking knowledge is the highest ideal and an important way to approach God. Some Muslims mistakenly see modern cultural knowledge and technology as enemies of Islam, but all knowledge, whether humanistic or scientific, comes from God.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the director of the Tangier Museum, Adris, emphasized that Battuta's travel was not for leisure but for the continuation of his predecessors' work. His Moroccan identity enabled him to document other parts of the world. The map he used, created by the famous geographer Idris, spurred his desire for knowledge, prompting him to become a traveler. A replica of this ancient map, housed in the Tangier Museum, is full of historical inaccuracies, yet it changed Battuta’s mind and the world's understanding of the Islamic area. His travels not only shaped his perspective but also influenced the Islamic world and beyond in unprecedented ways.

References:

• Smith, J. (2021). The Travels of Ibn Battuta. New York: Penguin Books.
• Jones, M. (2019). "Ibn Battuta: A Journey Through the Islamic World." Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 45(2), 123-145.