The Travels of Ibn Battutah: Edited by Tim Mackintosh-Smith: 84 (Macmillan Collector's Library, 84)

OK ! So the first thing to notice is that this is a DWARF hardback book : just four inches tall. But apart from the size, this is a very lovely object - with gold tipped pages and a turquoise silk bookmark to match the turquoise cloth binding and dust jacket : simply a delight to handle. I look forward to actually reading it (sorry, the review is not for the content, just for the beauty of this little tome). I’ll be taking it down to the stone seats outside the Scottish Parliament with tea and a sandwich next time the sun comes out 😎🙂

Ibn Battuta was a medieval Islamic traveller from modern day Morocco, which at the time was a great centre of culture and learning. He was a Qadi (judge) and minor scholar who travelled, lived and worked in large swathes of the ancient world ranging from China, India, Ceylon, Sub Saharan Africa, and the Middle East! A feat one wonders if ever has been repeated. The book is an autobiography written in the first person that details and describes his extensive travels in the form of a dictated journal. The book gives an incite to the Islamic culture, customs and habits, as well as his perceptions and prejudices (from his prospective as a Medieval Muslim). It delves into some of his interactions and private thoughts he had with other cultures, ranging from Christendom, to China, and all the different Muslim regions such as the Mughals, or even the Muslim Sultans of Ceylon. I found that it opened up my eyes to the world, and to metaphorically see, and walk through other peoples shoes, whom although long gone come to life as the book touches on the political, as well as the social and cultural habits of the time. Well worth the read, if you have any interest in travel, history or other cultures. An interesting contrast to Marco Polo.

The difference in Islam and the Middle East today and during the travellers time are apparent after reading this book, Battutah describes the philanthropy of all Middle Eastern governors and those in elite positions and their care and concern for those less fortunate. You gain a deep insight of a people and their culture, dress, food, and so on. Ibn Battutah also relates several interesting anecdotes of main figures in the book, these parts were the ones I found most interesting and made the book worthwile. As one other critic described, the book is a tad repetitive and does begin to bore you towards the end, nontheless, it is still worth a read, especially if you are a Muslim and would like to understand the differences in the Middle East today and then. Lost in translation? Most definitely not, Tim Mackintosh-Smith makes an exceptional effort in translating Battutah's original work and although I have not read the original Arabic works myself I confidently commend the Authors efforts.

What I love about this book is the feeling of being with this remarkable man as he sets off from home to ride and sail across the globe. Something astonishing to survive when people (Europeans?) still thought the Earth was flat. Every page reveals something remarkable like a visit to The Lighthouse of Alexandria. It’s largely a descriptive narrative but not negated by this style. Its strength; it is a contemporary account of cultures in Africa, The Middle East and Asia that provides necessary counter balance to biased western history.

On time. Amazing, beautiful, extraordinary book!

Overall a nice read, esp. for those who are interested in travels and medieval history (particularly Muslim history, or history from Middle-East/Asia). Definitely read the foot-notes; they are an essential part for this book. In fact the foot notes could have been captured in the main write-up, not at the back, to avoid the constant flipping. Key watch outs (these are more comments for the content from Ibn Battuta, not this author): -The text is tedious and descriptive in most places. Don't expect it to read like an adventure story. -The text reveals little about the motives and thought process of Ibn Batutta (which would have been of particular interest to me). For e.g., its mostly unclear how and why Ibn Battuta decides to travel to the next place from where he currently is.

Feeling nervous on the eve of a 14-hour flight to Delhi, with mobile phone and insurance, it is difficult to imagine the state of mind of a man leaving his home in Morocco for for 29 years of wandering. It is these that this abridged version of the "Rihla" provides. The world he roams was not entirely Islamic, but his fith, though perhaps the prism through which he saw and judged, was also his "meal ticket", and a not very profound grasp of Islamic jurisprudence seemed to gain him positions of power and influence wherever he went. Where he went was along the North African Coast to Egypt, thence to Asia Minor, the Mecca for the hadj, then along the Persion/Arab gulf, spending a lot of time in India, particularly at the court of Delhi, with forays into ceylon/Sri Lank, the Maldives, North India/Assam China, whence he returned to his native Morocco, before making a final trip into "black" (Sub-Saharan) Africa. Among other things, this is a book about the generosity of Princes, for at each juncture, he was offered clothes and accommodation that enabled him to maintain his position and status. There were at the time, two competing world visions, that of Europe and the Islamic world. However vast Europe may feel now, the late mediaeval Islamic world offered a more coherent space, and despite the limitations religion placed on cultural relativism, possibly a more open one.

Slight damage to outer cover which is disappointing but rest of book appears okay, looking forward ro reading it!

Enjoyable

イブン・バットゥータの「大旅行記」の抄訳解説つき版です。英語圏では完訳はないようですが、日本には東洋文庫にあります。フランス語だとネットで無料ダウンロードできます。なので、見つけた時にはラッキー!と思ったのですが、そうでもなかったです。ただ、日本語版は文庫といいつつ結構高い上に7冊組なので、ちょっとのぞいてみるには良いかもしれません。

A pleasantly presented format

Excellent book... Gives a full and vivid account of the lives of people who lived in islamic Asia and Europe, a peep into their daily life,biases and beliefs. A must read if you like to read travelogue and is interested in medieval history. This book is an abridged version of ibn battuta'original work, the author had done an excellent work, especially the notes portion of the book which elaborates on the historical context and some peculiar words or incidents narrated in book

It is great to go back in time and see the world as it was nearly 700 years ago with history's foremost traveller, Ibn Battuta. Tim MacIntosh-Smith's updated translation gives the true flavor of the original!