Ibn Battuta

explorer · medieval · travel · Africa and Asia

The Ultimate Traveler. Ibn Battuta journeyed for 30 years starting in 1325, covering about 117,000 kilometers, that's three times around Earth! He explored Africa, Asia, and Spain during a time when planes, trains, and cars didn't exist.

More Miles Than Anyone. He traveled farther than any other explorer in pre-modern history, visiting more places than famous explorers like Marco Polo and Zheng He. His journeys were so incredible that people doubted his stories at first.

Wrote It All Down. Near the end of his life, Ibn Battuta told someone else his amazing stories, which were written into a book called 'The Rihla' (meaning 'the journey'). This book is how we know about all his adventures today.

Curious About Cities. He loved visiting bustling cities and learning about different cultures, people, and places. His book's full title means 'A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling.'

From Morocco to the World. Ibn Battuta started his travels from Tangier, a city in Morocco, and was a Muslim scholar who visited important Islamic cities across Africa and Asia.