Ross E. Dunn

This was a good follow up to [b:The Travels of Ibn Battuta: in the Near East, Asia and Africa, 1325-1354|86574|The Travels of Ibn Battuta in the Near East, Asia and Africa, 1325-1354|Ibn Battuta|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328864561l/86574._SY75_.jpg|505529]. I felt I needed a follow up that offered some context where the previous book did not.

As others have observed, some of the talk around the Mongols was a bit...weird. The way they are described show more as being uncivilised and uncultured seems to speak to some sort of bias on behalf of the author.

There is more detail about ibn Battuta's habit of repeatedly marrying or otherwise acquiring women and then abandoning, divorcing or losing them. However my biggest questions around this remain unanswered - was this acceptable in Battuta's time or was he unusually callous in his treatment of women?

I remain impressed at the extent of the Islamic world at the time, but the further I got in the book, the more I disliked his subject. He's a sanctimonious prat. At one point he gets cross because he's trying to relieve himself on the bank of a river and his "immodest" companion keeps standing in his way. Turns out the guy was trying to protect him from crocodiles. show less

Mr. Dunn has written a good book about the travels of the 14th Cent. traveller. The short historical sketches of the places IB visited are very helpful to the non-specialist. The maps, alas, are not plentiful and could have been a good deal more informative. He does raise the point that some areas seem to have been very sketchily described in comparison to some of the other places visited. I offer that the actual transcriber only worked on editing the " Rihla" for a two year period,and then show more died. The transcriber states that IB had a vast amount of verbal reminiscences at his disposal. So, a transcriber in failing health may have "Scalped" materials rather than re-checked what the old man said. Or, the two never really got to that part of IB's career in great detail, and other later transcribers may have had to fill in the missing bits.
Fancifully, since IB records having had used opium as a part of a Malaria cure, perhaps the missing parts of his memories may have been shrouded in a drug induced haze anyway....just sayin.....
But, quibbles about what IB saw in person, and what he borrowed or made up, there is still a good many periods where IB is our only guide to what happened in parts of "Dar-al-Islam" in the 1300's.
So, a good book about another good book's author. show less

Ibn Battuta was a 14th century Moroccan Islamic scholar who spent about 30 years traveling throughout the Islamic world and beyond. It is one of the great travel accounts of history easily comparable with Marco Polo. This book is a scholarly gloss of his account designed for the non-specialist - there are many complications to his itinerary and a lot of historical background which are illuminated and explained by the author. Each chapter covers a particular region he traveled, with the first show more part of the chapter providing the historical background of the region, with the second half recounting Battuta's travels and experiences therein. Thus, not only does one get an overview of Battuta's travels, but a fairly good 14th century "world history". It is probably the most intimate and personal medieval story I have read giving interesting details about daily living that bring the era and people to life, while also providing a macro historical view of the time. The only thing better would be to read the actual book - but I think this contextual account and the primary source are both just as vital to understanding. show less

I gave this book a 3 star due to the fact that the title is misleading. Though a very well writing and entertaining book it is more of an account of the social backdrop in which Ibn Battuta traveled and not truly his adventures. Throughout the book M. Dunn starts with a little bit of Ibn Battuta’s adventure then goes on to the political, social or economical scene of the time and area. Fantastic reading for somebody who is looking to learn more about social life in that period, but if you show more already know about it or you are looking for some adventures then you will find the book long and frustrating.
Consequently the title should read: Society and Muslim life thru Ibn Battuta’s travels. That would've been a more accurate title. show less