The Travels of Ibn Battutah

Have read a few pages and the binding is coming off

A fascinating and eye-opening journey into past cultures.

Very intresting to read his descriptions about life and impressions entering important cities in the XIII century, like Cairo, Damaskus, Constantinople, Delhi etc. Also to find how was the relation between Islam and slavery!

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。

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.

Très belle traduction facile à lire. Le récit est fascinant et les nombreux détails nous font facilement voyager dans l’âge d’or du monde musulman ! Ibn Battuta gagnerait à être plus connu et étudié car il est tout simplement admirable. C’est un voyageur, poète, juge, intellectuel, religieux... tour simplement fascinant !