On June 14, 1325, Ibn Battuta left his hometown in Morocco to make the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. He would not return home again for another 24 years.

Over the course of two decades, Ibn Battuta travelled throughout the Middle East, Central Asia and India, and even reached parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. He was the most-traveled man of his time, far surpassing the exploits of Marco Polo. In his writings, he serves as a vital witness to many lands, peoples, rulers and even to the ravage wreaked by the Black Death.

In the course, we will survey Ibn Battuta’s odyssey through the medieval Muslim world, and read selected passages from his travelogue the Rihla that he wrote about this experience. We will see Ibn Battuta robbed by bandits, marrying royalty, and surviving pandemics. Through his eyes, we will also get to see:

• The aftermath of the Mongol invasions in the Muslim world
• Constantinople during the twilight of the Byzantine Empire
• Ibn Battuta’s service at the court of the “Mad Sultan” of Delhi
• The Swahili coast of Africa at the height of the Kilwa Sultanate
• The story of Urduja, the legendary warrior princess of the Philippines

And we might just answer the question dear to many digital nomads today: just exactly how do you pay for all that traveling?

This course is a must for history buffs and students of the medieval world in general.

The course is taught in English and is open to students of all interests and backgrounds.

For students of Arabic, we also offer an additional Arabic section, where our instructor will guide you through a reading of Ibn Battuta’s text in the original Arabic.

None.

Some familiarity with Middle Eastern history or medieval history is helpful, but not required.

For the Arabic section, two years of Modern Standard Arabic will be sufficient.