Ibn Battuta: A Lifetime of Exploration

Kacey Lo

Individual Website

Junior Division

Words: 472

Considering this year’s NHD theme (Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History), I was

drawn to the eponymous tale of Ibn Battuta, The Travels of Ibn Battuta. It is an epic narrative

and the tale of a journey that spanned three decades. Storyteller of one of the greatest

expeditions, and among the greatest explorers in history, Ibn Battuta encountered myriad

societies throughout the medieval world, many of which were foreign and astonishing to a man

of his background, and set those experiences of lifelong enlightenment to paper. Due to its

magnitude, I was enchanted by the monumental undertaking of such an individual, and was

determined to embark on a journey through his footsteps and a new perspective.

To begin my research, I looked for primary sources and documents detailing the aspects

and accounts of Ibn Battuta’s adventures throughout various medieval societies. In doing so, I

came across Battuta’s Rihla, a narrative journeying through these experiences, by way of the

Internet Medieval Sourcebook. Continuing my online research, I outlined those topics which

required additional information in order to clearly navigate through Ibn Battuta’s travels, and

the description and impact of its telling. Afterwards, I searched for relevant sources of

information pertaining to Battuta’s background, for insights on its influence on his perception of

the world in sight, before compiling the annotated bibliography.

Considering my previous experience and personal interest in web design, I immediately

opted for the website category. Furthermore, I believe that websites prove advantageous for

the relation of historical perspectives in several respects. Creating a website allows for the

inclusion of multimedia, e.g. photographs, audio and video, as a dynamic reinforcement to text,

and enables immersion and interaction with the information being presented. I primarily

developed my website by sketching an outline of the prospective webpages. After extensive

research, I gathered and organized information for arrangement throughout the website, using

the NHD Weebly Website Builder. Lastly, I added supplementary features to enhance the

overall website structure and navigation.

Ibn Battuta and his travels directly relate to the NHD theme, Exploration, Encounter,

Exchange in History. A man of great perseverance, he embarked on a massive exploration

through various lands and civilizations, even as he endured hardships and navigational

limitations along the way. Throughout his voyage, Battuta encountered richness in the

dimensions of ideas, peoples, and cultures distinct from those of his more familiar childhood.

As he wandered across the world, Ibn Battuta exchanged knowledge with those he met, and

eventually introduced the unique societies he had seen and his experiences, to contemporary

readers of his Rihla. The nature of his tremendous exploration of outside lands and the

international impact of his story have established him as one of the greatest travelers in all

history and continue to inspire generations of new readers with a vision for cultural awareness

and the ongoing search for knowledge.