can the ancient truth be discovered?

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Below:Trade was the life-blood of the Mamluk Empire, and caravanserai ("hotels" for caravan travelers) were built to encourage trade. One caravanserai for Syrian merchants had 360 lodgings above the storerooms and enough space for 4,000 guests at a time! Ibn Battuta would be staying at places like this built along the main trade routes.

Below: The Citadel (great fortress) was built by Saladin in 1176, and in 1218 was the residence of Sultan al-Kamil (nephew of Saladin). While it has been expanded, Ibn Battuta would recognize this view.

Below: The coin at the right is a gold dinar used throughout the Islamic world. It was minted in Baghdad (before the Mongol invasion). Dinar were also made of silver.

Below:The silver coin at the left is of the Mamluk period in Egypt. A "dirham" like this would have been used by Ibn Battuta.

Below:Ibn Battuta traveled through much of the territory controlled by the Mamluks, or "slave" rulers of Egypt.

About ~~Ibn~~ Battuta

Credits

Designer: Cranberrieas - pls don discredit mii. thanxxs

His profile

Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta

He was born February 24, 1304;
year of death uncertain, possibly 1368 or 1377

He was a Berber Sunni Islamic scholar
and jurisprudent from the Maliki Madhhab,
and at times a Qadi or judge.

He is best known as a traveller and explorer,
whose account documents his travels and excursions over a period of almost thirty years,
covering some 73,000 miles (117,000 km).

These journeys covered almost the entirety of the known Islamic world,
extending from present-day West Africa to Pakistan, India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia and China,
a distance readily surpassing that of his predecessor,
near-contemporary Marco Polo.

A crater is named after him on the Moon.
A themed shopping mall in Dubai also bears his name,
with some of his earlier research and inventions in displays scattered throughout its corridors.