Ibn Battuta Research Paper

In much of Africa, men of knowledge were looked upon with high regard. Shaihu Umar and Ibn Battuta were two men who fell into this esteemed category. Coming from two very different social locations, Umar and Battuta set out to achieve their goals with polar approaches. Umar, a poor boy who was constantly surrounding by God deferring individuals, used his faith in God’s will to guide his actions while Battuta, born into the aristocratic legacy of his family, used blackmail and status to get what he wanted. Shaihu Umar was born into a poor family in Kagara in the nineteenth century. As a young boy, a series of unfortunate circumstances fell upon Umar, which he handled them well. What could be passed off as childlike innocence is, in actuality,

This makes Battuta’s journey to religious and academic prestige from the beginning less harrowing than Umar’s. Being born into family with status gives Battuta status that he didn’t have to work for. He did not want the necessities needed for survival like a lower-class person would have to. This created a sense of entitlement in Battuta that is evident in his journeys across Africa. During his time in Malli, the sultan, Mansa Sulaiman, sent Battuta gifts to his lodging. He laughed, felt the amount he was given was insignificant, and questioned the sanity of the sultan. When he confronts the Sulaiman on the issue, he asks what shall he say about the about him before the other sultans of the world , who he felt have treated him better than Sulaiman. This was something that Battuta did often. When he did not get his way or what he expected, he responded in an immature manner. He expected to be showered with gifts no matter where he went because of his status. It was what he was accustomed to respectable aristocrats receiving where he was from. If he went to another place that may not have been able to provide what he was used to, it is understandable that he might perceive their actions as disrespectful. Battuta’s perception of the world around him is most certainly a result of the cultural baggage he