SJS 2: "Travels in Africa"

Source: Ibn Battuta. "Travels in Africa." Part Two: Traditional societies. 1364, pp.148-151

Author Credentials: Ibn Battuta was a Moroccan scholar and traveller best known for his treks around the Middle East, Africa, and many other Asian countries. His travels made him a great source of knowledge from his time to this day.

Summary: In the passage, Battuta travels to see the Sudanese people of the Mali empire. While on a caravan to Sudan, he describes the harsh, desert-like wilderness he and his group traversed through to reach their destination. Battuta notes that the peoples' way of living and behavior are greatly influenced by Islam, giving their faithful prayers and pilgrimages as an exmple. In light of this, the Sundanese people exhibit a very lax and non-conservative culture, which confuses him.

Analysis: Ibn Battuta writes a very informative segment on the Sudanese people of the Mali Empire. The only evidence provided in his writings are his own experiences, so the reader has no way of knowing whether or not his recordings are truthful. Many of his statements on the Sudanese people's lifestyle are influenced by his dedication to Islam, and as such his writing is not without bias. Despite this, Battuta's reputation as a highly acclaimed scholar leads the reader to believe that what he says is credible.