Question
Document B: Ibn Battuta’s Rihla (Part 2)
Crossing the border into Syria (1326)
At the station of Qatya customs-dues are collected from the merchants, and their goods and baggage are thoroughly examined and searched. There are offices here, with officers, clerks, and notaries, and the daily revenue is a thousand gold dinars. No one is allowed to pass into Syria without a passport from Egypt, nor into Egypt without a passport from Syria, for the protection of the property of the subjects and as a measure of precaution against spies from Iraq.
Damascus
I entered Damascus on Thursday 9th Ramadan 726 [9th August, 1326], and lodged at the Malikite college. Damascus surpasses all other cities in beauty, and no description can do justice to its charms. The Cathedral Mosque, known as the Umayyad Mosque, is the most magnificent mosque in the world. When the new moon of the month Shawwal appeared in the same year [1st September, 1326], the caravan left Damascus and I set off along with it. . . . On the third day after leaving Damascus the great caravan halted at Tabuk for four days to rest and to water the camels and pack water for the terrible desert between Tabuk and al-Ula.
Mecca
I got rid of my tailored clothes, bathed, and putting on the pilgrim’s garment, I prayed and dedicated myself to the pilgrimage. The inhabitants of Mecca have many excellent and noble activities and qualities. They are good to the humble and weak, and kind to strangers. When any of them makes a feast, he begins by giving food to the religious devotees who are poor and without resources.
Source: Excerpts from “Ibn Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-1354.”
Vocabulary
Malikite: one of four schools of Islamic law
Syria to Mecca
5.Why does Battuta stop at the Syrian border?
6.What geographical challenge does Battuta face in traveling from Damascus to Mecca?
7.How does Ibn Battuta describe the people of Mecca? Do you think this is trustworthy description? Why or why not?
Crossing the border into Syria (1326)
At the station of Qatya customs-dues are collected from the merchants, and their goods and baggage are thoroughly examined and searched. There are offices here, with officers, clerks, and notaries, and the daily revenue is a thousand gold dinars. No one is allowed to pass into Syria without a passport from Egypt, nor into Egypt without a passport from Syria, for the protection of the property of the subjects and as a measure of precaution against spies from Iraq.
Damascus
I entered Damascus on Thursday 9th Ramadan 726 [9th August, 1326], and lodged at the Malikite college. Damascus surpasses all other cities in beauty, and no description can do justice to its charms. The Cathedral Mosque, known as the Umayyad Mosque, is the most magnificent mosque in the world. When the new moon of the month Shawwal appeared in the same year [1st September, 1326], the caravan left Damascus and I set off along with it. . . . On the third day after leaving Damascus the great caravan halted at Tabuk for four days to rest and to water the camels and pack water for the terrible desert between Tabuk and al-Ula.
Mecca
I got rid of my tailored clothes, bathed, and putting on the pilgrim’s garment, I prayed and dedicated myself to the pilgrimage. The inhabitants of Mecca have many excellent and noble activities and qualities. They are good to the humble and weak, and kind to strangers. When any of them makes a feast, he begins by giving food to the religious devotees who are poor and without resources.
Source: Excerpts from “Ibn Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-1354.”
Vocabulary
Malikite: one of four schools of Islamic law
Syria to Mecca
5.Why does Battuta stop at the Syrian border?
6.What geographical challenge does Battuta face in traveling from Damascus to Mecca?
7.How does Ibn Battuta describe the people of Mecca? Do you think this is trustworthy description? Why or why not?
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
**5. Why does Battuta stop at the Syrian border?**
Ibn Battuta stops at the Syrian border to go through customs, where merchants are required to pay dues, and their goods and baggage are thoroughly examined. The border crossing also necessitates the presentation of a passport, which is required for traveling between Syria and Egypt. This process is in place for the protection of property and as a precautionary measure against spies.
**6. What geographical challenge does Battuta face in traveling from Damascus to Mecca?**
Ibn Battuta faces the challenge of crossing a "terrible desert" between Tabuk and al-Ula. The caravan halts at Tabuk for four days to rest and water the camels, highlighting the difficulties that come with traversing this arid and potentially harsh landscape.
**7. How does Ibn Battuta describe the people of Mecca? Do you think this is a trustworthy description? Why or why not?**
Ibn Battuta describes the people of Mecca as possessing many excellent and noble qualities. He notes that they are good to the humble and weak, kind to strangers, and that they prioritize feeding religious devotees who are poor at their feasts. While his description paints a positive picture of the inhabitants, the trustworthiness can be questioned due to the nature of travel accounts, which may contain subjective observations or exaggerations. Additionally, Battuta's perspective as a foreign traveler might influence his portrayal, as he may want to emphasize the hospitality and goodness of the locals in contrast to experiences in other places. However, given that he spent time there and observed their customs and behaviors, there is a basis for his description being sincere, although it could also be idealized.
Ibn Battuta stops at the Syrian border to go through customs, where merchants are required to pay dues, and their goods and baggage are thoroughly examined. The border crossing also necessitates the presentation of a passport, which is required for traveling between Syria and Egypt. This process is in place for the protection of property and as a precautionary measure against spies.
**6. What geographical challenge does Battuta face in traveling from Damascus to Mecca?**
Ibn Battuta faces the challenge of crossing a "terrible desert" between Tabuk and al-Ula. The caravan halts at Tabuk for four days to rest and water the camels, highlighting the difficulties that come with traversing this arid and potentially harsh landscape.
**7. How does Ibn Battuta describe the people of Mecca? Do you think this is a trustworthy description? Why or why not?**
Ibn Battuta describes the people of Mecca as possessing many excellent and noble qualities. He notes that they are good to the humble and weak, kind to strangers, and that they prioritize feeding religious devotees who are poor at their feasts. While his description paints a positive picture of the inhabitants, the trustworthiness can be questioned due to the nature of travel accounts, which may contain subjective observations or exaggerations. Additionally, Battuta's perspective as a foreign traveler might influence his portrayal, as he may want to emphasize the hospitality and goodness of the locals in contrast to experiences in other places. However, given that he spent time there and observed their customs and behaviors, there is a basis for his description being sincere, although it could also be idealized.