Question

What are three limitations of using Ibn Battuta’s account, a single source, to understand what life was like in Muslim world in the 1320s?

Answer 1

Answer:

1. Based on evidences most of  the descriptions he gave in his documents were inaccurate, there were discrepancies  in these;for example of the  rulers  accounts he gave before and after life time, and the geographical details he gave.

2.It was not possible for him to embark such a long  journey(73,000miles) at that time he quoted in his narration,due to the circumstances of the  events then; the means of transportation was  not fast then

3.Because many expedition had occurred  before his time,there was believe that his narration was based on compilation of contemporary travel reports (Plagiarism)of the period. E.g most of the pilgrimage  accounts he gave were word-for-word  of Ahmad  Ibn Jubayl.