This book offers a nuanced historical analysis of the connections and impact made on Asia, Africa, and Europe by Ibn Battuta’s fourteenth-century journeys in these regions and his subsequent travel memoir, The Rihla. The Rihla documents his personal experiences and serves as a lens through which we can examine the complex interrelations of faith, commerce, and cultural exchange.

This volume adopts integrative perspectives from history to explore the enduring legacy of his observations. In particular, it considers the economic networks of Ibn Battuta’s travels, particularly the Indian Ocean trade routes; the history of religious pilgrimage, especially the Hajj, in facilitating the movement of people, ideas, and religious practices; the spread of jurisprudence and cultural practices across the Indian Ocean world, and the ways in which Ibn Battuta’s journey helped shape regional legal systems and social norms; the relevance of Ibn Battuta’s insights to contemporary global issues, such as international trade, health, and sustainability; and his lasting legacy as a historian and figure of cultural exchange.

Abbas Panakkal is a historian currently affiliated with the School of History at the University of St. Andrews, UK. He holds directorial positions at the Ibn Battuta International Centre of Intercultural Studies and the International Interfaith Initiative, and he serves on the advisory board for the Religious Life and Belief Centre at the University of Surrey, UK. Previously, he was a fellow at Griffith University, Australia. Dr. Panakkal’s published works include Matrilineal, Matriarchal, and Matrifocal Islam (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024). His research spans a diverse array of topics, including language, religion, law, indigenization, integration, interreligious engagements, and intercultural cooperation.