Ibn Battuta was a 14th-century Moroccan scholar and traveler.

He is considered one of the greatest travelers in history, covering an estimated 75,000 miles in his lifetime.

His journeys began in 1325 with the intention of making the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Over a period of nearly 30 years, he visited most of the known Islamic world and beyond.

His travels took him across North Africa, the Middle East, East Africa, Central Asia, India, Southeast Asia, and China.

After returning home, he dictated an account of his travels, known as the 'Rihla' ('The Journey').

The Rihla provides a valuable and detailed eyewitness account of the political, social, and cultural life of the 14th-century Islamic world.

During his travels, he often worked as a 'qadi,' or Islamic judge.

He was often able to travel safely and find hospitality due to the shared Islamic culture of the lands he visited (the 'Dar al-Islam').

His journeys far surpassed those of his more famous European contemporary, Marco Polo.