Which traveler is known for extensive journeys across the Islamic world and beyond, originating from Africa?

• A. Ibn Khaldun
• B. Marco Polo
• C. Ibn Battuta
• D. Al-Biruni

Answer: (C)

Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan traveler born in Tangier, is famous for extensive journeys across the Islamic world and beyond. In the 14th century he set out on a series of voyages that lasted nearly thirty years, touring North Africa, the Middle East, Egypt, Syria, the Persian Gulf, India, Southeast Asia, and even West Africa’s Mali Empire. His detailed account, the Rihla, shows how interconnected the medieval Muslim world was and why his travels are remembered as exceptional. His African origin is key—he began in the Maghreb and then moved through vast regions across three continents. In contrast, the other figures come from different regions or are known for different kinds of work: Ibn Khaldun as a North African historian, Marco Polo as a European explorer to China, and Al-Biruni as a Khwarezmian scholar who traveled to India.