Elon Musk, a prominent individual hailing from the United States with substantial wealth, recently expressed a keen interest in delving into the life and journeys of Ibn Battuta, a historical figure from Morocco renowned for his extensive travels. This recognition of Ibn Battuta’s legacy came through Musk’s communication on a platform known as “X,” where he also made a noteworthy podcast recommendation, namely “The Explorers.”
Ibn Battuta, whose origins trace back to 1304, possessed remarkable intellect and an insatiable wanderlust. Over the course of approximately three decades, he embarked on extensive voyages that encompassed a wide array of destinations, including North Africa, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and China, among others. Documenting his remarkable experiences, Ibn Battuta authored a literary work titled “A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling,” commonly referred to as “The Rihla.”
The significance of Ibn Battuta’s travels is underscored by the extraordinary distances he covered—approximately 117,000 kilometers—a feat that surpasses the expeditions of other notable historical travelers such as Zheng He and Marco Polo, who covered around 50,000 and 24,000 kilometers, respectively.