Faith, Commerce, and Cultural Exchange in the World of Ibn Battuta - Travelling Islam

This book offers a nuanced historical analysis of the profound impact of Ibn Battuta's extensive travels across Asia, Africa, and Europe. As one of the most significant figures of medieval Islamic history, Ibn Battuta's journey not only documents his personal experiences but also serves as a lens through which we can examine the complex interrelations of faith, commerce, and cultural exchange that shaped the medieval world. This volume adopts integrating perspectives from history to explore the enduring legacy of his observations. The volume is divided into five thematic sections. The first focuses on the economic implications of Ibn Battuta's travels, particularly his observations on trade, finance, and their influence on economic networks, with particular attention to the Indian Ocean trade routes. The second section examines the histrory  of religious pilgrimage, especially the Hajj, in facilitating the movement of people, ideas, and religious practices across vast distances, shaping deep intercontinental connections. The third part investigates the spread of jurisprudence and cultural practices, focusing on Southeast Asia and the broader Indian Ocean world, and the ways in which Ibn Battuta's journey contributed to the shaping of regional legal systems and social norms. The fourth section highlights the relevance of Ibn Battuta's insights to contemporary global issues such as international trade, health, and sustainability, drawing parallels between the medieval and modern periods. The final section explores Ibn Battuta's lasting legacy as a historian and a figure of cultural exchange, reshaping both historiography and broader chronological narratives. This book provides a comprehensive historical account of Ibn Battuta's travels, offering new insights into the interconnected world of the medieval period and its ongoing influence on contemporary global systems.

List of contents

Introduction:Navigating Faith, Commerce, and Culture in the World of Ibn Battuta.- Part 1: Historical Accounts of Travel and Tradition.- Chapter 1. Ibn Battuta on the Muslim Frontiers.- Chapter 2. Revisiting Ibn Battuta as an African Historian.- Chapter 3. History of Integrated Crossroads: Ibn Battuta s Observations on the Integration of Traditional Practices in South and Southeast Asia.- Chapter 4. Historical Echoes: Ibn Battuta s Observations and the Evolution of Islamic Finance in The Maldives.- Chapter 5. Ibn Battuta s Calicut: An Archaeological Investigation Through Ibn Battuta s and Other Historical Accounts.- Part 2: Textual Tradition, Jurisprudence and Cultural Exchange.- Chapter 6. A Panoramic Account of Ibn Battuta s Voyage to India, Maritime Southeast Asia, and China.- Chapter 7. Graded Bodies, Sacred Texts: Muslim Travellers and the Caste Order in Precolonial Malabar.- Chapter 8. Ibn Battuta s Travels in the Malay Peninsula: Influence on Socio-Cultural, Commercial, and Jurisprudential Developments in Modern Malaysia.- Chapter 9. Ottoman Travelers and Southeast Asia: A Two-Way Exchange of Culture and Religion.- Chapter 10. The Ramayana and the Spread of Hindu-Islamic Synthesis in Indonesia.- Part 3: Pilgrimage, Faith, and Identity Across Borders.- Chapter 11. Women, Culture, and Religion in Ibn Battuta's Chronicles of India: An Analysis from Historical and Contemporary Perspectives.- Chapter 12. The Synergy Of Spirituality And Identity: The Impact Of The Sayyids  From Arabia On The Social Landscape Of Malabar.- Chapter 13. Bengal in Ibn Battuta s Rihla: A Résumé.- Chapter 14. Pilgrimage And Revivalism In Islam: The West African Experience.- Chapter 15. The Wandermusikant (German Traveling Musician) Meets the Indian Acrobats: Michael Gilcher and His Encounter with Mahomet Cassim and Mahomet Abdallah in Australia in the 1860s.

About the author

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.

Summary

This book offers a nuanced historical analysis of the profound impact of Ibn Battuta’s extensive travels across Asia, Africa, and Europe. As one of the most significant figures of medieval Islamic history, Ibn Battuta’s journey not only documents his personal experiences but also serves as a lens through which we can examine the complex interrelations of faith, commerce, and cultural exchange that shaped the medieval world. This volume adopts integrating perspectives from history to explore the enduring legacy of his observations. The volume is divided into five thematic sections. The first focuses on the economic implications of Ibn Battuta’s travels, particularly his observations on trade, finance, and their influence on economic networks, with particular attention to the Indian Ocean trade routes. The second section examines the histrory  of religious pilgrimage, especially the Hajj, in facilitating the movement of people, ideas, and religious practices across vast distances, shaping deep intercontinental connections. The third part investigates the spread of jurisprudence and cultural practices, focusing on Southeast Asia and the broader Indian Ocean world, and the ways in which Ibn Battuta’s journey contributed to the shaping of regional legal systems and social norms. The fourth section highlights the relevance of Ibn Battuta’s insights to contemporary global issues such as international trade, health, and sustainability, drawing parallels between the medieval and modern periods. The final section explores Ibn Battuta’s lasting legacy as a historian and a figure of cultural exchange, reshaping both historiography and broader chronological narratives. This book provides a comprehensive historical account of Ibn Battuta’s travels, offering new insights into the interconnected world of the medieval period and its ongoing influence on contemporary global systems.

Product details

• Assisted by: Abbas Panakkal (Editor)
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English, German
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 09.11.2025
• EAN: 9783031978821
• ISBN: 978-3-0-3197882-1
• No. of pages: 368
• Illustrations: Approx. 370 p. 12 illus. in color.
• Series: Palgrave Series in Indian Ocean World Studies
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; Geschichte, Islam, Südostasien, Sozial- und Kulturgeschichte, Geschichte der Religion, Ideengeschichte, Geistesgeschichte, Cultural History, Intellectual History, Early Modern History, History of Southeast Asia, Islamic History, History of Islam, Diplomatic and International History, early modern travel, Islamic economic systems, global networks of faith