Question 23 of 25intermediate🔧 ApplyDiagram4 marks

On an outline map of the world mark the countries visited by Ibn Battuta. What are the seas that he may have crossed?

(i)
Answer

Countries visited by Ibn Battuta to be marked on the world map:

  1. Morocco (Tangier - his birthplace)
  2. Syria
  3. Iraq
  4. Persia (Iran)
  5. Yemen
  6. Oman
  7. East Africa (trading ports on the coast)
  8. Mecca (for pilgrimage)
  9. India (including Multan, Delhi, Malabar Coast, Bengal, Assam)
  10. Maldives
  11. Sri Lanka
  12. Sumatra
  13. China
  14. Central Asia and parts of West Asia

He travelled extensively through North Africa, West Asia, parts of Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent and China before returning to Morocco.

(ii)
Answer

The seas that Ibn Battuta may have crossed include:

  1. Arabian Sea - While travelling from the Malabar coast to the Maldives and back.
  2. Indian Ocean - During his journey from the Maldives to Sri Lanka, and from Sumatra towards China.
  3. South China Sea - While taking a ship to reach the Chinese port town from Sumatra.

These sea routes connected the global network of communication stretching from China to North-west Africa.

Explanation

The context clearly mentions Ibn Battuta's extensive travels. Before coming to India in 1332-33, he had already visited Mecca, Syria, Iraq, Persia, Yemen, Oman and East African trading ports. In India, he travelled through central India, Malabar coast, Multan, Delhi, Bengal and Assam. He also stayed in Maldives for 18 months, visited Sri Lanka, and then travelled to Sumatra and China by ship. The seas crossed can be inferred from his sea voyages - from Malabar to Maldives (Arabian Sea), to Sri Lanka (Indian Ocean), and to Sumatra and China (Indian Ocean and South China Sea).

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