Marco Polo Comparison

The prolific writings of both Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta give accounts of early world travel and exploration during the middle ages, these two explorers’ managed to travel the length of the Eurasian empire, while creating written accounts of their adventure. When comparing these two individual writings on their travels and perception of cultures, religion and trade also their reasons for travel it is imperative that we acknowledge that these two individuals came from very different back rounds Polo a Christian and Battuta a Muslim. Thus their accounts and view points maybe very different in retrospect to one another due to a religious, and cultural bias when exploring these areas. In order to understand these two travelers it is important to understand their origins, first was Marco Polo who was born in 1254 in Venice1. Both his father and uncle had already traveled to Asia and it was only normal for a young man of these days to follow in his fathers footsteps to travel and expand in area of trade. How ever this was not the case for Ibn Battuta who was born in 1304 in Morocco2, his travels and quests started of as a pilgrimage to Mecca, which lead him to travel all over African and Asian continents. Thus each Traveler had their own reasons for traveling and what interested them for Polo it was to join his Father on a second voyage to Cathay, that started his world travels. On the other hand for Ibn it was his undertaking of a pilgrimage in 1325 also known as the Hajj3, to the holy city of Mecca located in Arabia, which would lead him to travel the known world. Another comparison that may have shocked or interested each traveler is the trade of slaves, both travelers encountered Slaves being sold, traded or given as gifts and their attitudes toward this issue can give some insight into historical culture and their own personal belief. This comparison will address their views on such trade and how it was view by these different cultures