PDP2- Travels in Africa

Author Bio: Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Ibn Buttuta, the author, describes his long lasting journey traveling along Asia and Africa.
Muhammad originated in Tangier and kept traveling for 24 years after the age of 25. He passed all of the Muslim states and is now recognized as a center of information toward African and Muslim civilization during this time period (1364 C.E.) Throughout this article, Muhammad describes his adventures up to the empire of Mali. He mentions the desert crossings, camels, as well as the caravan routes. Toward the end of the article he portrays the good and bad acts of the Sudan such as their lack of oppression in which he agreed upon. However, disagreed with the fact that female servants, slave girls, as well as little girls show up naked in the appearance of men.

Date/Context: This document fits with our understanding of imperialism due to the diversity of cultures and religious obligations. One of Muhammad's points in this article was, "...their assiduity in prayer and their persistence in preforming it in congregation and beating their children to make them perform it. If it is a Friday and a man does not go early to the mosque he will not find anywhere to pray because of the press of the people. It is their habit that every man sends his servant with his prayer-mat to spread it for him in a place which he thereby has a right to until he goes to the mosque. Their prayer-carpets are made from the fonds of the tree resembling the palm which has no fruit" (Buttuta 151). A second point the author mentioned was a part of their culture, where the ladies would appear fully naked in the presence of men.

Summary: Muhammad admired their lack of brutality, their security measures within the country, their denied interference with the death of rich white man, strict religion and culture practices, white clothing on Fridays, and lastly their memorization of Koran. However, some of the acts he disagreed upon where the naked woman and children in front of men, the women's presence toward the sultan's, and lastly their choice of food such as dogs, monkeys, and carrions.

Key Quotation:
Much of the information that he provides is unique, but all of it is shaped by his own background, religion, and sense of cultural superiority.
The association of women with men is agreeable to us and a part of good conduct, to which no suspicion attaches. They are not like the women of your country.