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Ibn Battuta

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Explorer

The Resume

    (February 24, 1305-circa 1377)
    Born in Tangier, Morocco
    Islamic scholar, judge and explorer
    Traveled over 75,000 miles through the Islamic world, India and China
    Dictated an account of his travels in the 'Rihla' ('Journey')

Why he might be annoying:

    He uses hunks of the Rihla to extravagantly praise his patron, the sultan of Morocco.
    He looked down on areas where the local customs conflicted with his conservative morals.
    He fled the Maldives under suspicion of plotting a coup against the reigning king and queen.
    He bought and sold slaves.
    He popularized hookah smoking.
    His last years are obscure, with his death year being given anywhere from 1368 to 1377.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He racked up more mileage than Marco Polo.
    He was robbed while in India.
    Sailing to China, he survived a shipwreck and was attacked by pirates.
    Returning to Tangier after 20+ years of travel, he learned his mother had died from the Black Death only months before.
    Like Marco Polo, he was accused by his disbelieving contemporaries of spreading tall tales.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 18 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 23 Votes: 65.22% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 24 Votes: 45.83% Annoying