Abstract
Ibn Baṭṭūṭa's longest sojourn (734–748/1333-ca. 1347) in his famous world travels was in the domains of the Delhi sultanate ruled by Muḥammad b. Tughluq. He presents a vivid picture of court life in Delhi and a portrait of the sultan, whom Ibn Baṭṭūṭa describes in contrasting terms of generosity and violence. This essay examines the latter phenomenon, first by briefly noting the contribution of two contrasting studies on the...
Ibn Baṭṭūṭa's longest sojourn (734–748/1333-ca. 1347) in his famous world travels was in the domains of the Delhi sultanate ruled by Muḥammad b. Tughluq. He presents a vivid picture of court life in Delhi and a portrait of the sultan, whom Ibn Baṭṭūṭa describes in contrasting terms of generosity and violence. This essay examines the latter phenomenon, first by briefly noting the contribution of two contrasting studies on the complex nature of violence itself (Part One), followed by Ibn Baṭṭūṭa's depiction of Ibn Tughluq's accession to power (Part Two), and then his perception of the sultan's use of capital punishment during his reign (Part Three). The last section (Part Four) adds further detail on the sultan's policy and then briefly compares Ibn Baṭṭūṭa's perception of the sultan's violence with that of another contemporary witness, the historian Ḍiyāʾ al-Dīn Baranī. The result suggests that Ibn Baṭṭūṭa's representation of violence is as nuanced as the phenomenon of violence itself.
Al-Masaq: Journal of the Medieval Mediterranean – Taylor & Francis
Published: Dec 1, 2012
Keywords: Ibn Baṭṭūṭa, Shams al-Dīn, travel writer; Baranī, Ziyāʾ al-Dīn, historian; Travel – in India; Travel literature – Arabic; Delhi (sultanate); Muḥammad b. Ṭughluq, sultan of Delhi; India; Violence; Punishment – capital punishment
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