Wikipedia's first sentence called it “born in tangier”. Today it says “maghrebi muslim traveller”. The one-line description Wikipedia serves to search engines and AI systems read “14th-century Muslim Maghrebi traveller, explorer and scholar”. It now reads “Maghrebi traveller and scholar (1304–1368/1369)”.
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Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-03.
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The opening as it read in 2005
Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Battuta ( February 24 1304 to 1368 to 1377 , year of death uncertain) was born in Tangier , Morocco during the time of Merinid Sultanate rule in the Islamic calendar year 703, into a Berber family. He was a Sunni Islamic scholar and jurisprudent from the Maliki Madhhab (a school of Fiqh , or Sunni Islamic law), and at times a Qadi or judge. However, he is best known as an extensive traveller or explorer , whose account documents his travels and side-excursions over a period of almost thirty years, covering some 75,000 miles (120,700 km). This journeying covered almost the entirety of the known Islamic world, extending also to present-day India , the Maldives , Sri Lanka , Southeast Asia and China , a distance readily surpassing that of his prior, near-contemporary and traveller Marco Polo . His name may alternatively be rendered ibn Batuta , ibn Batuda or ibn Battutah . He is also sometimes known by the appellation Shams ad-Din , a title or honorific at times given to the names of scholars particularly in the Islamic East, meaning "the Sun of Religion". His full title and name is given as Shams ad-Din Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Muhammed ibn Ibrahim Ibn Battuta al-Lawati al-Tanji . At the instigation of the Sultan of Morocco, Abu Inan Faris , several years after his return Ibn Battuta dictated an account of his journeys to a scholar named Ibn Juzayy , whom he had met while in Granada . This account, recorded by Ibn Juzayy and interspersed with the latter's own comments is the primary source of information for his adventures.1The title of this intial manuscript may be translated as A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling , but is often simply referred to as the Rihla , or "(My) Travels".2Whilst apparently fictional in places, the Rihla still gives as complete an account as exists of some parts of the world in the 14th century . Almost all that is known about Ibn Battuta's life comes from one source – Ibn Battuta himself (via Ibn Juzayy). In places the things he claims he saw or did are probably fanciful, but in many others there is no way to know whether he is reporting or story-telling. The following account assumes the former where it is not obviously the latter.3
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 17972364.
The opening as it stood in 2010 14 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Al Lawati Al Tanji Ibn Battuta ( ), or simply Ibn Battuta (February 24, 1304–1368 or 1369), was a Moroccan Berber Muslim scholar and traveller who is known for the account of his travels and excursions called the Rihla (voyage in Arabic).His journeys lasted for a period of nearly thirty years and covered almost the entirety of the known Islamic world and beyond, extending from North Africa , West Africa , Southern Europe and Eastern Europe in the West, to the Middle East , Indian subcontinent , Central Asia , Southeast Asia and China in the East, a distance readily surpassing that of his predecessors and his near-contemporary Marco Polo .With this extensive account of his journey, Ibn Battuta is often considered as one of the greatest travellers ever.Glimpses of World History .In any event, Ibn Battuta must be amongst the great travellers of all time."
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Ibn Baṭūṭah ( / ˌ ɪ b ən b æ t ˈ t uː t ɑː / , ʾAbū ʿAbd al-Lāh Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Lāh l-Lawātī ṭ-Ṭanǧī ibn Baṭūṭah ), or simply Ibn Battuta ( ابن بطوطة ) (February 25, 1304 – 1368 or 1369), was a Moroccan explorer of Berber descent.He is known for his extensive travels, accounts of which were published in the Rihla (lit.Over a period of thirty years, Ibn Battuta visited most of the known Islamic world as well as many non-Muslim lands.His journeys included trips to North Africa , the Horn of Africa , West Africa and Eastern Europe , and to the Middle East , South Asia , Central Asia , Southeast Asia and China .Ibn Battuta is generally considered one of the greatest travellers of all time. Glimpses of World History . In any event, Ibn Battuta must be amongst the great travellers of all time."
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Muslim Berber Moroccan scholar and explorer Ibn Battuta ( / ˌ ɪ b ən b æ t ˈ t uː t ɑː / ; ; fully: Shams al-Dīn Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ibn Ibrāhīm ibn Muḥammad ibn Ibrāhīm ibn Yūsuf al-Lawātī al-Ṭanji ; Arabic: شمس الدين أبو عبد الله محمد بن عبد الله بن محمد بن إبراهيم بن محمد بن إبراهيم بن يوسف اللواتي الطنجي ; 24 February 1304 – 1368 or 1369) was a Muslim Berber Moroccan scholar, and explorer who widely travelled the medieval world.Over a period of thirty years, Ibn Battuta visited most of the Islamic world and many non-Muslim lands, including Central Asia , Southeast Asia , India and China .Near the end of his life, he dictated an account of his journeys, titled A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling .He travelled more than any other explorer in distance, totaling around 117,000 km, surpassing Zheng He with about 50,000 km and Marco Polo with 12,000 km. Glimpses of World History . After outlining the extensive route of Ibn Battuta's Journey, Nehru notes: "This is a record of travel which is rare enough today with our many conveniences....In any event, Ibn Battuta must be amongst the great travellers of all time." ‘’Pioneers of Modern Science’’, 2019, Istanbul
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14th-century Muslim Maghrebi traveller, explorer and scholar For other uses, see Ibn Battuta (disambiguation) .Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Battutah ( / ˌ ɪ b ən b æ t ˈ t uː t ɑː / ; 24 February 1304 – 1368/1369), commonly known as Ibn Battuta , was a Maghrebi traveller, explorer and scholar.Over a period of thirty years from 1325 to 1354, Ibn Battuta visited most of North Africa , the Middle East , East Africa , Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, China, the Iberian Peninsula , and West Africa . Near the end of his life, he dictated an account of his journeys, titled A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling , but commonly known as The Rihla . Ibn Battuta travelled more than any other explorer in pre-modern history, totalling around 117,000 km (73,000 mi), surpassing Zheng He with about 50,000 km (31,000 mi) and Marco Polo with 24,000 km (15,000 mi).There have been doubts over the historicity of some of Ibn Battuta's travels, particularly as they reach farther East.In Ian Richard Netton (ed.).Cosmopolitanism and the Middle Ages . Glimpses of World History . After outlining the extensive route of Ibn Battuta's Journey, Nehru notes: "This is a record of travel which is rare enough today with our many conveniences. ... In any event, Ibn Battuta must be amongst the great travellers of all time." There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).
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Maghrebi traveller and scholar (1304–1368/1369) For other uses, see Ibn Battuta (disambiguation) .Ibn Battuta ( / ˌ ɪ b ən b æ t ˈ t uː t ɑː / ; 24 February 1304 – 1368/1369), was a Maghrebi traveller, explorer and scholar.Over a period of 30 years from 1325 to 1354, he visited much of Africa , the Middle East , Asia and the Iberian Peninsula .Near the end of his life, Ibn Battuta dictated an account of his journeys, titled A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling , commonly known as The Rihla . Ibn Battuta travelled more than any other explorer in pre-modern history, totalling around 117,000 km (73,000 mi), surpassing Zheng He with about 50,000 km (31,000 mi) and Marco Polo with 24,000 km (15,000 mi). In Netton, Ian Richard (ed.). Cosmopolitanism and the Middle Ages . The World Book Encyclopedia . Glimpses of World History . After outlining the extensive route of Ibn Battuta's Journey, Nehru notes: "This is a record of travel which is rare enough today with our many conveniences. ... In any event, Ibn Battuta must be amongst the great travelers of all time." There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1297789968. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
Wikipedia's first sentence called it “born in tangier”. Today it says “maghrebi muslim traveller”. The one-line description Wikipedia serves to search engines and AI systems read “14th-century Muslim Maghrebi traveller, explorer and scholar”. It now reads “Maghrebi traveller and scholar (1304–1368/1369)”. Read the current article and compare.
2005
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2015
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Oct '23
2025
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What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined since 2005, and today's defining sentence is their current revision.
Then
born in tangier
Now
maghrebi muslim traveller
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.