why did ibn battuta decide to travel

Ibn Battuta decided to travel initially to perform the Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj to Mecca, which is one of the five pillars of Islam. At the age of 21, he set out from his hometown with a strong desire to visit the holy sanctuaries. However, beyond this religious obligation, he was also driven by a deep curiosity and an insatiable wanderlust to explore far-away lands, learn about different cultures, and seek knowledge from prominent teachers in the Islamic world. This adventurous spirit and thirst for learning led him to continue traveling extensively after completing the pilgrimage, eventually covering about 75,000 miles over nearly 30 years, visiting many parts of the Muslim world and beyond. His travels were motivated by religion, personal curiosity, desire for knowledge, and sometimes professional opportunities such as serving as a judge during his journeys.