A 13th-century manuscript shows a caravan en route to Makka

Travel and exploration was not limited to professional sailors and navigators. Every able Muslim is expected to go on the hajj, or pilgrimage to Makka. Therefore, countless pilgrims journeying to Makka left detailed accounts of their journeys giving us a clear picture of geography, cultures and customs in the countries they travelled through. Some of the most famous travellers in Muslim civilisation started their journey with the intention to perform hajj including Ibn Battuta.