t 29 years where he visited many countries, most of which were under Muslim leaders of the World of Islam, or "Dar al-Islam".
             Marco Polo (1254-1324), is one of the most famous travelers of all time. He excelled all the other travelers in his determination, his writing, and his influence. His journey through Asia lasted 24 years and he reached further than any of his predecessors, beyond Mongolia to China. He became a confidant of Kublai Khan (1214-1294) and he traveled the whole of China and returned to tell the tale, which became the greatest travelogue.
             As you can see, both of these men lived extraordinary lives through their many travels. They traveled much of the world and viewed it in a way that many can never relate to. They met the most fascinating people, those of great rule and power and they became allies, and confidants with them. They also got a sense of other cultures and how they live and what they may have liked or disliked, or what they might have wanted to changed.
             For instance, in Ibn Battuta's travels, he
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