Travels in Western India
Travels in Western India

Author: James Tod

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2024-09-11

Total Pages: 586

ISBN-13: 3368758381

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Reprint of the original, first published in 1839.

The Constructions of the East in Western Travel Narratives, 1200 CE to 1800 CE
The Constructions of the East in Western Travel Narratives, 1200 CE to 1800 CE

Author: Radhika Seshan

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2019-09-11

Total Pages: 165

ISBN-13: 1000713059

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This book investigates how the idea of the ‘east’ emerged in western travel narratives between the 13th and the 18th centuries. Sifting through critical travel narratives — real and imagined — it locates the changing geography as well as the perceptions surrounding India. The author presents how historical stereotypes interacted with a burgeoning demand for travelogues during this period and have fed into the way we think about Asia in general, and India in particular. From the mythical travels of Prester John to the enigmatic ‘adventures’ of Marco Polo, from the fraught voyages of Johannes Plano de Carpini to the missionary zeal of Friar Odoric of Pordenone and William of Rubruquis, this volume traces the history of the ‘Orient’ as it was understood by the west. A major intervention in understanding how popular narratives shape history, this book will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of history, medieval history, history of travel, world literature, postcolonial studies, and general readers interested in travel narratives.

A Different Freedom
A Different Freedom

Author: Nikita Desai

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Published: 2010-06-09

Total Pages: 180

ISBN-13: 1443823104

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Kite flying is a sport native to South-East Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Symbolic of both freedom and control, the kite has been used as a metaphor in classical Indian literature, poetry, language and folklore. Uttarayan, a kite festival celebrated in the state of Gujarat, is not merely a religious observance, but also a time when young and old come together in celebration; a time when differences hold little meaning… The culture of flying and fighting kites, its history, politics, language, and the commerce that lies at the core of the Gujarati way of life provide an interesting backdrop to the celebration of Uttarayan. The buying of kites, preparations in the kitchen and the rooftop wars all form a part of this colourful festival. A Different Freedom explorers the world of the kite, as it travels and changes through the centuries, to its current form and the festivities associated with it in modern day Gujarat.

The Travels of Ibn Battuta: To India, the Spice Islands, and China
The Travels of Ibn Battuta: To India, the Spice Islands, and China

Author: Albion M. Butters

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages: 226

ISBN-13: 9781558766341

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Ibn Baṭṭūṭa (1304 - 1369) was the best-known Arab traveler in world history. Over a period of thirty years, he visited most of the Islamic world and many non-Muslim lands. Following his travels, he dictated a report he called "A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling," known simply in Arabic as the Riḥla. This dramatic document provides a firsthand account of the nascent globalization brought by the spread of Islam and the relationship between the Western world and India and China in the 14th century. As an Islamic legal scholar, Ibn Baṭṭūṭa served at high levels of government within the vibrant Muslim network of India and China. In the Riḥla, he shares insights into the complex power dynamics of the time and provides commentary on the religious miracles he encountered. The result is an entertaining narrative with a wealth of anecdotes, often humorous or shocking, and in many cases touchingly human.