Travels in Arabia
Comprehending an Account of Those Territories in Hadjaz which the Mohammedans Regard as Sacred

Detailed descriptions of the social, economic and political conditions of the cities of Mecca and Medina, first published in 1829.

John Lewis Burckhardt (Author), William Ouseley (Edited by)

9781108022859, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 25 November 2010

490 pages, 2 maps
21.6 x 14 x 2.8 cm, 0.62 kg

John Lewis Burckhardt (1784–1817) was a Swiss explorer who is best remembered for his rediscovery of the ancient city of Petra in modern Jordan. In 1809 he was commissioned by the African Association to discover the source of the River Niger. In preparation for this journey, for which he needed to pass as a Muslim, Burckhardt spent two years exploring and studying Arabic and Islamic law in Aleppo, before travelling widely in Arabia and Egypt. These volumes, first published by the African Association in 1829, contain his account of the time he spent in Mecca and Medina: he was the first westerner to give an account of the Hajj pilgrimage. The work provides important and fascinating descriptions of the social, economic and political situation in Mecca and Medina during this period. Volume 1 describes the city of Mecca.

1. Arrival at Djidda
2. Route from Djidda to Tayf
3. Residence at Tayf
4. Journey to Mekka
5. Arrival at Mekka
6. Description at Mekka
7. Quarters of Mekka
8. Description of the Beitullah (or 'House of God'), the great Mosque at Mekka
9. Some historical notices concerning the Kaaba and the Temple of Mekka
10. Description of several other Holy Places visited by pilgraims at Mekka and in its neighbourhood
11. Remarks on the inhabitants of Mekka and Djidda
12. Government of Mekka
13. Climate and diseases of Mekka and Djidda
14. The Hadj or Pilgrimage.

Subject Areas: Middle Eastern history [HBJF1]