The dispersal of the Benin Bronzes became one of the most well-known examples of colonial looting. For decades, these treasures were displayed in Western museums as evidence of African artistry, but often with little or no acknowledgement of how they were obtained. The bronzes now serve as a symbol of the broader legacy of empire and the systema

The Benin Bronzes are among the most remarkable and controversial artistic treasures ever produced in pre-colonial Africa. These intricate and historically rich artifacts, created by the Edo people of the Kingdom of Benin (in present-day Nigeria), have become powerful symbols of cultural heritage, colonial exploitation, and the modern debate over t

In 1349, after nearly 24 years abroad, Ibn Battuta returned to Morocco, only to learn that his parents had died. Restless once more, he embarked on a journey to al-Andalus (Muslim Spain) and later across the Sahara to West Africa, visiting the Mali Empire under Mansa Suleyman, brother of the legendary Mansa Musa. His account of Timbuktu and Gao

Ibn Battuta's travels next took him to Baghdad, then into Persia, where he witnessed the legacy of the once-mighty Ilkhanate. He continued through Khurasan and into Transoxiana, visiting Bukhara and Samarkand, legendary cities along the Silk Road. Eventually, he made his way into the Indian subcontinent, arriving at the court of Sultan Muhammad