About this Project
Our course, On Haj with Ibn Jubayr: Reconstructing the 12th Century Mediterranean, at the University of Virginia, has designed a series of exhibitions, which animate, expand and illustrate the travel diary of Ibn Jubayr. He was a twelfth century Spanish Muslim who recorded his experiences during his pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina in a remarkably lively and detailed first hand account.
From his shipwreck on the coast of Sicily to his performance of the rituals associated with his visit to Mecca, Ibn Jubayr provides an unusual perspective on the built environment, culture and people he encounters throughout his travels. The exhibits bring this world to life as well as the changing history of the region.