Became a great center of learning when muslim invaders took over parts of north africa. cairo memphis alexandria giza

Ibn battuta was born in tangier, morocco into a family of muslim legal scholars in 1304. he studied muslim law as a young man. then in 1325, he left tangier to make a pilgrimage to mecca (in islam this pilgrimage is called the "hajj.") he was 21 years old and eager for more learning and more adventure.