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Desert Traveller: The Life of Jean Louis Burckhardt
As an explorer, the remarkable Jean Louis Burckhardt achieved the near impossible. After immersing himself in Arab culture and language, Burkhardt disguised himself as "Sheik Abraham" and journeyed through regions not yet known to Europeans. He became the first to enter Petra, discovered the colossal figures at Abu Simbel, and even penetrated Mecca, where he lived for many years as an Arab.
- GenresHistory
447 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
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February 4, 2026
An exploration adventure story of Jean Burckhardt a Swiss explorer who traveled to Egypt for the (British) African Association in 1809. The African Association became the National Geographic Society.
Burckhardt discovers Petra and Abu Simbel, at a time when the Pyramids were covered with sand. He converts to Islam does the pilgrimage to Mecca 🕋 the Haj.
He travels disguised as a peasant traveler. Descriptions of different tribes cultural and behavioral practices. Difficult to keep track of many different languages, places, tribal names and individuals.
He’s done in by unnamed diseases, a plague, starvation and dehydration which weaken his immune system so he likely picks up some water borne diseases and he dies in Cairo at age 31.
He learns about eunuchs made by Coptic Christian monks, female sewing together, slaves of all types, marriage, harems, concubines, mistresses, treatment of females…….
Life is short nasty and brutish…..
The Nile River floods periodically and fruit trees abound.
So many tribes/clans it’s confusing:The Northern and Southern Wahabi, Persians, Kurds, Anatolians, Afghans, Abyssininians, Syrians, Yemenis, Egyptians, Mamluks, Berberines, Bedouins, their different tribes/clans.
Would be a good book to read as background for TE Lawrence biography: Prince of our Disorder. Mack.
Burckhardt discovers Petra and Abu Simbel, at a time when the Pyramids were covered with sand. He converts to Islam does the pilgrimage to Mecca 🕋 the Haj.
He travels disguised as a peasant traveler. Descriptions of different tribes cultural and behavioral practices. Difficult to keep track of many different languages, places, tribal names and individuals.
He’s done in by unnamed diseases, a plague, starvation and dehydration which weaken his immune system so he likely picks up some water borne diseases and he dies in Cairo at age 31.
He learns about eunuchs made by Coptic Christian monks, female sewing together, slaves of all types, marriage, harems, concubines, mistresses, treatment of females…….
Life is short nasty and brutish…..
The Nile River floods periodically and fruit trees abound.
So many tribes/clans it’s confusing:The Northern and Southern Wahabi, Persians, Kurds, Anatolians, Afghans, Abyssininians, Syrians, Yemenis, Egyptians, Mamluks, Berberines, Bedouins, their different tribes/clans.
Would be a good book to read as background for TE Lawrence biography: Prince of our Disorder. Mack.
Displaying 1 of 1 review