Ibn Battuta was a 14th-century explorer who visited the Mongol Empire during his travels. He was surprised by the status and treatment of Mongol women, as they enjoyed a level of freedom and independence that was uncommon in many other cultures of the time. Mongol women were allowed to ride horses, participate in hunting activities, and were involved in politics, holding positions of power. Ibn Battuta noted that Mongol women could divorce their husbands and remarry, which was not common in Islamic societies. Overall, he was impressed by the respect and dignity with which Mongol women were treated in their society.