History Extra podcast
The dangers of medieval travel
Nov 22, 2023
Professor Anthony Bale, author of A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages, discusses the reasons for medieval travel and the risks faced by travelers. Topics include unexpected encounters, the reliability of travel accounts, travel safety in medieval Venice, and the risks of illnesses and shipwrecks. The experiences of women travelers and travel beyond western Europe are also explored.
40:23
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Quick takeaways
- Medieval travel encompassed a wide range of purposes including pilgrimage, business travel, leisure holidays, curiosity, mercenary work, missionary activities, and intellectual exploration.
- Medieval travel often led to unexpected encounters, promoting intellectual growth, curiosity, and transformative experiences that broadened the traveler's perspective and identity.
Deep dives
Reasons for Medieval Travel
Medieval people traveled for various reasons, with pilgrimage being the most common purpose. Other motivations included business travel, leisure holidays, curiosity, mercenary work, missionary activities, and intellectual exploration. Some individuals traveled as armchair travelers, who wrote about their journeys without physically embarking on them. Travel in the Middle Ages encompassed a wide range of experiences and purposes.
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