The Travels of Sir John Mandeville

"The Travels of Sir John Mandeville" by Sir John Mandeville is a historical travel narrative written during the 14th century. This work chronicles the purported adventures of a knight named John Mandeville as he journeys through various lands, including regions in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, while discussing the geography, customs, and notable sights of his travels. At the start of the narrative, Mandeville emphasizes the importance of the Holy Land, outlining its significance to all Christians and detailing his own travels from England to regions like Constantinople and Jerusalem. He shares insights about the spiritual landmarks and relics found in these areas, along with the customs and beliefs of the locals he encounters. Mandeville aims to provide guidance for those wishing to undertake pilgrimages to these sacred sites, positioning himself as an experienced traveler who understands the perils and wonders of the journey. The opening portions set a rich historical context while inviting readers into the mystical and complex world through which Mandeville travels. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

The Travels of Sir John Mandeville, commonly known as Mandeville's Travels, is a book written between 1357 and 1371 that purports to be the travel memoir of an Englishman named Sir John Mandeville across the Islamic world as far as India and China. The earliest-surviving text is in French, followed by translations into many other languages; the work acquired extraordinary popularity. Despite the extremely unreliable and often fantastical nature of the travels it describes, it was used as a work of reference: Christopher Columbus, for example, was heavily influenced by both this work and Marco Polo's earlier Travels.