EuropeansoftheMiddleAgeswerethefirsttousetravelguidestoorienttheirwanderings,astheymovedthroughaworldpunctuatedwithmiraculouswondersandbeguilingencounters.Inthisvividandalluringhistory,medievalistAnthonyBaleinvitesreadersonanodysseyacrossthemedievalworld,recountingtheadvicethatcirculatedamongthoseventuringtotheroadforpilgrimage,trade,diplomacy,andwar.Journeyingalongsidescholars,spies,andsaints,fromWesternEuropetotheFarEast,theAntipodesandtheendsoftheearth,BaleprovidesindispensableinformationontheexchangeratebetweenBohemianducatsandVenetiangroats,medievalcuresforseasickness,andhowtoavoidextortionisttourguidesandsingingsirens.HetakesusfromthestreetsofRome,moreruinthantouristspot,andtoursoftheKhan’scourtinBeijingtoMamluk-controlledJerusalem,wherewerideassesacrosstheholyterrain,andbustlingbazaarsofTabriz.Wealsolearnofrumoredfantasticalplaces,likeoneswherelambsgrowontreesandgiantcanesgrowfruitmadeofgems.Andweareofferedaglimpseofwhatnon-EuropeantravelersthoughtoftheWestontheirowntravels.Usingpreviouslyuntranslatedcontemporaneousdocumentsfromacolorfulrangeoftravelers,andfromasfarandwideasTurkey,Iceland,NorthAfrica,andRussia,ATravelGuidetotheMiddleAgesisawittyandunforgettableexplorationofhowEuropeansunderstood--andoftenmisunderstood--thelargerworld.
