Includes bibliographical references: p. 357-359 and index.

"This volume is intended to allow students and the general reader to examine for themselves the words of men and women who have traveled in the past, and it assumes no previous knowledge of medieval civilization. It is through the sources from the period that one comes to a deep understanding of the past and feels the excitement of discovery. The chronological boundaries of this volume will be broadly "medieval"--that is, from c. 500 to c. 1475, and draws on sources that touch on Western Europe, the Byzantine Empire, the Muslim world, and East Asia. Several of these focus on the Mediterranean Sea. Although several of these sources derive from Western Christians, one will also find Jewish and Muslim voices in these pages. Although these travelers are still only the tip of the iceberg, they will provide an idea of the broad range of experiences on the road. For students, the readings will expand their worldview to help give perspective to our contemporary era of globalization."--

Issued also in electronic format.