Op reis in de Middeleeuwen

by Anthony Bale

Van de bruisende bazaars van Tabriz tot het mysterieuze eiland Caldihe, waarvan ze zeiden dat er schapen aan de bomen groeiden, brengt Anthony Bale het verleden in dit boek op een even onweerstaanbare als verrassende manier tot leven. Hij nodigt de lezer uit door een wereld te reizen die doorspekt is van buitengewone wonderen en lang vergeten oriëntatiepunten. We reizen mee met geleerden, spionnen en heiligen, van West-Europa tot het Verre Oosten, naar de Antipoden en de uiteinden van de wereld. Op reis in de Middeleeuwen is geen gewone reisgids, dit boek bevat van godslasterlijke pelgrimsinsignes tot Venetiaanse laxeermiddelen, vliegende doodskisten, ontmoetingen met bandieten en afspraakjes met prinsessen.

Op basis van nooit eerder vertaalde middeleeuwse teksten uit West-Europa, maar ook uit gebieden zo ver en uitgestrekt als Turkije, IJsland, Armenië, Noord-Afrika en Rusland, schreef Anthony Bale een unieke, levende atlas van de Middeleeuwen, waarin het onderscheid tussen echte en ingebeelde plaatsen vervaagt. Het resultaat is een fantastische, van begin tot eind boeiende reis door de middeleeuwse wereld, gezien door de ogen van degenen die daardoorheen reisden.

Zo biedt Op reis in de Middeleeuwen een levendig en onvergetelijk inzicht in hoe de middeleeuwers hun wereld begrepen.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Travel, Medieval, Historical, Medieval History, Audiobook

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 13, 2024

About the author

Professor Anthony Bale, MA (Oxford), MA (York), DPhil (Oxford), is Professor of Medieval Studies at Birkbeck College, University of London, England.

Anthony Bale teaches on the BA English, MA Medieval Literature and Culture and supervises doctoral students working on medieval topics.

Bale has published widely on medieval literature, culture, and religion. In particular, his work has explored relations between Christians and Jews in medieval England. He has also edited and translated several medieval texts, and has recently published a new translation and edition of The Book of Margery Kempe with Oxford University Press. His current work explores travel and pilgrimage between England and the Holy Land in the later Middle Ages.

He has received fellowships from the Arts & Humanities Research Council, the Australian Research Councils, the British Academy, the Huntington Library, the Leverhulme Trust, the University of Michigan Frankel Institute, and the National Humanities Center.

Reviews

[Juliew. · Rating 3 out of 5]

What made this capture my attention were the stories of every day people who lived during these times.The whys of why they wanted to travel,the hows and then the end results of their efforts.I was quite fascinated by the mundane details.Certain stories however just seemed added in at random though.It seemed well researched but I was a bit disappointed by the writing.It was dull and plodding at points and I do admit my attention wondered.Other than that it was an okay read.

Much thanks to Netgalley for sending me a copy

[Carlo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good book about what was it like to travel in the Middle Ages. The author, journeying alongside scholars, spies and saints, walks the reader from northern Europe to Venice, Rome, Constantinople and Egypt. From Egypt to Jerusalem and, from there, eastwards to the Persian Gulf, India, China, and back.
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Un libro davvero bello su cosa significasse viaggiare nel Medioevo. L'autore, muovendosi insieme a studiosi, spie e santi, accompagna il lettore dall'Europa settentrionale a Venezia, Roma, Costantinopoli ed Egitto. Dall'Egitto a Gerusalemme e, da lì, verso est fino al Golfo Persico, India, Cina e ritorno.

[Emiliya Bozhilova · Rating 3 out of 5]

През късното средновековие на XIV и XV век всеки, потеглящ на дълъг път, трябвало да подготви първо завещанието си. Защото болести по море и суша, като чумата, морски пирати и сухопътни разбойници, корабокрушение, война и какво ли не още дебнели зад ъгъла всеки пътешественик.

А и пътешествениците, по разбираеми причини, не били твърде многобройни - религиозно отдадени пилигрими, религиозни мисионери и свещеници, храбри търговци с авантюристичен дух и жажда за екзотични печалби, дипломатически пратеници и високопоставени шпиони, понякога по някой въоръжен наемник.

Пътеписите и справочниците - колкото за по-далеч от Венеция и Йерусалим разказвали - толкова по-фантасмагорични и библейски детайли поднасяли.

И все пак човечеството пътувало, и даже си откъртвало по някой сувенир от Божи гроб (та мамелюците там сложили преграда да не може да се пипа) или пък изстъргвало по някой графит с името си като в далечния манастир “Св. Екатерина” в Синай. Кервансараи и ханове били предтечите на днешните крайпътни хотели (някои дори луксозни). Дори се били появили първите “туристически агенции” - францисканците в Йерусалим, които развеждали западните хаджии само по уговорен с местните мюсюлмански власти маршрути (така се родила и Виа Долороса), като дори раздавали нещо като брошурки. Еквивалент на музеи за западния (а и на източния) християнин пък били различните църкви с всевъзможни мощи на всевъзможни митични светци (като за една и съща част от светеца често спорели по 3-4 места).

Подобно на днешните туристи, и тогавашните възприемали от посетеното място не толкова местните реалности, колкото собствените си вече изградени и втвърдени стереотипи и представи. Да не говорим, ако в края на пътуването ги очаквала индулгенция за по-кратък престой в Чистилището или пък направо опрощаване на всички досегашни грехове. Или просто, за да са в тон с официалната линия, вмъквали в пътеписите си суеверия и фантасмагории, утвърдени от църквата, за да си нямат проблеми или просто да поспечелят някоя пара повече с вълнуващи екзотични разкази. Малцина възприемали промяната от пътуването или си позволявали да опознаят истински местата и хората по пътя си - и да го документират.

Бейл се наема да разходи масовия турист из средновековния облик на Венеция, Константинопол, Светите земи и Йерусалим, та чак до полумитичните Етиопия, Индия и пътищата на коприната. Безспорно има интересни наблюдения в този амбициозен разказ, но той си остава плъзгащ се по повърхността и неизчерпателен. Може би за изчерпателност ще е нужна къде по-дълга книга, като всеки обект от тази си заслужава отделен разказ. А може би са нужни и повече детайли, тъй като поднесените са малко, съвсем кратки и често брутално прозаични, като се пропускат множество по-щекотливи, но пък интригуващи. А и гледната точка, разбира се, е твърдо западноевропейската, макар тук-там за цвят да се споменава Ибн Батута. Това е логично, но ограничено.

Така че макар и шаренко, изложението всъщност е доста постно. Но пък е кратко, приятно и неангажиращо.

2,5⭐️

[Jessica M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: This is not my normal type of read! But I was in the mood for something different, and so I requested an e-galley of this book from the publisher. It did not disappoint! I can't imagine what a treasure this must be for someone into history, as just as a typical nonfiction reader, I LOVED it. Anthony Bale did an incredible job making the reader feel like they'd traveled in time and were experiencing everything as it was back then. I was so surprised to learn about the pilgrimages people made--it was like shining a light on an era that feels rather dark in average history books. I highly recommend this book for anyone, but especially the history buff in your life!

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

This is a very informative and highly entertaining book about travel in the Middle Ages. Topics covered include map and globe making, the plague, where dragons are born, how to find the fountain of youth, and Medieval medical advice for travelers (my favorite!)

I loved reading about the spirit of adventure that persists even in the face of danger and death and even though there were numerous obstacles to travel during this time. This book really captures that innate human desire for discovery.

I especially loved the descriptions of the different kinds of festivals and all the different kinds of food. The illustrations were wonderful too, I only wish there were more of them.

This would be a great book to accompany a unit on the Middle Ages or for a writer who is writing about that time period.

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sounded really interesting, but for me, I found it too fast and too boring to keep up with it. I would've preferred a slower pace. Rather than being able to learn vertically, felt like a string of trivia put together best as possible as a single story. Stopped at page 90.

[Lindsay S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and insightful book. My favorite non fiction of the year. Anthony Bale has a way of truly taking you back in time to marvel and appreciate how we lived and what we have now. I loved the concept of looking at the Middle Ages through the lens of travel. For the Middle Ages, this took shape primarily through pilgrimage. It’s an invaluable text to illustrate a portion of everyday life that isn’t often illuminated in history.

[Julia Dietz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a Middle Ages TripAdvisor!

This captivating book details the when’s, why’s, and how’s of travel in the Middle Ages through journeys with individuals, routes, and so much more. The author uses compelling and understatedly hilarious language to recall these accounts and to give “advice” to the reader on how to proceed on their travel in the Middle Ages such as the exchange rate for currency, what to bring, medical advice, traveling companions, seeking medical assistance, and so much more. The author takes care to link travel THEN to travel NOW in a way that drives the points home, we are all travelers and the experience brings the same out of us now as it did then. Well done to Anthony Bale on this gorgeous book. Thank you to NetGalley and W.W. Norton for providing me with the ARC. I can’t wait to pick it up when it’s released.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Travel along with the rich and religious on an uncomfortable pilgrimage in the late Middle Ages. Follow trade routes across Europe and beyond. Meet the adventurous people of this era.
This nonfiction book describes modes of travel, the many political and war issues, multiple languages and currency, churches and relics,and many different purposes of the journey. The author describes these journeys as costly and dangerous citing original source documents. A very nice book for a leisurely stroll through the later Middle Ages. Recommended for every history teacher and curious folk.

[kristiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book just felt like a collection of fun facts. Half of it was interesting and painted a good picture of the middle ages, the other 50% was filler.

[Eavan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages was something I though I'd at least enjoy. Advertised as an "odyssey across the medieval world, recounting the advice that circulated among those venturing to the road for pilgrimage," we instead got a dry recounting of individual travellers' lives. Let me explain:

The book is split into roughly thirteen chapters, each exploring a specific place a European traveller might choose to go. The first half focuses almost exclusively on pilgrimage-specific sites and experiences, with the second half opening up to the rest of Africa and Central and Eastern Asia. Each section is buoyed by a person in history's experience of their travels, usually those who left a written account of it.

The first half focuses exclusively on Pilgrimage sites. This is not my shindig, but it might be yours. It is potentially a worthwhile place to learn the context of travel for medieval people during this period, but a lot of the potential joy from it was sucked clean dry from the issues I will discuss later. I found the book more bearable in the second half: finally, we go to places less Europeans had seen and encounter interesting aspects of cultural mixing we often forget about in the period.

So, back to the issues. Beyond the writing being pretty mediocre, the book just felt like a report. This is not a "guide" for contemporary people "travelling" to the Middle Ages, nor is it appropriately framed in its advertising and the introduction for what it really is: a quick look at what Medieval travellers would have expected on their journeys, and what some of them said about it. I would not have necessarily minded this bait-and-switch if it had been thoroughly framed and argued, but alas, it absolutely wasn't.

Each chapter contains a lot of tangential information about the travellers that we "see through," with simply far, far too many places introduced that explaining and contextualizing them appropriately would be a waste of time. Because of this, a lot of the information is surface-level, and much is discussed without a steady sense of why. As mentioned earlier, the little that we are informed of for our "trip" is strictly information that would be known to individuals in the Medieval period. While perhaps a bit entertaining for some, adding a short list of old wives' tales at the end of each chapter felt insulting when each chapter barely gave me enough information to grasp what the hell is actually going on. Bale does not really have a thesis with this work—sure he waxes poetically about travel in the introduction and coda—but regurgitating past traveller's writings and passing it as "guide" is incredibly disingenuous.

TLDR: This is a history of medieval European travellers disguised as a guidebook. Skip the first half. Watch this video instead.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review 🙏

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the book a travel guide to the Middle Ages by Anthony Vale we learn everything it took for Europeans to travel to distant places in what they found when they got there. From the brothels of Venice to the friends homes in Türkiye to the pilgrimage to see the Saints in Rome.
The reasons for travel were mini from cleaning out their humorous wanting a Saints blessing or in the case of one Lord‘s son just because he could. I thought the author did a great job touching on the different classes in each tourist site and the different attractions one would find when they got there from restaurants to early ambassador type buildings welcoming different country men to the places they would stay and the places they would avoid. A common thread through the book was how the plague affected those the author mentioned and what they did to prevent it or get rid of it. My favorite part was learning what these people in medieval times had to do to just prepare for the trip and all that entailed and it’s a lot! I find these books so interesting and find Anthony Bale did a great job and seems he forgot nothing. The book was narrated by Esh Alladi Who did a fine job. I really enjoyed these type of books especially when you get first-hand accounts and cannot get enough of them this is a book I definitely recommend for the curious who love history. I want to thank Tantore audio for my free arc copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Violetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I loved it. It was exactly what I wanted and what I needed. One thing that bothered me a bit was how the topics are not so well organized but nonetheless it was really good .
Anyone who likes history, travel as well as geography should read this!

[Samhl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Possible tagline for this book: Medieval Travelers, they’re just like us!

So much information but delivered in a methodical way. I don’t expect I will remember much of the details of this incredibly well researched book, but that’s ok. I enjoyed listening to the foibles and travails of medieval travelers while the author related their struggles to those of the modern traveler. This books focuses on Europeans traveling abroad, but the last chapter covered non-Europeans traveling to medieval Europe which was refreshing.

The narrator does an excellent job keeping the text moving and compelling.

Tantor Audio provided this audiobook for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Lisanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

By god is this a long read if the subject is just not as interesting as I imagined. If my heart was set on medieval travellogs this would have been a great book.

[Caralee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a painstakingly researched, richly detailed,, and extremely entertaining exploration of travel during the middle ages, taken from primary source accounts from pilgrims, merchants, diplomats, and explorers. It's full of immersive period detail as it outlines the realities and practical considerations of undertaking a medieval journey (packing, currency, transport, accommodations, food, language barriers, customs, etc) as well as the fantastical fabrications of mythical creatures, people, and places that imbued many contemporary travel guides with more fiction than fact - and of course, the baggage of the travelers' own beliefs, prejudices, and expectations that they carry with them on their journey. From England through Europe to Egypt and the Holy Land, through Iran, Iraq, and Turkey, to India and China, this book follows the paths of several real travelers from the 12th - 15th centuries as they embark upon their various journeys, set amidst a wealth of historical context, and brings to life their experiences and their thoughts and impressions. It explores the reasons why many medieval Europeans left the safety of home to explore the wider world, the means of transport that were available to them, contingencies which must be prepared for, and the nature of hospitality and accommodations along the way. This book is bursting with colorful details and travel advice of the period which make it a lively and often amusing read.

I especially enjoyed the rules of tavern etiquette:

"The basic rules of dining are as follows:
Don’t scratch your head or back as if you’ve got fleas.
Don’t be sullen, blink too much or have watery eyes.
Don’t sniff, or pick your nose, or let it run, or blow it too loudly.
Don’t twist your neck like a jackdaw.
Don’t put your hands down your stockings or fiddle with your codpiece, or scratch, or shrug, or rub your hands.
Don’t pick your ears, retch, laugh too loudly or spit too far.
Speak quietly, don’t tell lies or talk drivel, don’t spray spittle, gape or pout.
Don’t lick the dish.
Don’t cough, hiccup or belch, stamp your feet or straddle your legs.
Don’t pick or gnash your teeth, and don’t puff bad breath over your betters.
Always beware of ‘blasting your rear guns’ (that is, farting)."

This is an engaging and informative book that will appeal to history buffs and casual readers alike. I had a good time with this book and I recommend it even if you are not a big non-fiction reader.

I'm thankful to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for providing me with a free advance reader copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Erinn H · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages takes on a lot. It explores what travel was like for those living in the Middle Ages, details contemporary understandings of the world and the people and places in it, and recounts the travels of several specific figures of those times. It covers a lot of ground, and you will find a lot of interesting details throughout the journey.

I would say this book is best suited for readers who love to get into the weeds of what it was like in specific historical eras and relish the particular details. I loved learning which specific charms were used for safe travel, what made for the perfect walking stick, what to wear and pack, the currency exchange rates, how to avoid the bad tour guides in Venice, pilgrimage badges, and what constituted good manners in a tavern, for instance. That doesn’t even scratch the surface of what kinds of details you will find in this book, and I definitely learned a lot.

While I enjoyed nerding out about the details and hearing depictions of the destinations, I wasn’t as intrigued by the recounting of specific travelers. I understand these stories assist in demonstrating certain points (e.g. the motivations for travel), but I kind of wish the focus was narrowed to just what it was like to travel during that time and what the world/specific places looked like at the time. I probably would have preferred a book formatted around specific aspects or considerations when traveling during the Middle Ages, and less around specific destinations and the travelers that went there. I think it is important to note that this book is not formatted like a coffee table book nor a traditional travel guide.

Nonetheless, I still enjoyed this read. In addition to learning so many new details, it was also interesting to contemplate the ways in which medieval travel does and does not resemble travel as we know it.

*Thank you to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!*

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always impressed when someone can pack this much information into a nonfiction history book without it feeling too dense or dry or both.

This one reads really well (especially on audio), and while it’s definitely too much information to retain as much as I would have liked to from a book like this, I’m far more impressed by how thorough this was while still managing not to read like an encyclopedia.

I’m not sure I loved the way this was organized and probably would have preferred it be primarily chronological, but it can see how it might be difficult to present the material ideally without incorporating both a location based and chronological system.

A lot of credit for original and useful material, as medieval travel is something we get bits and pieces of in other nonfiction about the time period, but I’ve never seen a book entirely devoted to it before, and this was an impressively detailed and exceptionally readable offering.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for a digital ARC of this book that is being published on April 23rd

When I first saw this title, I thought it would be about modes of transportation and the ways of travel in the middle ages and while you get that, it's so much more.

The author does a fantastic job of transporting you to the middle ages and telling these stories from actual diaries of people, informing you of their reasons for travelling, who was able to travel, where they travelled and their purpose of travel.

Some of the chapters I found much more interesting than others, but each reader is going to have a different experience than the last. It was quite the journey and I'm really glad I read this book. I definitely learned a lot and it brought up some interesting conversation around the dinner table.

[Laura✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In “A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages,” Anthony Bale explores medieval Europe through the eyes of those who travelled and wrote about their journeys. The book is meticulously researched, providing a wealth of historical context and vivid descriptions that transport you back in time. Bale’s engaging narrative style makes the journey enjoyable, weaving together anecdotes, maps, and practical advice for travellers.

What truly sets this guide apart are the intriguing tidbits and minute details about travelling -- from sea voyages to bustling market towns, readers gain insight into the challenges and wonders faced by medieval travellers. Bale’s passion for the subject shines through, making this an engaging read for history enthusiasts and for those who've ever wondered what life in medieval times was really like -- gross smells and all.

This was an ARC review for NetGalley.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think my problem with this book is that I feel misled by the title. It’s not a travel guide to the Middle Ages but a description of a religious pilgrimage to the Holy Land and beyond.
I was expecting this to be an expanded version of the travel chapter in Ian Mortimer’s remarkable book ‘The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England’ (interestingly, he endorsed this one), which is what I would have liked to have read more about. What I got were details of places on the route, a little about the logistics, but nothing about how pilgrims actually found their way. There was a suggestion of guides being used but, again, no details of how they navigated.
A disappointment.
P.s. it needs a map too!

[VBV · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome adventure book on travelling in good old times, which apparently was not that different from today (except being less affordable with higher chance to die on the road). The sense of wonder of the unknown places is given vividly in the text, transforming the reader in a child gazing around at the world's marvels, east and west.
Recommended to everyone dreaming of the new (or old) lands.

[Dodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anthony Bale's book, A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages chronicles the travel adventures of medieval pilgrims largely through their own accounts. Parts of this book fascinated me and seemed familiar. As a foreigner when traveling, I sometimes feel taken advantage of by incessant bartering and fees. So did medieval travelers. Bale's extensive research is obvious, but the book meanders at times. Generally this is a fun and easy-to-read book.

[Shaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.

Wasn't a big fan of the format of this book. Seemed disjointed and there was never a real flow established. Made it difficult to get into. A lot of the information is just a few pages about individual travelers which made me lose interest pretty quick.

The main positive is it is impeccably researched with detailed notes. Kudos for Bale for that herculean effort.

[Christopher Junker · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the mid 70’s I traveled quite a bit in Europe and the Middle East. I have often reflected on how my experience would have been altered if I had then the access to resources I have now, most importantly, the internet. Mr. Bale’s book gives some insight into this by showing me the advantages I did have.

[Geoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well research. Clear well written language. Interesting findings. Enjoyed it quite a bit.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The format is FUN.

(Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.)

[Karen Andes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well done and informative. Would be improved with the inclusion of maps and drawings!

[Brecht Reintsema · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun book! I must say I expected a bit more general content about the Middle Ages, as this is almost as much a history of travel as it is of the medieval period, but that gave a very interesting focus with the broader history as the background.

The setup is so well thought of: as a reader, we make a journey alongside many medieval travel writers, starting in the UK, moving though Europe towards Venice and Rome, through the Mediterranean sea to Constantinople to Jerusalem and the Holy land, and then over the silk roads through India, ending up in Beijing. I would love to read a general travel book on this, let alone a medieval one!

Along the way, we see the touristic sights the travellers saw (spoiler: a lot of Christian relics) as well as the unforseen marvels of foreign countries. But also the hardships, robberies and dangerous sea voyages.

But maybe what I liked best was how similar so many things are to travel today: there were written travel guides with tourists highlights and some vocabulary, people had to pay toll and taxes, stayed in hostels and had to quarantine (for the plague, not for covid, but similar enough), stood in queues for tourists highlights, and so on.

And I loved how this book really emphasizes that there is more to the world than Europe, as the mighty Mongol or Ottoman Empires considered Europe as a bit of a backwater. I did not know much of Asian medieval history but I loved encountering it through the traveller's accounts.

There are some downsides though. There are so many travellers mentioned, sometimes with a little bit too much details, which can be distracting and confusing. And I did not care about all the elaborate descriptions of specific churches and relics in specific cities.

But, all in all would definitely recommend this if you are interested in the medieval period and travel!

[Olivia Troilo · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay i think there were a couple issues that i personally had with this book: 1.) i do not care about the middle ages and find that period exceptionally boring. i thought this book may be good enough to convince me that the middle ages was a fascinating time but actually it sent me further into a hole of believing that it’s quite boring. 2.) the writing style was very choppy. i think part of the nature of this book was the wide scope, but the way the author wrote was quite frantic and busy. the effect this had of course was that you don’t especially care about any of the travelers that the author discusses or the trips they are making (this was no doubt emphasized by #1) overall i just felt that it was hard to get momentum while reading this one, but i did learn a lot in pockets of the books and i loved the concept of a travel guide for a time it is hard to conceive of today.