The Travels of Benjamin of Tudela

Before Marco Polo was even born, Benjamin of Tudela bravely traveled to mysterious, fascinating cities through many lands on a trip that took 14 years to complete. The 12th-century traveler, a Spanish Jew, brought back a bounty of intriguing stories, vivid accounts of the many cities he visited, and the first mention of a distant place called China. Descriptions of exhausting, sometimes wretched travel in almost every form, from crowded ships and barges, to rough, mountainous terrain, are outlined throughout this fictionalized narrative. Despite facing danger in all forms, including pirates on the sea and the terrible Assassins on land, Benjamin tells of great Roman antiquities, the sumptuous, dazzling beauty of wealthy Constantinople, and his shock at the small size of holy Jerusalem. Staying with Jewish communities in each city, he returned to northern Spain in 1173 with much to tell. Accompanying gorgeous, medieval-style art are small tidbits of interesting information. With author`s note and bibliography. A 2005 School Library Journal Best Book. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.