The Travels of Sir John Mandeville

C. W. R. D Mosely, the translator of the book, begins by explaining its contents and popularity. While historians now generally assume that Mandeville’s travels were fictitious, Mosely emphasizes that questions of legitimacy are less important than the work’s widespread acceptance in medieval Europe. Even after it was revealed to contain little truth, it was popular as entertainment.

Mosely then discusses the medieval view of geography as based largely on symbolism and notes the many sources Mandeville used to inform him. Finally, Mosely explains that he used a mixture of early English versions to inform his translation.

The Travels of Sir John Mandeville begins by describing the Holy Land (roughly the area between the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern bank of the Jordan River) as the place where Jesus lived, performed miracles, and died, making it consecrated. It was the best place for God to become incarnate because it is the center of the world, allowing more people to observe Jesus’s deeds. Mandeville says that this land is the rightful property of Christians; all good Christians who are able should set themselves to conquering it. It is a sign of the sinful state of Christian rulers that they fight each other instead, and the righteous among the common people are helpless unless they have virtuous lords to lead them.