Medieval Exploration

Myth of the Flat Earth

Early Explorers

Irish monksAsceticismMissionary zeal

St. Columbanus (540-615) St. Brendan (6th century)

Iceland?

St. Brendan and his Sea Monster from a 15th century manuscript

Kverkarhellir cave and cross found at Seljalandshellar cave

The “Dark” Ages

Germanic migrations

Foundation/Expansion of Islam

Subsistence agriculture (at best)

Breakdown of trade networks

Return to Exploration

Crusades1095-??Crusader kingdoms in the Levant (1099-

1291) Cultural, intellectual, religious exchange

Prester John (1175)

Mass Exploration: Pilgrimage

Local pilgrimage

International travel, especially to the Levant

Pilgrimage guides

Pilgrimage badges

Johannes de Plano (1182-1252)

Franciscan friar

Visited court of the khan (Qara Qorum) 1245-1247

William of Rubruck (1220-1293)

Franciscan friar

Intense

To Qara Qorum (1253-1255)

Route of William of Rubruck

John of Monte Corvino (1246-1328)

Commissioned as papal legate to Mongol court (1289)

Multicultural Qara Qorum

Merchants

Silversmiths/craftsmenParisian/Venetian

Yanhzhou Franciscan convent European enclave

Marco Polo (ca 1254-1324)

Venetian Merchant Cathay- 17 years in the East Diplomatic/exploration missions for the Khan Governor of Yangzhou Return to Venice Prison

Il Milione