One of the most influential books of the medieval period, John Mandeville's fourteenth-century work was written, ostensibly, to encourage and instruct pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. A thorough compendium of medieval lore, the travel book proved to be a great success throughout Europe. (Among his alleged readers were Leonardo da Vinci and Christopher Columbus.) The Travels professes to relate Mandeville's experiences in the Holy Land, Egypt, India, and China--where he served in the Great Khan's army--followed by his journey to "the lands beyond," countries populated by "dog-headed men, cannibals, Amazons, and pygmies." Five centuries after Mandeville recorded his observations in those distant lands, the volume's remarkably exacting accounts of events and geography were found to be probable fabrications.Nevertheless, the book's widespread popularity and influence make it essential to the study of medieval English literature. An engaging mix of fact and fantasy, enhanced with more than 100 rare woodcut illustrations, it has retained its place as one of the greatest and most entertaining works of early English vernacular prose.

IntroductionBibliographical NoteThe PrologueI. To teach you the Way out of England to Constantinople,II. Of the Cross and the Crown of our Lord Jesu Christ,III. Of the City of Constantinople, and of the Faith of the Greeks,IV. Of the Way from Constantinople of Jerusalem. ...V. [Of diversities in Cyprus; of the Road from Cyprus to Jerusalem, ...VI. Of many Names of Sultans, and of the Tower of Babylon,VII. Of the Country of Egypt; of the Bird Phoenix of Arabia; of the City of Cairo; ...VIII. Of the Isle of Sicily; of the way from Babylon to the Mount Sinai; ...IX. Of the Desert between the Church of Saint Catherine and Jerusalem. ...X. Of the Pilgrimages in Jerusalem, and of the Holy Places thereabout, ...XI. Of the Temple of our Lord. Of the Cruelty of King Herod. ...XII. Of the Dead Sea; and of the Flome Jordan. ...XIII. Of the Province of Galilee, and where Antichrist shall be born. Of Nazareth. ...XIV. Of the City of Damascus. Of three ways to Jerusalem; ...XV. Of the Customs of Saracens, and of their Law. ...XVI. Of the lands of Albania and of Libia. ...XVII. Of the Land of Job; and of his age. ...XVIII. Of the customs of Isles about Ind. Of the difference betwixt Idols and Simulacres. ...XIX. OF the Dooms made by St. Thomas's hand. ...XX. Of the evil customs used in the Isle of Lamary. ...XXI. Of the Palace of the King of the Isle of Java. ...XXII. How men know by the Idol, if the sick shall die or not. ...XXIII. Of the great Chan of Cathay. ...XXIV. Wherefore he is clept the great Chan. ...XXV. Of the Governance of the great Chan's Court, and when he maketh solemn feasts. ...XXVI. Of the Law and the Customs of the Tartarians dwelling in Cathay.XXVII. Of the Realm of Tharse and the Lands and Kingdoms towards the Septentrional Parts, ...XXVIII. Of the Emperor of Persia, and of the Land of Darkness; ...XXIX. Of the Countries and Isles that be beyond the Land of Cathay; ...XXX. Of the Royal Estate of Prester John. ...XXXI. Of the Devil's Head in the Valley Perilous. ...XXXII. Of the goodness of the folk of the Isle of Bragman. Of King Alexander. ...XXXIII. Of the Hills of Gold that Pismires keep. ...XXXIV. Of the Customs of Kings and other that dwell in the Isles coasting to Prester John's Land. ...