The first volume appeared in 1840, and contained a carefully compiled hebrew text with vowel points, together with an english translation and a bibliographical account. The said rabbi benjamin set forth from tudela, his native city, and passed through many remote countries, as is related in his book. This file is licensed under the creative commons attributionshare alike 4. His vivid descriptions of western asia preceded those of marco polo by a. The project gutenberg ebook of the itinerary of benjamin. Benjamin of tudela was one of the good articles, but it has been removed from the list.
What specific information does he provide about them. This is the book of travels, which was compiled by rabbi benjamin, the son of jonah, of the land of navarrehis repose be in paradise. This is the book of travels, which was compiled by rabbi benjamin, the son of jonah, of the land of navarrehis. Full text of the itinerary of benjamin of tudela critical text, translation and commentary see other formats. A firsthand impression, independent of political and clerical influences, of life in the middle ages from spain east to egypt. Benjamin was a man who lived in the town of tudela which was in northern spain. Benjamin of tudela, born 12th century, navarre france, rabbi who was the first known european traveler to approach the frontiers of china and whose account of his journey, massa. His vivid descriptions of western asia preceded those of marco polo by a hundred years. Spatial perceptions and geographic imagination in benjamin of. The travels of benjamin of tudela guided reading questions kelena reid maxwell ph.
The present work, though well known to the learned of the th, 14th and 15th centuries, was not printed before the. In the preface to his itinerary, entitled massaot shel rabbi binyamin travels of rabbi benjamin, the information is furnished that he came from tudela in navarre, and that his fathers name was jonah. Benjamin of tudela was a medieval jewish traveler who visited europe, asia, and africa in the. The itinerary of benjamin of tudela work by benjamin of. Critical text, translation and commentary new york. Hot free books the itinerary of benjamin of tudela.
The isolated mention of the existence of a powerful jewish polity in the horn of africa by jewish traveller benjamin of tudela in the twelfth century ad has generally been given such credence by the twentiethcentury orientalistes that it is often considered the first mention of the people later to be known as falasha. Benjamin of tudela binyamin metudela was a medieval navarrese rabbi and explorer who traveled through europe, asia, and africa in the 12th century. Asher, is the best edition of the diary of that traveller. Once these issues have been addressed, the article can be renominated. The aim of this paper is to analyse representations of the past and of antiquity in benjamin of tudelas twelfth century travel narrative by using analysis of his. Full text of the itinerary of benjamin of tudela critical text. Benjamin of tudela, the itinerary of benjamin of tudela. Full text of the itinerary of benjamin of tudela critical. Tudela, spain, 1 1173 is an essential character in the th tablet. With his broad education and vast knowledge of languages, benjamin of tudela is a major figure in the history of geography and judaism. The itinerary of benjamin of tudela digitized from marcus nathan adlers the itinerary of benjamin of tudela. This short passage has indeed engendered a large amount of scholarly. Benjamin of tudela article about benjamin of tudela by. The itinerary of rabbi benjamin of tudela, prepared and published by a.
Benjamin of tudela covered even greater distances than marco polo in a i3year odyssey that took him to every part of the thenknown world and wrote an account of his voyages which to this day remains our best source of information about jewish life in the middle ages. The travels of benjamin of tudela palestine is destined to be the center of the globe. There are suggestions below for improving the article to meet the good article criteria. The abovementioned rabbi benjamin was a man of wisdom and understanding, and of much information. Beyond his journey, no facts of his life are known. Desperately seeking the jewish kingdom of ethiopia. This book sheds new light on european and oriental life and conditions, allowing the reader to learn of the advanced conditions of the eastern lands in the late 1100s. He is quite possibly, with marco polo, one of the most famous travellers of the middleages. Binyamin altutayli tudela, kingdom of navarre, 1 castile, 1173 was a medieval jewish traveler who visited europe, asia, and africa in the 12th century. D how does benjamin of tudela describe the city of damscus on page 927. D avid j acoby benjamin of tudela and his book of travels benjamin of tudela is the bestknown, most cited, and most translated jewish traveler. The itinerary of benjamin of tudela by active 12th century. The project gutenberg ebook of the itinerary of benjamin of tudela.
The two things we do know are that he traveled extensively for more than ten years some historians believe fourteen years visiting jewish and nonjewish communities around the world, and he wrote about his experiences. The itinerary of rabbi benjamin of tudela download ebook. The itinerary of benjamin of tudelabenjamin of tudela. Imagination in benjamin of tudelas book of travels. He left tudela, spain between 1159 and 1163, and he returned in 1172.
We know nothing about the personal history of benjamin mitudelo, better known as benjamin of tudela. Benjamin of tudela pronounced todayla is the author of one of the most famous early travel books, the itinerary of benjamin of tudela. When he was 35 he decided he was going to leave tudela and travel to all the places he had read about in the bible. Travels of the last benjamin of tudela is not only a jewish poem. Travels of the last benjamin of tudela is a long autobiographical meditation of 1,014 lines divided into 59 unnumbered stanzas of irregular length. Benjamin of tudela covered even greater distances than marco polo in a i3year odyssey that took him to every part of the thenknown world and wrote an. Click download or read online button to get the itinerary of rabbi benjamin of tudela book now. From tudela in northern spain benjamin traveled to barcelona. Download our mobile app for onthego access to the jewish virtual library. In the largest sense, it is a meditation on fate, both personal and human. On the road with benjamin of tudela moment magazine. A rabbi religious scholar and leader originally from spain, benjamin set out on a world journey around 1159.
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