Categories of space and time in Medieval Western European travel literature

Abstract

The paper examines the functions of the categories of space and time in the Western European travel literature of the 13^th – 15^th centuries. Although space and time are primary coordinates of any voyage, they are manifested in different forms depending on the specific genre of travel notes and, more importantly, on the “cultural role’ assumed by the author, which determines the modality of their narrative. Thus, within missionary accounts, merchants’ notes, chronicles of the Crusades, and pilgrims’ diaries, these categories exhibit distinctive characteristics. An analysis of the works of Odorico da Pordenone, Giovanni da Piano del Carpini, William of Rubruck, Marco Polo, Geoffroi de Villehardouin, Jean de Joinville, Niccolò da Poggibonsi, and other authors of travel literature demonstrates that numerous distinct means of representing space and time exist in medieval travel literature. They are determined by the author’s aims, social status and education, and the audience to whom the work is directed.