There and Back

Throughout human history routes concentrated, funneled, and mixed human experience. On them moved books, scrolls and art, in addition to armies, ambassadorial entourages, slaves, brides and pilgrims. The interaction of people on routes generated surprising innovations in ideas, religions, art, technology and cuisine. The book analyzes four types of routes: river, pilgrimage, imperial and trade, Each chapter features a memoir of an actual traveler (in addition to songs, myths and stores) to explore the mental expectations and cognitive geography of a route.