The Travels of Sir John Mandeville

Bearing in mind the low rates of literacy in medieval Europe, who would Mandeville’s readers likely have been? How might this shape his focus and presentation?

Consider Mandeville’s critiques of Europe and choose three societies he comes across while traveling. How do his descriptions of these societies respond to flaws he perceives in Europe?

What purpose might the “marvels” Mandeville claims to see serve in the text as a whole?

Discuss the various non-Catholic Christian sects that appear in the work. To what extent does Mandeville’s depiction of them reflect the overall theme of Medieval Depictions of the Exotic and the Other?

Compare Mandeville’s writing to another work of medieval travel literature. How does Mandeville conform to or subvert the genre?

Examine the purpose of Mandeville’s references to Alexander the Great.

Discuss the significance of the more anatomically fantastical people that Mandeville claims to meet. What role do they play, and what do they suggest about medieval worldviews—particularly of what it means to be human? How do they resemble (if at all) later understandings of racial difference?

Consider Mandeville’s history of the Mamluk Sultanate and Mongol Empire. What does he get wrong and right about them? Do the inaccuracies serve a purpose?