Hundreds of pilgrims set out from Europe to the Holy Land between 385 and 1099 A.D. Of all these, only eighteen wrote descriptions which have survived. The majority of these texts have been newly edited in recent years, and provide essential background material for the history of Christianity in the Holy Land as well as for the archaeology and geography of the Holy Land in the Byzantine and early Arab periods.
In this book the eighteen texts have for the first time been studied together as a group, and wherever possible have been related to recent archaeological work. The Revd John Wilkinson discusses the date and authorship of the texts, studies the physical conditions of travel in the Byzantine period, and traces the development of Christian prayer in the Holy Places.
The texts are presented in translation and are accompanied by full notes dealing with literary or historical matters. A special gazetteer groups together all notes concerned with archaeology of topography. These is a chronological list of sources, bibliographical notes and besides the gazetteer, there is a general index and an index of persons.
