Premodern Explorers and Exploration

Three credits · Undergraduate

Like modern tourists, premodern people travelled extensively—for work, for religious devotion, for learning and for pleasure. Early travellers recorded their voyages and observations of the world in texts and in early maps. With a particular emphasis on the history of maps, this course explores the science, technology, literature and history of premodern travel and demonstrates that the premodern world was much more interconnected by trade, pilgrimage and travel than has generally been acknowledged. Cross- listed as ART 353. Three credits. Not offered 2026-2027.