Mobility and Human Society

CLIMATE CHANGE and PLAGUE in the FOURTEENTH CENTURY HIST 1301 | History Mobility and Human Society Travel has always been a motivator for merchants and traders due to economic opportunities and the availability of fresh and diverse materials. This was particularly true in the premodern era along the Silk Roads, an active network of trade and commerce that drew traders and merchants from all around Afro-Eurasia, and the commercial routes that connected North Africa. The pilgrimage tradition also frequently required travel as a condition of religious devotion. One of the "pillars" of Islam required and encouraged Muslims to do the hajj, or pilgrimage, which is a trip to Mecca and Medina, the sacred places of Islam located in present-day Saudi Arabia. Many Christians desired to visit holy places that held saints' relics, which were thought to possess extraordinary power, as well as Jerusalem, which was thought to be the location of Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection. The Christian Church originated in the surrounding area. Jerusalem was also the location of the most sacred place in Judaism, the holiest of holies where the Temple of Solomon had stood until the Romans destroyed it. However, outside of the constraints of commerce and religion, travel was far less feasible for everyone save a select few who could spare the time and money needed. A large portion of our information of premodern travel comes from travelogues and diaries penned by the few fortunate enough to go out on travels. The journals of Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan scholar who traversed most of Asia and Africa during the 14th century, provide valuable insights into the difficulties and obstacles encountered by travellers. Simultaneously, deteriorating natural circumstances forced a large number of people to move in pursuit of the resources they required to survive—people who had previously seldom left their immediate area. They faced many dangers, such as local conflicts, bad weather, disease, and banditry, as they left behind everything they knew in search of a more stable and friendly environment. Travel between the numerous political entities that existed in the fourteenth century was difficult to plan, and crossing borders without the security of established networks or patrons could be extremely dangerous—especially in light of the threat of bandits and the lack of safe rest stops. Furthermore, travel was highly expensive during a period when people were having difficulty affording basic essentials. Since most people couldn't afford horses, carts, camels, or maritime boats, walking emerged as the most popular mode of transportation for those seeking out new possibilities and resources. For migrants who were already frail, emaciated, and susceptible to opportunistic diseases, walking eight to ten hours a day on unreliable routes and occasionally in bad weather probably made the trip much more taxing. While cross-border travel was not unheard of in the fourteenth century, round-trip travel was rare due to its cost and challenges. Many were compelled to leave their homes despite the fact that they would probably never return. These climate migrants had to deal with unstable circumstances and unclear futures during periods of drought and food scarcity. They may end up as "strangers in strange lands," aliens whose distinctive cultural practices and customs—such as their language, attire, and religious beliefs—marked them as "other" and deserving of contempt. However, the experience of travel may be extremely different for persons engaged in commerce and who are transporting luxury products across great distances for sale in distant marketplaces. Even though traders and merchants were also frequently viewed as "other," the products they transported and their requirement for logistical support—such as food and caravansaries, which are inns along regular trade routes —along the way directly benefited local communities and elevated these travellers to a distinct status. Those on the road carried the commodities and customs of their home countries with them, whether they were pilgrims, refugees, traders, or soldiers covering long distances in the premodern world. Increased long-distance travel throughout Afro-Eurasia in the fourteenth century helped spread new technologies and customs across geographical and cultural barriers, but there were conflicts along the way due to some travellers' desperation. However, beyond this, a growing menace in the form of infectious illness also travelled with them, and before long, it had far-reaching effects on society, surpassing the starvation and drought that had driven many people from their homes.