The Jewish explorer who traveled across Europe, Asia, and Africa: Benjamin of

Benjamin of Tudela was a medieval Tudelano Jewish traveler who visited Europe, Asia, and Africa in the twelfth century. His travels reveal the concurrent interconnectedness and diversity of Jewish communities during this time period. Originally written in Hebrew, his itinerary was translated into Latin and later translated into most major European languages. It received much attention from Renaissance scholars in the sixteenth century. Benjamin's journey began in Zaragoza, and it's also believed he may have had a commercial motive as well.

Benjamin's exact route is not agreed upon by scholars, but he visited numerous cities important in Jewish history such as Susa, Sura, and Pumbedita. He wrote about the respect and intermingling that he encountered between Judaism and Islam, a testament to the cultural exchange and shared beliefs of the time.

Benjamin visited around 300 cities in total and even reported details on cultures such as Al-Hashishin. He was noted for citing sources and is generally regarded by historians as trustworthy, although some of his claims are faulted for relying on earlier writers.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons