Time under way
Michael McCormick
H ow long did it take to move from point A B? The speed of travel has usually attracted scholars seeking understand and reconstruct particular events. But its implications are critical for evaluating the economic significance communications patterns around inland sea: velocity circulation people things is essential their potential. Once we detect speed, or speeds, travel, can ask whether they changed. Moreover, sheds indirect light on other important matters, such as state infrastructure. not an easy issue. Direct, explicit early medieval evidence times scarce scattered. So much so that Liudprand Cremona's valuable Mediterranean testimony served discussion nautical speeds in very different cultural, climatic, navigational setting northern seas. Of even more consequence analysis fact both which been known new data made possible by this study disparate. This makes a few distinctions essential, since kind described might affect routes. Between ships, instance, pilgrims necessarily follow same schedules merchants, have already seen reasons compelled officials seasonal risks merchants avoided.
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