Note 525 — Chapter IV · THE SOURCES FOR THE PERIOD 1100–1250 A. D.
Reading edition
On Benjamin of Tudela, see Adler’s edition of the Itinerary and Beazley, Dawn, vol. ii, 1901, pp. 224–264. For a useful general introduction to the geographical literature of the Jews, see Zunz, Essay, 1841.
As the manuscript of this book is about to go to press there has come to the writer’s attention the brief note by Paul Borchardt, L’itinéraire de Rabbi Benjamin de Tudèle, 1924. Borchardt writes (p. 31): “En différents travaux j’ai prouvé que le célèbre Rabbi Benjamin ne mérite pas le reproche d’inexactitude, même en ce qui concerne la route de Chine.... J’espère prouver par ce qui suit que R. Benjamin mérite comme Marco Polo le nom d’un homme digne de foi.” References are given in footnote 1, p. 31, of Borchardt’s note to other studies by Borchardt relating to Benjamin. Unfortunately the present writer has been unable to consult these. The references follow as given by Borchardt: “Conférence de la Soc. d’Anthrop. de Munich: Reiseweg des R. Benjamin von Tudela und des R. Petachia von Regensburg in Mesopotamien, 3, III. 22., Karawanenstrassen in Arabien nach R. Benjamin von Tudela, Anthropos Wien 1922/23 (4–6), p. 1066 ss., 1923/24 (1–3) et Zur Frage der Falaschajuden in Abessinien, Anthropos, Wien 1923/24 (1–3), carte.” See also below, p. 474, note 237a.