There are many reasons why people traveled far away. Some travelers may simply satisfy their curiosity. Until recently, however, did travelers start their journey for reasons other than only curiosity. The travelers’ accounts give much information on these foreign lands, local cultures and histories.
Records of foreign travel appeared soon after the invention of writing, and fragmentary (碎片) travel accounts appeared in both Mesopotamia and Egypt in ancient times. These travel accounts caught great attention from rulers desiring useful knowledge about their realms (领土). The Chinese envoy Zhang Qian was a good example.
From about 500 to 1500 CE, trade and pilgrimage (朝圣) became major causes for travel to foreign lands. While Muslim businessmen set out in search of trade opportunities and profit throughout much of the eastern part, Muslims travelled as pilgrims to Mecca to visit the holy sites of Islam. Thousands of written accounts have related their experiences.
After the 12th century, businessmen, pilgrims, and missionaries (传教士) from Europe travelled widely and left numerous travel accounts, of which Marco Polo’s description of his travels in China is the best known. European explorers, conquerors, merchants, and missionaries took center stage during the early modern era (about 1500 to 1800 CE). During this period, European printing presses printed thousands of travel accounts for readers who are curious about the larger world.
During the 19th century, European travelers made their way to the centre of Africa and America. Meanwhile, European colonial governments devoted numerous writings to the societies of their colonial subjects, particularly in Asian and African colonies they set up. By midcentury, attention was flowing also in the other direction. Aware of the military and technological strength of European and Euro-American societies, Asian travelers in particular visited Europe and the United States in hopes of discovering principles useful for their own societies. Among these travelers who made use of their overseas experiences in their own writings were the Japanese reformer Fukuzawa Yukichi and the Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen.
With the development of means of transportation, the 20th century saw explosions both in the frequency of long-distance travel and in the volume of travel writing. Mass tourism has become a major form of consumption for people. A unique form of the travel account appeared to satisfy these tourists: the guidebook, which offered advice on food, hotels, shopping, and the sights that visitors should not miss.
12. Why did most people travel in the early days?
A.For business. | B.For writing travel books. |
C.For knowing other people and countries. | D.Studying their own cultures. |
13. Why were the rulers interested in these travel stories?
A.Because the accounts are often true. |
B.Because reading travel stories was popular. |
C.Because travel books played an important role in history. |
D.Because they wanted knowledge of their empire. |
14. During the modern era, a large number of travel books were published to ______.
A.explore new business opportunities. | B.meet the public’s interests. |
C.keep a record of the world. | D.encourage trips to the new world. |
15. What is the main theme of the passage?
A.The historical importance of travel books. | B.The production of travel books. |
C.The development of travel books. | D.The literary status of travel books. |