Benjamin of Tudela

Jewish explorer and writer (1130–1173)

Benjamin of Tudela (1130 – 1175), also known as Benjamin ben Jonah, was a medieval Tudelano Jewish traveler who visited Europe, Asia, and Africa in the twelfth century. His vivid descriptions of western Asia preceded those of Marco Polo by a hundred years. With his broad education and vast knowledge of languages, Benjamin of Tudela is a major figure in medieval geography and Jewish history.

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