1381-1440

German Nobleman

Johann Schiltberger's travel narrative, The Bondage and Travels of Johann Schiltberger, indicates that he was an unwitting and unwilling explorer of the Middle East. Indeed, he was a prisoner for the large majority of the time period covered in his account. However, his narrative is significant in that it provides numerous details pertaining to medieval Muslim culture. In order to survive for so long as a prisoner, Schiltberger had to, more than likely, either reject or carefully conceal his Christian faith. His depiction of aspects of the Muslim faith, such as "Of the Infidels' Easter Day," "How a Christian Becomes an Infidel," and "Of a Fellowship the Infidels Have among Themselves" suggests a familiarity with the Muslim faith denied to Christians of that time.

Schiltberger was born near Munich in 1381. Little is known of his family except that they were probably a well-placed...