English Travellers of the Renaissance

"English Travellers of the Renaissance" by Clare Howard is a historical study exploring the journeys of English gentlemen during the Renaissance, specifically in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It argues that travel transformed from religious journeys to educational quests, influenced by humanism and a growing worldly view in England. The book starts by laying out the groundwork, talking about the wide range of writings on travel and pinpointing the necessity to explore important parts of Renaissance travel habits. Howard explains that travel changed from holy trips to searching for knowledge and education, highlighting how humanism and languages were very important to this change. She also mentions that many writings were made to get young men ready for their travels, so they could learn and help their communities. This sets the scene for a detailed look at how English travellers saw their trips as part of their learning and social responsibilities, offering clues into why they traveled, what they experienced, and the cultural interactions that happened.