If one seeks the first ever travelogue recorded in history, the seeker would have to probe the ancient caves of prehistoric human ancestors who, in their most primal state, wandered and wondered about the world around them. Captivated by a world they wanted to understand, the first humans dreamed of things and places and carved them on rock shelters and cave walls.
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Man, a rational, walking animal whose imaginative faculties uplifted civilizations, has continued throughout the ages in sparking realities of growth through travels and discoveries. From the violent ages of exploration and colonization to the rambunctious eras of military invasions and space travel, travel writing only transformed itself into various forms.
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Travel writing is the legacy of a curious prehistoric man; the early traders and warriors of ancient civilizations; the medieval soldiers, friars, religious pilgrims, and exiles; the Age of Enlightenment’s first explorers, map-makers, navigators, and even pirates, rebels, and band of marauders; the invading military forces during the world wars; the ambassadors during peace times; and today’s modern tourists, campers, and writers alike. They all knitted the history of travel writing together in one piece for us.
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Travel writing is an old enterprise; an archaic profession that never gets old. While travel literature today is a rich narrative of places and culture, it beckons us as well to understand our place in this world.
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Louis Habash 