Travel and Trade in the Middle Ages does an excellent job of filling in the gaps in the reader's understanding of how people and goods moved during this time period. Just the right amount of detail for a general reader or, perhaps, a writer who is trying to get the background details of life to flesh out historical fiction, the book would probably not satisfy a more serious student of medieval travel or commerce because of the lack of footnotes. Even so, for an undergraduate student, it might help bring this time period to life and stimulate more in-depth research on the topoc.

This was informative on a basic informational level, but I realized as I read that I was expecting more of a text based on primary sources than the kind of already-digested college-freshman sort of textbook asserting facts rather than proving them.

Another history book that goes into the ‘if all history books were this entertaining we would all be history majors. If you are unfamiliar with how people & goods traveled in the Middle Ages and want a good solid base this is the book to read.

I liked the way that this book is organized, it gives a good base of who, how, and why people traveled as well as the different things that made up the infrastructure. How roads and bridges were constructed, what types of places people stayed in when they traveled, what kinds of obstacles they encountered and what they did to minimize them.

I am sure that no one will be shocked to learn that the money raised by toll roads have had a long history of not being used to keep those roads in good order. ( )

There are a number of studies of daily life in the Middle Ages intended for general readers. Paul B. Newman’s Travel and Trade in the Middle Ages is the best one I’ve seen to deal with many specific details of medieval travel and trade. True, it is not intended for a scholarly audience since it lacks footnotes to identify the sources for his information. But it does have a fairly extensive bibliography that serves as a starting point for topics on which the reader desires more information.
What I liked most about the book was the clear concise description of how medieval roads were constructed, how goods were carried, and why people traveled. I especially appreciated the information about different types of horses, like palfrey or destrier. These appellations occur frequently in medieval literature. Many times the scholarly edition assumes the reader is familiar with terms and provides no brief description in a glossary or footnote, leading to frantic internet searches. The pictures and descriptions of different types of ships and carts are also very useful, making this a wonderful reference asset.
This book is an invaluable tool to provide the type of detail fiction writers need to make a medieval world come alive for their readers. Whether you are a writer or reader of historical fiction or perhaps a participant or spectator at medieval fairs, Newman’s book will answer many questions and provide a well written guide to medieval travel and trade for an interesting read or reference. ( )

This text offers a survey of just about every aspect of European travel, and many of trade, during the Middle Ages: walking, riding, inns, types of ships, piracy, cargo, trade goods, reasons for travel, navigational instruments, etc. While it's certainly informative, the presentation is rather dry; each topic is named and discussed for a few paragraphs, then we move on to the next. When the last topic is completed, the book just ends: no conclusion, summary, or wrap-up.

I was a little disappointed by the lack of notes or direct references in the text, although there is a decent bibliography at the end.

This book is perhaps best used as a basic reference for persons interested in specific aspects of medieval travel or trade: a reference for fiction writers who want to add a touch of authenticity to their depictions of certain aspects of medieval travel, for example, or as a starting point for research — it's definitely not an exhaustive treatment of the material (nor, to be fair, does it claim to be). ( )