Link to map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1082MP0YP3BZxcec2I4clQzskHm2Z1_w&usp=sharing.

Key:

I chose to divide up the locations on my map by how they are described by Mandeville. As he never actually traveled to these places, it is interesting to note what he attributes to these places. Therefore, I color-coded them based on this metric.

I used grey for places that get no real description. These are only given a sentence at best, and some are just invoked to give a sense of direction to the journey. Adrianople, for example, is simply put in a list of places one has to go to on the way to Constantinople. The other such locations are the city of Nicaea and the island of Kos.

Green is used for places Mandeville describes for something to do with nature. On Chios, he says, are found mastic trees which grow like plum or cherry trees. He also describes how a strong wine is made in Myra, but its description shares importance with the next category which is…

Red for religion. Because Mandeville’s book is meant for prospective pilgrims, this takes up a lot of time in his descriptions. He says Myra is important for being the place where St. Nicholas was elected Bishop. More time is given to places like the island of Patmos and the city of Ephesus. The former is where St John the Evangelist wrote the Apocalypse and the later where St John died and was buried. His tomb still can be found in the city, but his body was taken to heaven leaving behind only manna, though some say he is still resting there till the day of Judgment.

Yellow is used for a non-religious fable. Again, Mandeville never actually travelled to these places, so it is interesting to note when he completely makes something up. For example, he says the city of Satalia (modern Antalya) was a ruin because a monster, birthed because of an act of necrophilia, forced the people to abandon it. Far from being true, Satalia was actually a major city during the period.

Finally, purple denotes a place where Mandeville dedicates a substantial amount of description. The first such place is Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Mandeville describes the many Christian holy sites and other places of interest to pilgrims, such as a miraculous golden plate confessing belief in Jesus far before he was born. The other place marked purple is Cyprus, which gets a similar treatment, Mandeville mentioning where to see the Cross of Dysmas. These places also have some discussion of cultural practices, like the habit of the Cypriots to eat on the floor.