Distances of the ancient world

When we read about the Jews in Babylon captivity, we do not realize how short the distance was between Babylon and Jerusalem – 750 miles only on the direct route today. Well, the route the travelers took in those days was more along the rivers, so they had to walk 1,700 miles approximately.

And yet, the Oregon trail was 2,170 miles (from Missouri River to Oregon, Willamette Valley), and people covered it in one season (four to six months on average), using the same essentially animals and similar two-wheel carts the Jews used. Granted, they also used wagons and overall better materials for clothes and the means of transportation, so the Oregon trail travelers were probably better off.

The ancient world was smaller in size, but the routes were longer and slower, and the news passed around not as fast. So, it felt probably even bigger for the ancient people than our current world looks for us.

The modern media make the world “smaller”, simpler, and less enigmatic than the world in the eyes of ancient people. If you feel bored and less excited about what’s going on around you, try to walk some distance or ride a bicycle.

Several years ago, with my good friend Don Lyman, we have ridden along the Colorado trail 400 miles – all the way from Denver almost to Durango. We did one-two sections each weekend (20 – 30 miles one way), every time moving further away from Denver. The trail was established by Indians, now rebuilt and maintained by the mountain enthusiasts.

The impressions of those rides are still with me. They surround me and keep interested in what’s going on around me all the time. Walking or riding a bike shows you how huge and full of unexpected encounters our world is.