Final answer:
The primary differences between fourteenth-century and modern travel patterns include the high cost and limited transportation options in the past versus today's increased reliance on air travel and the overarching effects of globalization.
Step-by-step explanation:
Key Differences Between Fourteenth-Century and Modern Travel Patterns
The travel patterns of the fourteenth century and modern times are markedly different in several key aspects. One of the primary factors making travel in the fourteenth century more difficult was the high cost and limited modes of transportation. Most people could not afford horses, carts, camels, or seafaring vessels and thus resorted to traveling by foot, which made long journeys particularly arduous. In contrast, modern travel patterns are characterized by an increased reliance on air travel and the effects of globalization, which have drastically reduced the cost and increased the convenience of long-distance travel.
In the fourteenth century, people often traveled due to worsening environmental conditions, seeking more hospitable environments for better living conditions. Such movements were challenging due to the expensive nature of travel, the harshness of the routes, and political complexities. However, travel also facilitated the spread of ideas and traditions, as seen in the establishment of trade networks like the Silk Roads and maritime networks. Modern travel, enabled by technological advancements and economic systems, continues the trend of exchanging goods and ideas, but does it with unprecedented speed and ease. Infectious diseases, like the bubonic plague, also influenced travel patterns historically, spreading rapidly with trade and migration, a concern that remains relevant in modern times.