Chapter 1
Ancient safe passages and royal favors
Chapter 2
The golden age of borderless travel
Chapter 3
World War I and the birth of the modern booklet
Chapter 4
The modern paper trail and high-tech security
YOUR GOAL
Master of A history of the world in your pocket
Ch 1 · Ancient safe passages and royal favors
sonia Medieval European monarchs issued documents to help travelers prove their identity abroad.
sonia Ancient Chinese dynasties used physical tokens to track travelers and control borders.
BETA
sonia Stamp royal decrees to discover how ancient safe passages protected travelers across empires.
Fun Fact
Mummy passport: In 1974, the mummy of Pharaoh Ramesses II was issued an official Egyptian passport to travel to France for preservation.
Glossary
safe-conduct (noun)
An official document or privilege guaranteeing a traveler unhindered passage through a foreign territory. Around 450 BC, the Persian king Artaxerxes granted Nehemiah letters ensuring his secure travel to Judah.
An official document or privilege guaranteeing a traveler unhindered passage through a foreign territory. Around 450 BC, the Persian king Artaxerxes granted Nehemiah letters ensuring his secure travel to Judah.