Pilgrimages Involved Penitent Marches, Visiting Holy Places, and Watching Drunken Emperors Go on Chariot Rides

History Unplugged Podcast

History Unplugged

Society & Culture, History

4.2 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 24 April 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Pilgrimages are a universal phenomenon, from China’s bustling Tai Shan to the ancient Jewish treks to Jerusalem. But why? What is it about a grueling penitent march to an isolated temple that has become a prerequisite for a civilization of any size, whether Chicen Itza in the Mayan Empire or the holy sites of Mecca?

To explore this is today’s guest, Kathryn Hurlock, author of “Holy Places: How Pilgrimages Changed the World.” We also look at whether pilgrimages have become too easy in the 21st century. Has jetting off to Mecca or Rome for a quick indulgence turned them into spiritual tourism, a la Disneyland?

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Sky here with another episode of the History on Plug podcast. This year, many people around the world
0:09.5	will set out on pilgrimages, whether the Al Camino in Spain, the Hodge and Saudi Arabia,
0:14.4	River Ganges, the temples of Jerusalem. These are part of a tradition that go back to the beginning of
0:18.9	civilization, and you could say one of the prerequisites are calling yourself a civilization. You have to have some kind of religious
0:25.0	pilgrimage. But these aren't only journeys of personal and spiritual devotion. It can also be a political
0:29.2	act, an affirmation of your identity, a way that you relive the experiences of your ancestors.
0:34.7	In today's episode, I'm speaking to Catherine Hurlock, author of Holy Places,
0:37.9	How Pilgrimages Changed Has Changed The World, to try to arrive at some sort of grand
0:41.2	unified theory of pilgrimages.
0:43.5	What does going to Chechenica for a Mayan, a thousand years ago, have in common with being
0:47.9	an ancient Israelite and celebrating the festival of the booths, have in common with being
0:52.1	an Elvis fan and going to Graceland. We see the many ways in which this ancient practice has shaped our religions and our world,
0:57.9	how pilgrimages have transformed the fates of cities, annoying the dynasties,
1:01.4	provided guidance and hard times, and driven progress as well.
1:04.9	But we enjoy this discussion with Catherine Herlock.
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