Why was it dangerous to travel long distance in ancient times?
The reasons must have been many. First of all most of the long
distance travel would involve treading into unknown regions where
hostility towards strangers by the tribal groups inhabiting those
lands . The long distance travel would invitably warranted hacking
through dense forest where dangerous wild animals lurking or vast
deserts with its harsh climatical conditions and lack of drinking
water and the possiblity of getting lost in the wilderness was
huge.
One may lost a sense of direction since no man-made roads or
paths existed nor thre were devices to help find directions.