Marco polo september 15, 1254 january 9, 24 was a venetian merchant traveler whose travels are recorded in il milione the millions, now known as the travels of marco polo, a book which did much to introduce europeans to central asia and china. He spent the next twenty years travelling in the service of kublai khan. Many europeans were determined to visit these places themselves. Marco polo is a son to nicolo polo a trader who entered the city of cambaluc a center of chinese civilization in the yuan period 266. Marco polos book influenced the world because it told of him going to china and the perils and discoveries of him doing so. Few figures from history evoke such vivid orientalist associations as marco polo, the venetian merchant, explorer, and writer whose accounts of the far east sparked literary and cultural imaginations. A sparkling new translation of one of the greatest travel books ever written. The book of wonders originates from 15th century france and tells the story of the pioneer and commercial traveler marco polo. Feb 26, 2015 marco polo 1254 to january 8, 24 was a venetian explorer known for the book the travels of marco polo, which describes his voyage to and experiences in asia. In 1269, they returned to venice to meet marco for the first time. How did marco polos book influence the world answers. Whether it was through his book, the travels of marco polo, which focused mainly on descriptions of spices and commercial goods and many other interesting trade items he encountered in his travels, he sparked an interest and desire of not only europe, but later explorers as well. They spent the next 20 years in the service of the kubilai khan, travelling throughout the mongolian empire. Marco polos seminal account of his journeys in the east, in a collectible clothbound edition.
Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from europe to asia from 1271 to 1295 and remaining in china for 17 of those years. The book ignited the curiosity of many travelers and. He recorded his adventures in a book published as the travels of marco polo. This book was just as influential in invoking peoples curiosity of the east than marco polo s return with treasures. He was credited to have sparked the further navigations of christopher columbus, amerigo vespucci, ferdinand magellan, bartholomeu dias, and a lot other sailors.
But there are about 150 very early manuscripts of marco polo s book in existence. Here is the account in the book of hangchow, called kinsay. The travels of marco polobook 3chapter 4 wikisource. We have gathered few of his sayings from his book and life. The book was written with the help of a romancenovel writer, and it has been called one of the greatest ever written.
Last year, i read a beautiful little book called invisible cities 1972 by italian author italo calvino 19231985 read an excerpt in this blog post from february 2016 a fictionalised, highly inventive, account of the meeting between the venetian merchant traveller marco polo 125424 and the mongolian emperor kublai khan 12151294. His travels are recorded in the travels of marco polo also known as book of the marvels of the world and il milione, c. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and. Marco polo was seventeen when he set out for china, and fortyone when he came back. Marco polo, europes greatest ever traveller, suffered badly for what cynics assumed were his outlandish flights of. But his book, the travels of marco polo, slowly gained widespread interest. That doesnt sound like many, but its evidence that it was a bestseller for the time, and a book that immediately. A total of about 150 copies in various languages are known to exist. The book was cowritten by rustichello da pisa, an italian writer who met polo while the two were in prison in genoa, italy. Going by the quantum of the travel marco polo undertook the book should have been more descriptive. Marco polo, a merchant, and still a simple man, was this source of inspiration. Whether it was through his book, the travels of marco polo, which focused.
Marco polo s travels and subsequent bestselling book sparked the expansion of the mercantile empires of medieval europe and gave birth to the modern age of. Marco polo can be attributed to being the spark for the age of exploration. His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to china, after which he served the kubilai khan on numerous diplomatic missions. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. His famous book, the travels of marco polo, indicates that he was a man of. We offer guides and maps to over 200 destinations, from compact colourful pocket guides packed with insider tips to inspirational itinerary based guides in a unique spiral bound format, with. Page 58 in this manner the great sire possesses all the gold, silver, pearls, and precious stones in his dominions.
Sparked interest in the far east from his travels answers. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Because marcos family was wealthy, he received a good education, learning. May 02, 2009 the travels of marco polobook 3chapter 4. Historpedia marco polos effects on the east and the west. The journeyer by gary jennings goodreads share book. His famous book, the travels of marco polo, indicates that he was a man of extraordinary bravery, brilliance, and.
His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to china, after which he served the kublai khan on numerous diplomatic missions. Marco polo was born in 1254, the son of a venetian merchant, and made his first visit to china with his father and uncle in 1271. Interested in getting goods directly from china, marco polo traveled along the silk road in 1271. The book is mainly about the description of the world and the places he travelled. Polos accounts of his travels into a book, later entitled the travels of marco polo. Many people say marco polo was the greatest explorer that ever lived, traveling 33, miles by land and sea from venice, italy, to modernday beijing, china. The book helped europeans to learn about asian peoples and goods. Kublai, on hearing of this amazing wealth, desired to conquer the island, and sent two of his barons with a very large fleet containing warriors, both horsemen and on foot. Marco polo began his travels at the age of seventeen, and he spent the next twenty years trekking across a vast area of the world that most had ever explored. And let me tell you the great kaan has nothing to do with them, nor do. An authoritative version of marco polo s book does not and cannot exist, for the early manuscripts differ significantly, and the reconstruction of the original text is a matter of textual criticism. The travels of marco polo the famous explorer marco polo was born in the year 1254 to a family of merchants. Marco polo was supposedly born in the venetian republic, in what is now venice, italy.
The book was about polos travels through asia between the years of 1276 and 1291. Although marco polo is remembered as one of the first europeans to travel to china, his father and uncle actually both travelled there before him. Those relationships, in part, most likely sparked marco polos own desire to explore the far east. Marco polos influence on later explorers 1614 words. Marco polo 125424 was a venetian merchant believed to have journeyed across asia at the height of the mongol empire. Though the book and the opium sparked coleridges imagination, unfortunately, the poem was never completed because coleridge claims that while he was composing the. Before the dream, coleridge had been reading marco polos description of khans palace the pleasuredome in marco polos book, book of the marvels of the world. I just read italo calvinos invisible cities which is a short book about an encounter between marco polo and kublai khan.
When any of the cards are torn or spoiled, the owner carries them to the place whence they were issued, and receives fresh ones, with a deduction of 3 per cent. After he returned to italy, he recorded his experiences in a book, sparking a surge in interest in the far east among europeans that led to a great. The million, deriving from polos nickname emilione citation needed, or oriente poliano, lit. It was a first so of course everyone wanted to read it and learn about. It also saw the rise of a royal icon and an astronomer who changed how people saw the world. The chapters are very short, hence it fails to satisfy the thirst the contents has left me high and dry. Marco polo was the most famous traveller of his time. What was the importance of marco polos exploration answers. There is evidence that marco travelled extensively in the mongol empire and it is fairly certain he visited india. Polian east citation needed, in english commonly called the travels of marco polo, is a thcentury travelogue written down by rustichello da pisa from stories told by italian explorer marco polo, describing polo s travels through. That book reminded me that id read jennings the journeyer several decades ago. Marco polo also revealed the wonders of xanadu, the summer capital of mongol emperor kublai khan.
Almost 750 years later, acclaimed author john man traveled in marco polos footsteps to xanadu and then on to beijing and through modern china in. Excerpts of marco polos book, description of the world, are woven into harrys narrative, which add depth and perspective to his colorful and humorous stories of travel along. This sparked the determined ones to travel and explore the unknown. Book ii covers polos time in china and the court of kublai khan. Although marco polo was not the first european to reach china, he was the first to leave a detailed chronicle of his experiences. Marco polo 1254 january 89, 24 was an italian merchant, explorer, and writer, born in the republic of venice. East, seeking refuge from war or economic deprivation, soon sparked a heated.
Relying on notes and memories he had stored during his years abroad, he set down his tale, entitled the travels of marco polo, or, a description of the world. If marco polo went to china, british sinologist frances wood asked some years ago in a book titled, appropriately enough, did marco. If marco polo went to china, british sinologist frances wood asked some years ago in a. Rarely have secular topics had such an intensive echo. The book chronicles his extraordinary adventures and authenticates the th century journey of the great explorer. In marcos time, very little was known about asia in europe. He wrote his famous travels whilst a prisoner in genoa.
The book of ser marco polo, the venetian, concerning the kingdoms and marvels of the east. He died in venice at almost 70 years of age, on january 8, 24. Around the time of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, europe was a place in need of inspiration. Some readers have even concluded that the book is a total fake. Venetian explorer, marco polo had a great impact on the area of what is now. Book of the marvels of the world on art and aesthetics.
The most gifted book painters of the time depicted the adventures his journey in the most farflung regions of the. Historpedia marco polos effects on the east and the west fall 2012. In turn, her illustrations are not as dominant as they are in some other books. The travels of marco polo by marco polo, alex struik. Oct 06, 2016 marco polo in tartar costume, wikipedia public domain the travels of marco polo c. There are also stories and various documents which point to his ancestry originating in korcula, croatia. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability.
In this book it is the fact laden narrative that drives the book. The mapmakers would study the book when drawing a map about asia and the merchants used it to plan their trading who wrote marco polo s stories into a book. Visit to buy new and used textbooks, and check out our awardwinning nook tablets and ereaders. Marco polo and the encounter of east and westfew figures from history evoke.
Here is a collection of marco polo quotes and sayings on exploration, culture, travel, story, law, china, india, book, flavor, men, atheism, food, kings, science etc. His book the travels of marco polo, proved to be the most influential factor in the many european adventurers exploring. Even then, the city where he was bornvenicewas a center for commerce and trading in the mediterranean region. The essays in marco polo and the encounter of east and. So let us go back to zayton and take up the order of our book from that point.
This book was just as influential in invoking peoples curiosity of the east than marco polos return with treasures. After being imprisoned during the venetiangenoese war, marco polo told his stories to his cellmate, who later documented polos accounts of his travels into a book, later entitled the travels of marco polo. His travels are recorded in livre des merveilles du monde book of the marvels of the world, also known as the travels of marco polo, c. Marco polo was a thirteenthcentury venetian explorer, arguably the worlds most welltraveled explorer, and the travels of marco polo chronicles his journey through asia as. The book about marco polos travels sparked an intense curiosity about the places he had seen. How was marco polo s book useful to mapmakers and merchants. Marco polos book polo could have been forgotten to history. Marcos thoughts on travel, culture are purely based out of his life and experiences. Marco polo 125424 was a venetian merchant believed to have.
Read and learn for free about the following article. Polo learned the mercantile trade from his father and uncle, niccolo and maffeo, who travelled through asia, and met kublai khan. Marco polo has 373 books on goodreads with 21723 ratings. And let me tell you the great kaan has nothing to do with them, nor do they render him any tribute or service. Marco polo and the encounter of east and west 9780802099280. Marco polo, the world wandering bard, poetphotographerworld travelerlife loverteacher, was born december 29,1945 and raised in greenwich village, manhattan, new york city in the bohemian free spirit of whitman, frost and ginsburg with great love for the immortal shakespeare and the classics.
Marco polo was born in 1254, joining his father on a journey to china in 1271. The travels of marco polobook 3chapter 4 wikisource, the. Many people say marco polo was the greatest explorer that ever lived, traveling 33,000 miles by land and sea from venice, italy, to modernday beijing, china. Polian east citation needed, in english commonly called the travels of marco polo, is a thcentury travelogue written down by rustichello da pisa from stories told by italian explorer marco polo, describing polos travels. He was an ordinary boy during his childhood, living a similar life to the other boys his age.
The illuminated manuscript on marco polos fascinating and adventurous travels ranks among the most famous manuscripts of the middle ages and is considered a highlight of french book decoration. The book also included his experience at the court of kublai khan. Marco polos influence on later explorers 1614 words 123 help me. The million, deriving from polo s nickname emilione citation needed, or oriente poliano, lit. I have read a number of childrens books on marco polo and demis version has been the most enjoyable because it has had the most detail. I read this to 11 and 14 year old boys we are going to read a landmark series book for more indepth study of marco polo.
More than seven hundred years ago, marco polo traveled from the medieval city of venice to the fabled kingdom of the great kublai khan, seeing new sights and riches that no westerner had ever before witnessed. After being imprisoned during the venetiangenoese war, marco polo told his stories to his cellmate, who later documented polo s accounts of his travels into a book, later entitled the travels of marco polo. His travels are written down in il milione the million. Each book tells the story of a persons life and major accomplishments, and discusses the historic events that shaped his or her world. The renaissance sparked the rebirth of art and science. His famous book, the travels of marco polo, indicates that he was a man of extraordinary bravery, brilliance, and strength. Marco polo by laurence bergreen books the guardian.
Marco polos reports offered the ideal background for illustration, as people in europe had always been curious to know. Marco polo was a thirteenthcentury venetian explorer, arguably the worlds most welltraveled explorer, and the travels of marco polo chronicles his journey through asia as a special envoy to. Although kublai khans capital was in the north, at the city later called beijing, hanchow had served as the capital of the southern song dynasty until 1279 and was a major cultural and political center. Europeans became aware of the riche of this area and marco polos travels helped to increase trade. Historpedia marco polos effects on the east and the. Marco polo wrote a fascinating book about his travels in china and other parts of asia in the late th century. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and rustichello of pisa free ebook project gutenberg. The book of ser marco polo 1985 words 8 pages the book of ser marco polo is a thirteenth century edition that was transcribed by marco polos cell mate and was later translated by henry yule 266. Marco polo s travels and subsequent bestselling book sparked the expansion of the mercantile empires of medieval europe and gave birth to the modern age of globalization. Our team at marco polo works together for one heartfelt purposehelping people feel close. Marco polo released and goes back to venice, where he marries, have kids, write books, and eventually died of old age on january 24, being 70 years of age. Marco polo served as an influence to many later explorers. What influence did marco polos writings have on europeans. His writings about china and the mongol empire in the travels of marco polo had a significant impact on european beliefs about and behavior toward the east and inspired the travels of christopher columbus.
In a world where people have so many ways to communicate, but still feel lonely, were on a mission to help the world rediscover the blessings of authentic relationships. Unlike many of the current historians that wish to claim he was a fictional character, this book gives the history of his family and his life story. Page 153 here are also red pearls, large, and of equal value with the white, with many other precious stones. Let marco polo help you make the most of your trip. The travels of marco polobook 1chapter 11 wikisource. Marco polo was born in 1254 in venice to a family of wealthy merchants. The book of ser marco polo, the venetian internet archive. Marco polos influence on later explorers 1614 words 123. The original push to explore the seas probably was sparked by the book describing marco polos travels in the far east. Written in the th century, the travels of marco polo details italian explorer marco polo s movements through asia between 1271 and 1295. Marco polos reports offered the ideal background for illustration, as people in europe had always been curious to know about the marvels. Even more unusual, in 1298 he dictated a book about his experiences, called the travels of marco polo. Marco polos travel to cathay, china sparked an interest among europeans with the far east.
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