The travels of marco polo became a very popular book. The wealth of new geographic information recorded by polo was widely used by european navigators. Marcos thoughts on travel, culture are purely based out of his life and experiences. Jan 01, 2004 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. It is possibly one of five manuscripts relating to marco polos journey that belonged to king charles. A few months before marco polo was born in 1254, his father niccolo and uncle maffeo left italy on a trading. Sep 10, 2019 marco polo carries his popular book il milione, known in english as the travels of marco polo, in this 19thcentury mosaic in the doriatursi palace, genoa. As he lay dying, his priest, family, and friends offered him a last chance to confess his mendacity, and marco, it is said, replied i have not told the half of what i saw and did. Polo s adventures influenced european mapmakers and inspired christopher columbus.
The travels of marco polo after marco polos 24 year long journey to china with niccolo, and his uncle, marco went into the battle of curzola. He first set out at age 17 with his father and uncle, traveling overland. It was translated into multiple languages and read throughout europe. His account of those travels, known in english as the travels of marco polo, is a classic. Marco polo was born in venice, one of the most successful trading cities.
Book one describes the lands of the middle east and central asia that marco encountered on his way to china. Polo might have been forgotten had his book, the travels of marco polo, not. Marco polos famous novel is called the travels of marco polo, a partially nonfiction work which described his experiences and observations in china, india and japan. Marco polo never actually published a book, but many of his writings were gathered into a collection and published under the name, the travels of marco polo. While he was under arrest, marco told detailed stories of his journeys to a writer named rustichello who wrote them all down in a book called the travels of marco polo. Marco polo and his travels peter jackson keele university the year 1998 marks the sevenhundredth anniversary of the initial composition of the book associated with marco polo, le devisament dou monde.
Marco polo heavily influenced many explorers to come, including christopher columbus, who was an avid admirer and carried marco polos book with him on his voyage to the new world. Marco polo, venetian merchant and adventurer who traveled from europe to asia in 127195, remaining in china for 17 of those years. Polo would later mention the fictional monarch in his book, and even described him as having fought a great battle against the mongol ruler. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and.
The travels of marco polo after marco polo s 24 year long journey to china with niccolo, and his uncle, marco went into the battle of curzola. Marco becomes famous when a book of his stories reached people around europe, the fame of marco polos travels spread quickly. Fellow europeans read his accounts of the riches of asia and became eager to find sea routes to china, japan, and the east. A couple notes on the travels of marco polo many scholars do not take the book seriously at all. Marco polo 125424 was the son of a venetian merchant and traveler. Written in a fastpaced narrative, there was little chance for boredom. They traveled the silk road to china where he met the great ruler kublai khan. These writings, written in french, were titled books of the marvels of the world, but. In fact, the italian title of his book was il libro di marco polo detto il milione, which means the book of marco polo, nicknamed milione. People like christopher columbus, magellan, and gama, all were caught up with the curiosity of the unknown, and trekked to discover the undiscovered of which would be the homes of civilizations unseen to the. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
And although marco polo became famous in his own lifetime through the grand tales he told, he himself wasnt necessarily taken seriously, either. Many other explorers, including christopher columbus, looked up to him. It is possibly one of five manuscripts relating to marco polo s journey that belonged to king charles v of. Marco polo barely knew his father and uncle when they began their expedition. His father and uncle returned from their silk road travels when marco was about 15 years old. There is a story about children following him around saying, messer polo, tell us another. His account of his experiences is one of the most important travel documents ever written. A war between genoa and venice, a battle that was fought by galleys. His extraordinary reports of his experiences introduced medieval europe to an exotic new world of emperors and concubines, amazing cities, huge armies, unusual spices and cuisine, and imperial riches. The book helped europeans to learn about asian peoples and goods. Marco polos book also influenced european cartographers, including fra mauro who created his highly influential circular planisphere map around the year 1450. Marco polo was a merchant in venice before he became the famous explorer we know today.
Marco polo was the most famous traveller of his time. Marco polo carries his popular book il milione, known in english as the travels of marco polo, in this 19thcentury mosaic in the doriatursi palace, genoa. Marco traveled much of china and the east, and his stories were written into a popular book. In 1271, marco, with his father and uncle, began a journey that four years later. At the age of 46 marco polo got married and began having children. Marco polo was known for the book, travels of marco polo, where he talked about asia.
Marco polo carries his popular book il milione, known in english as the travels of marco polo, in this 19thcentury mosaic in the doriatursi. Introduction marco polo was a merchant in venice before he became the famous explorer we know today. May 08, 2020 marco polo described the strange currency in his book, facetiously describing kublai khan as an alchemist who could transform mulberry trees into money, instead of base metals into gold. We have gathered few of his sayings from his book and life. Marco polos stories about his travels in asia were published as a book called the description of the world, later known as the travels of marco polo. He was a merchant and he wrote about things that were appealing to a merchant. 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. They traveled the silk road to china where he met the great ruler. Born into a noble family of venetian merchants, marco polo began his long. What evidence is there that marco polo did make it to china. He was one of the first europeans to explore central asia and east asia.
Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from. When prompted, polo dictated his adventures to rustichello. Marco polos travels was one of the worlds first best. Marco polos influence on later explorers 1614 words. The book,the travels of marco polo, is the written record which chronicles the adventures and travels that marco polo experienced while exploring the eastern world. In 1271, marco, with his father and uncle, began a journey that four years later led to their being accepted at the court of kublai khan. The life and adventures of marco polo ancient origins. On his return to the west he was made a prisoner of war and met rustichello of pisa, with whom he collaborated on this book. The venetian merchant and adventurer marco polo wrote a fascinating book about his travels in china and other parts of asia in the late th century. Two years later, the three of them set out on a journey to cathay. 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.
He worked for kublai khan, the mongol emperor, for seventeen years. Marco polo was a venetian explorer known for the book the travels of marco polo, which describes his voyage to and experiences in asia. Marco polo 125424 was a venetian merchant believed to have. How long did it take marco polo to reach the end of the silk route. Marco polo 1254 january 89, 24 was an italian merchant, explorer, and writer, born in the republic of venice. A more correct version, revised by marco polo, was sent by him in 7 to thibaud of cepoy, the agent of charles of valois at venice, to be presented to that prince, who was a candidate for the crown of constantinople and the promoter of a crusading movement. Marco polo is known for traveling along the silk road to china, where he explored and documented much of asia not yet explored by europeans. His book the travels of marco polo, proved to be the most influential factor in the many european adventurers exploring the world.
Marco polo biography life, family, story, death, mother. Marco polo simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 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. Marco polo, the great explorer, recorded seeing dragons. Marco polos travels was one of the worlds first bestsellers. The book was an instant success and was translated into many languages. May 05, 2019 the italian marco polo is probably the worlds most famous traveler and one of the worlds first travel writers. Though one could argue the content of his writings, and why he wrote about the things he did, the answer is simple. The italian marco polo is probably the worlds most famous traveler and one of the worlds first travel writers. Marco polo changed the world by writing a book about his travels from venice to the court of kublai khan in china.
His father and uncle often traded into the west coast of mediterranean. Marco polo 125424 was a venetian merchant believed to have journeyed across asia at the height of the mongol empire. Marco polos story begins in venice in the year 1271, when he was 17 years old. Marco polo described the strange currency in his book, facetiously describing kublai khan as an alchemist who could transform mulberry trees into money, instead of base metals into gold. Marco polo traveled to china with his father and uncle over the silk road which was an overland route to china. Historpedia marco polos effects on the east and the. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and rustichello of pisa free ebook project gutenberg.
Although marco polo received little recognition from the geographers of his time, some of the information in his book was incorporated in some important maps of the later middle ages, such as the catalan world map of 75, and in the next century it was read with great interest by henry the navigator and by columbus. Marco polo was born in a merchant family in venice in 1254. Marco polo was born in 1254 and died on january 8,24. Maps he brought back helped to develop european cartography, and he introduced europe to. He planned on continuing marco polos work by contacting the successor to kublai kahn, who was one of marco polos main friends and employers during his travels. His travels are recorded in the travels of marco polo also known as book. In part 2, chapter 40, marco polo reports what he describes as huge serpents. Although coleridge only saw xanadu in his dream, one of the most famous western voyagers actually visited the city during its heyday. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Reading marco polo was a refreshing journey into the life of one i had heard much about but read nothing about. One of the most wellknown europeans to travel the silk road in medieval times was marco polo 124524, a merchant, explorer and writer who recorded his travels in the book livres des merveilles du monde book of the worlds marvels, published around the year 0.
The famous venetian is believed to have left venice at age 17 to embark on a 24year journey through the persian gulf and asia, spending much of this time in china in the court of the great mongol emperor kublai khan. Aug 30, 2017 the story of his journey is told in il milione the million, commonly called the travels of marco polo. What effect did marco polos book have on europeans answers. Dec 03, 2019 marco polo was a venetian explorer known for the book the travels of marco polo, which describes his voyage to and experiences in asia. Marco polos influence on later explorers 1614 words 123. 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. People were fascinated with the world of the chinese. As the first european to claim that he had been to china and back not to mention. 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 of marco polo dictated to rusticiano was compiled in french.
Marco polo also revealed the wonders of xanadu, the summer capital of mongol emperor kublai khan. Polo s mother died when he was very young and he was raised by his aunt and uncle. Cambridge university press rq ehkdoi ri school of oriental. Marcos early writings in his book, the travels of marco polo, served as an influence to many later explorers. His account of his journeys inspired other adventurers, such as the explorer christopher columbus, who always carried a copy of polos book. At the height of the mongol empire, marco polo served emperor kublai khan in. Polos book, description of the world, offered one of the. His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to china, after which he served the kubilai khan on numerous diplomatic missions.