Marco polo served as an influence to many later explorers. The book of ser marco polo the venetian concerning the kingdoms and marvels of the east. 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. Marco polos stories shared important information about asia, and were so gripping that they sparked the imaginations of others, generating a european interest in. This book was just as influential in invoking peoples curiosity of the east than marco polo s return with treasures. Though not the first european to explore chinahis father and uncle, among others, had already been therehe became famous for his travels thanks to a popular book he coauthored while languishing in a genoese prison. His travels are recorded in the travels of marco polo also known as book of the marvels of the world and il milione, c. 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. He claimed to have spent seventeen years in the service of kublai khan, ruler of the mongols and of the largest empire in the world. Those relationships, in part, most likely sparked marco polo s own desire to explore the far east. Whether real, fake, or embellished, polo s writing sparked incredible interest in the treasures that lay to the east, among monarchs and explorers. As we already know, the lives of so many historic figures remain in mystery, so does marco polos life. The illustrations are so beautiful that they are likely to draw in the reader.
Whether real, fake, or embellished, polos writing sparked incredible interest in the treasures that lay to the east, among monarchs and explorers. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Yules marco polo, the classic translation and the best commentary on the book in any language asia polo, marco yule, henry, translator. The million, deriving from polos nickname emilione, 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 through asia between 1271 and 1295, and his experiences at the court of kublai khan. A total of about 150 copies in various languages are known to exist, including in langues doil a lingua franca of crusaders and western merchants in the orient 9, tuscan, two versions in venetian, and two different versions in latin. How was marco polos book useful to mapmakers and merchants. Book of the marvels of the world in english commonly called the travels of marco polo, is a. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and rustichello of pisa free ebook project gutenberg. The book also included his experience at the court of kublai khan. He had written about his travels to china which sparked interest in asia. Marco polos influence on later explorers 1614 words.
The book was translated into many european languages in marco polos own lifetime, but the original manuscripts are now lost, and their reconstruction is a matter of textual criticism. This book was just as influential in invoking peoples curiosity of. Marco polo is known for traveling along the silk road to china, where he. The newest volume in sterling signatures successful illustrated edition series takes readers on a fascinating journey into a world once unknown.
Excerpts of marco polo s book, description of the world, are woven into harry s narrative, which add depth and perspective to his colorful and humorous stories of travel along. His account of china inspired other europeans, including columbus, to both interest and greed. Marco polo almost singlehandedly introduced fourteenthcentury europe to the civilizations of central asia and china. Marco polo 125424 was a venetian merchant believed to have. 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. Im doing a school project where we have to make the resume of a famous explorer thats giving the king a resume to be an official explorer. His father, niccolo, and his uncle maffeo had left the year before on a longterm trading. Marco polo article about marco polo by the free dictionary. His account of those travels, known in english as the travels of marco polo, is a classic. During his twoyear captivity, aided by notes and reports written while he was in the east and by his fellowprisoner and coauthor rustichello of pisa, he dictated an account of his travels.
What was the importance of marco polos exploration answers. Polos book was what we would call a blockbuster hit and made. Long before the adventures of marco polo sparked european interest in asia, the silk road connected mediterranean ports in the west to centers of production and trade in china and beyond. Marco polo was born around 1254 into a prosperous merchant family in the italian citystate of venice. Upon returning to italy, he dictated the story of his adventures, and the book inspired generations of explorers. The accounts constituted the book of marco polo 1298, a valuable source on the geography, ethnography, and history of armenia, georgia, iran, china, mongolia, india, indonesia, and other countries. Even today, some people do not believe his stories. Marco polo was supposedly born in the venetian republic, in what is now venice, italy.
Later, marco polo was captured during a war in venice. 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. Polo described the coal as black rocks that burn like wood. Book of the marvels of the world on art and aesthetics. 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. This interest sparked almost all explorations after the 1400s and even the. The document recounts the story of the commercial traveler marco polo in 192 pages and 84 magnificent, large scale illustrations with gold inlay. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read travels of marco polo. The most gifted book painters of the time depicted the adventures his journey in the most farflung regions of the world in a captivating variety of colors and gold inlay.
The book of ser marco polo, the venetian internet archive. This testifies the deep interest the dominican order towards the book. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and. Marco polo is best known for his accomplishments as a world traveler and pioneer in expanding trade routes in asia, including what is now called the silk road.
Marco polos travel accounts, primarily drawn from the yulecordier translation, are accompanied by supplementary texts with illustrations on pages that have distinct borders from those that chronicle the travel accounts. Buy the travels of marco polo wordsworth classics of world literature new edition by marco polo isbn. A war blocked their return, and they journeyed eastward to reach kublai khans eastern capital at kaifeng in 1266. Jan 01, 2004 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Join facebook to connect with marco polo and others you may know. Marco polos influence on later explorers 1614 words 123. This sparked the determined ones to travel and explore the unknown. If they are not your cup of tea, then marco polo might just change your mind.
The writings describe mongolian culture and some of its practices. It also contained popular beliefs, legends, and fairy tales. Marco polos travel to cathay, china sparked an interest among europeans with the far east. Many problems were caused by the oral transmission of the original text and the proliferation of significantly different handcopied manuscripts. His famous book, the travels of marco polo, indicates that he was a man of extraordinary bravery, brilliance, and strength. Historpedia marco polos effects on the east and the west fall 2012. The book is mainly about the description of the world and the places he travelled. Publication date 1871 topics genghis khan, 11621227, polo family, voyages and travels, mongols, early maps, inscriptions, chinese publisher. Marco polo the book of wonders in 15th century france, an artistic manuscript emerged, which was contributed to by the most famous and influential illuminator of that time. 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. Marco polo soon joined venetian forces fighting genoa and was taken prisoner 1298 following venices loss in the battle of curzola. For more than two thousand years this vast network of caravan trails has linked oasis settlements across the central asian desert, and many of those ancient. Marco polos interactions with mongolian emperor kublai khan led to more interactions between the europeans and the chinese. The travels of marco polobook 1chapter 22 wikisource.
When europeans finally began to explore in the 1400s, they did this partly because of greed. The million, deriving from polo s nickname emilione, 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 asia between 1271 and 1295, and his experiences at the court of kublai khan. The book of wonders originates from 15th century france and tells the story of the pioneer and commercial traveler marco polo. Marco polo, the great explorer, recorded seeing dragons. Venetian explorer, marco polo had a great impact on the area of what is now.
He recorded his adventures in a book published as the travels of marco polo. In english, this book is also known as the travels of marco polo, and it describes. Whether it was through his book, the travels of marco polo, which focused. The text is comprised of a prologue and four subsequent books. The 1968 fantasy classic the last unicorn sparked modern interest in unicorns and their representation in popular media. Marco polo research papers on the life of the italian. Marco polo s four year trip to asia and back to europe sparked the interest in trade between europe and the east indies. 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. Marco polo, venetian merchant and adventurer who traveled from europe to asia in 127195, remaining in china for 17 of those years. The book was about polos travels through asia between the years of 1276 and 1291.
Marco polo was not the first european to reach china, but he was the first to leave a d. To reflect light on marco polos famous but mysterious past, we gathered 23 interesting facts about him. Although marco polos attempt to expand the christian religion was a failure, his close network interactions with the mongol emperor led to much prosperity for the east and the west. The book was cowritten by rustichello da pisa, an italian writer who met polo while the two were in prison in genoa, italy.
Polo might have been forgotten had his book, the travels of marco polo, not engaged widespread interest. We have gathered few of his sayings from his book and life. The wealth of new geographic information recorded by polo was widely used by european navigators. What sparked european interest in exploration answers. Serious questions have always been raised about the authenticity of the text. How did marco polo increase european interest in chinese. Marcos thoughts on travel, culture are purely based out of his life and experiences. Marco polo opened medieval minds to the outside world there are many who question just how far marco polo traveled, but it is clear that he played an important role in encouraging europeans to be more curious about the outside world. See more ideas about marco polo, silk road and history. The travels by marco polo meet your next favorite book.
Marco polos four year trip to asia and back to europe sparked the interest in trade between europe and the east indies. On the tartars marco polo 125424 is the most famous of medieval european travelers. 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 went to china after all, study suggests a new study restores the venetian explorers honor by offering evidence that he did indeed reach china and mongolia. The travels of marco polo wordsworth classics of world. There is no information about marco polos childhood. Marco polos book polo could have been forgotten to. The travels of marco polobook 3chapter wikisource.
Kublai khan was very interested in hearing about the polos culture and religion. 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. Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the kindle edition of this book. 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 birthplacepresumably in venice, venetian republic diedsunday, january 09, 24 occupation merchant, explorer known for the travels of marco polo marco polo. With his uncle and father, he traveled across turkey, armenia, the middle east, the rugged many people say marco polo was the greatest explorer that ever lived, traveling 33, miles by land and sea from venice, italy, to. He was a merchant and he wrote about things that were appealing to a merchant. Marco polo 125424 was an italian adventurer best remembered for his extended stay in china at the court of kublai khan.
It broadened trade routes and sparked interest in the world outside of europe. It was his journey which ultimately inspired other men like christopher columbus to explore the world. If you like doctor who historical stories, then you will love this. There are also stories and various documents which point to his ancestry originating in korcula, croatia. The travels of marco polo from venice to asia opened up a whole new world. Most recently frances wood, head of chinese language materials at the british library, has pointed. Our explorer chosen was marco polo, and i checked all over the internet to find more. The travels of marco polobook 3chapter wikisource, the. He died in venice at almost 70 years of age, on january 8, 24. Polos accounts of his travels into a book, later entitled the travels of marco polo.
Marco polo was a trader and explorer who spent over 20 years traveling through out asia, persia, china, and indonesia. Marco polo is the last of the illustrious polo family left in venice, after his father and uncles moved abroad, leaving him and his mother behind. List of books and articles about marco polo online. Marco polo was born in 1254 in venice to a family of wealthy merchants.
He wasnt only interested in trade routes and riches. Europeans became aware of the riche of this area and marco polos travels helped to increase trade. 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. Oct 06, 2016 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. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Those relationships, in part, most likely sparked marco polos own. Rice and milk they have not, and their fruits are only wild ones. Marcos early writings in his book, the travels of marco polo, served as an influence to many later explorers.
How was marco polo s book useful to mapmakers and merchants. List of books and articles about marco polo online research. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Marco polo went to china after all, study suggests history. Marco polos influence on later explorers 1614 words 123 help me. They returned to venice in 1269, and in 1271 they left with young marco for kublais court. They ask why he did not mention the great wall or tea. Historpedia marco polos effects on the east and the. Historpedia marco polos effects on the east and the west. Though one could argue the content of his writings, and why he wrote about the things he did, the answer is simple.
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. Written in the th century, the travels of marco polo details italian explorer marco polo s movements through asia between 1271 and 1295. He became extremely interested in architecture and urban planning and wrote detailed. Book of ser marco polo marco polo bauman rare books. No city in particular is indicated as visited by the traveller, but the view i take of the.
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