The book included polos personal remembrances as well as stories related to him by others. War, strategy, and american interests in the twentyfirst century. In polo s work reality mixes with the perception of magical and unknown. Marco, his father, and his uncle set out from venice in 1271 and reached china in 1275.
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 about his travels in asia were published as a book called the description of the world, later known as the travels of marco polo. Polos book, description of the world, offered one of the. In armenia he found petroleum, of which there was a fountain whence rises oil in such abundance, that a. Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from. 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. His account of his journeys inspired other adventurers, such as the explorer christopher columbus, who always carried a copy of polo s book. Rarely have secular topics had such an intensive echo. Marco polo and the silk road marco polo and the silk road marco polo and the silk road marco polo and the silk road. Page 115 our notice of those portions of polo s travels which deal with countries other than china.
A combination of marco polo s gift of observation and the writing style of rusticiano emerged in the final version of marco polo s travels. Marco polos famous travelogue was penned in prison. There is much to learn from the observations, behaviour and perceptions from the travels of marco polo. The wealth of new geographic information recorded by polo was widely used by european navigators. Evoking a remote and longvanished world with color and immediacy, marco polos book revolutionized western ideas about the thenunknown east and remains one of the greatest travel accounts of all time. This book was written by a writer name rustichello from. The return of marco polos world audiobook by robert d. He planned on continuing marco polos work by contacting the successor to kublai kahn, who was. The return of marco polos world, kaplans 18th book, is a collection of his essays from the past 17 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 text is comprised of a prologue and four subsequent books. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and rustichello of pisa free ebook project gutenberg. Mar 22, 2017 there is much to learn from the observations, behaviour and perceptions from the travels of marco polo. Written in the th century, the travels of marco polo details italian explorer marco polos movements through asia between 1271 and 1295. Polo, marcomarco polos travels to asia 127195, immortalized in his travels of marco polo. A combination of marco polos gift of observation and the writing style of rusticiano emerged in the final version of marco polos travels. This book was just as influential in invoking people s curiosity of the east than marco polo s return with treasures. Marco polo has 373 books on goodreads with 21667 ratings. In genoa, 127 years after marco polos death, christopher columbus was born in 1451. 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. The book was about polo s travels through asia between the years of 1276 and 1291.
Considered part of the vernacular didactic literature, instead a biography, this famous book describes marco polo s travels between 1276 and 1291 as well as his memorable experiences at kublai khans court. 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. The book the travels of marco polo was a bestseller and was read throughout europe. Complete summary of marco polo s the travels of marco polo. The book was succesful, though many readers questioned polos reliability, some called it il milione, or the million lies. Rustichello later used marcos stories and he incorporated them into a book. Marco polo changed the world by writing a book about his travels from venice to the court of kublai khan in china. The book included polo s personal remembrances as well as stories related to him by others. Lathams frequently names turkey, while the republic of turkey was born in 1923 for the first time in marco polos era, this part of the world was ruled by local seljuk warlords, mongols, etc before it.
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. They were very wary of foreigners and little information about china was. Marco polo stood by his book, and went on to start a business, get married, and be the father of three daughters. Marco polos book influenced columbus selfeducated american. Later it was part of the library of the french book collector alexandre. List of books and articles about marco polo online research. In his book, which was translated into many languages, polo left a wealth of information. Page 115 our notice of those portions of polos travels which deal with countries other than china must be very brief. Boyle juvaini khans khubilai khan king latin marco polo martin da canale medieval merchants mongol monte croce muslim nestorian odoric of pordenone passage pegolotti pelliot perhaps persia philip of novara pipino polo says. The deciding battle was fought a year after marco polos arrival in china.
The thcentury book by rustichello book of the marvels of the world. Mapping the modern worls using information given by marco polo in his travels, venetian monk fra mauro created this map of the world around 1450, more than a century after marco polos. Aug 30, 2017 these writings, written in french, were titled books of the marvels of the world, but are better known in english as the travels of marco polo. It is possibly one of five manuscripts relating to marco polos journey that. If youre seeing this message, it means were having trouble loading external resources on our website. 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. They traveled the silk road to china where he met the great ruler kublai khan. Latham s frequently names turkey, while the republic of turkey was born in 1923 for the first time in marco polo s era, this part of the world was ruled by local seljuk warlords, mongols, etc before it was called ottoman empire almost 200 years later. Three years after marco had returned home, he was involved in a war between his city, venice, and its trading rival, genoa. Marco polo, venetian merchant and adventurer who traveled from europe to asia in 127195, remaining in china for 17 of those years. Marco polo also revealed the wonders of xanadu, the summer capital of mongol emperor kublai khan. The mapmakers would study the book when drawing a map about asia and the merchants used it to plan their trading. The italian marco polo is probably the worlds most famous traveler and one of the worlds first travel writers. This book was just as influential in invoking peoples curiosity of.
The book also included his experience at the court of kublai khan. The journeys of marco polo and their impact overview. War, strategy, and american interests in the twentyfirst century by robert kaplan certainly draws from this issue of the silk road, but dwells mostly on the modern version and its geopolitical machinations. Marco polo and his travels have had a very large cultural influence on the western world. It is very much like a man s loose take of history. They were very wary of foreigners and little information about china was available. The travels by marco polo are without question one of the most important texts of our culture. Historpedia marco polos effects on the east and the. Marco traveled much of china and the east, and his stories were written into a. With the downfall of the degenerate sung dynasty, after fifty years of wars, the mongols became lords of the east. 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 through. Discover librarianselected research resources on marco polo from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines.
A total of about 150 copies in various languages are known to exist. The journeys of marco polo and their impact encyclopedia. In his book, which was translated into many languages, polo left a. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and. If youre behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains. Marco polos travels was one of the worlds first bestsellers. May 05, 2019 the italian marco polo is probably the worlds most famous traveler and one of the worlds first travel writers.
Marco polo is remembered thanks to a colorful and popular narrative about his eastward voyage, known simply as the travels of marco. Marco polos book also influenced european cartographers, including fra mauro who created his highly influential circular planisphere map around the year 1450. The book of wonders originates from 15th century france and tells the story of the pioneer and commercial traveler marco polo. Jan 01, 2004 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. May 31, 2019 in addition to accurate, firsthand descriptions of asian customs, marco polo s book also provided europe s introduction to paper money, coal, and other important innovations. The book is mainly about the description of the world and the places he travelled. Marco polos account was not just a simple record of the journey, but a description of the worlda mixture of a travel report, legend, hearsay, and practical information. The book of ser marco polo, the venetian, concerning the kingdoms and marvels of the east. 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. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The first part of polos book chronicles his three and a half year journey just to get to. Marco polo 1254 january 89, 24 was an italian merchant, explorer, and writer, born in the republic of venice. His account of his journeys inspired other adventurers, such as the explorer christopher columbus, who always carried a copy of polos book.
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. The book was about polos travels through asia between the years of 1276 and 1291. Informational nonfiction, 2,061 words, level y grade 5, lexile 910l. 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. Dec 03, 2019 the travels of marco polo 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.
Polos book was what we would call a blockbuster hit and made. It was translated into multiple languages and read throughout europe. What was marco called when he came home from china. Book of the marvels of the world in english commonly called the travels of marco polo, is a thcentury travelogue written down by rustichello da pisa from. Marco polo 125424 was a venetian merchant believed to have. Laurence bergreen strips away the myths of marco polo to let us see the great venetian traveller afresh. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. 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 from venice to asia opened up a whole new. Marco polo and the silk road is a book about marco polo and his fascinating travels to china in the 1200s. War, strategy, and american interests in the twentyfirst century kaplan, robert d. Marco polo was a venetian explorer known for the book the travels of marco polo, which describes his voyage to and experiences in asia. Almost 750 years later, acclaimed author john man traveled in marco polos footsteps to xanadu then on to beijing and through modern china in search of the history behind the legend. His account of those travels, known in english as the travels of marco polo, is a classic.
Historpedia marco polos effects on the east and the west. Marco polo carries his popular book il milione, known in english as the travels of marco polo, in this 19thcentury mosaic in the doriatursi. The text reveals not only how little the th century man knew about the world outside his own domain but also how he perceived the world around him. Going by the quantum of the travel marco polo undertook the book should have been more descriptive. It is also speculated that marco polo introduced eyeglasses to europe. The million, deriving from polos nickname emilione citation needed, or oriente poliano, lit. While he was locked up, he became friendly with a fellow prisoner, rusticello pronounced rustichello of pisa, who was a writer of romance novels. 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. The brothers niccilo and maffeo polo left venice and embarked on their first long sejour abroad when marco was just a child. At the same time, however, it includes stories of people with tails, lands occupied almost entirely by cannibals, and other impossible or unlikely claims. Marco polo by laurence bergreen books the guardian. Some people question if marco polo really did go to china. Marco polo 125424 was a venetian merchant believed to have journeyed across asia at the height of the mongol empire.
Horde greeks hayton of armenia hulagu ibn battuta india italian italianfrench j. The book is anchored by the first essay, which also gives the collection its title. The art of the journey an italian at the court of kublai khan by. In addition to accurate, firsthand descriptions of asian customs, marco polos book also provided europes introduction to paper money, coal, and other important innovations. An authoritative version of marco polos 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. Marco polos reports offered the ideal background for illustration, as people in europe had always been curious to know about the marvels. Cambridge university press rq ehkdoi ri school of oriental. The book of ser marco polo the venetian concerning the kingdoms and marvels of the east. After the fall of kublai kahn, the ming dynasty took over china. Two years later, niccolo and maffeo sailed to acre in presentday israel, this time with marco at their side.
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. Nigel cliffs new translation, based on the original medieval sources, is a fresh, authoritative rendering, with a lively introduction and. How was marco polos book useful to mapmakers and merchants. The million, deriving from polo s nickname emilione citation needed, or oriente poliano, lit. The travels of marco polo became a very popular book. Introduction marco polo was a merchant in venice before he became the famous explorer we know today. Marco recounted his many adventures in asia to the pisan writer. The chapters are very short, hence it fails to satisfy the thirst the contents has left me high and dry. The book was cowritten by rustichello da pisa, an italian writer who met polo while the two were in prison in genoa, italy. Sep 10, 2019 mapping the modern worls using information given by marco polo in his travels, venetian monk fra mauro created this map of the world around 1450, more than a century after marco polos works had. The first volume depicts the territories of central asia and the middle east.