The greatest books of all time written by the author marco polo. Marco polos travels was one of the worlds first bestsellers. The story of his journey influenced mapmakers and inspired christopher columbus. While imprisoned in genoa, marco polo related the story of his travels to a fellow prisoner named rusticiano, a man from pisa, italy, who wrote in the romantic style of thirteenthcentury literature. In part 2, chapter 40, marco polo reports what he describes as huge serpents. It was marco polo s book of his travels that introduced europeans to china and central asia. Why do some people believe marco polo did not make it to china.
Marco polo travelled to china in 1271 and spent the next twenty years in the service of kublai khan. His father and uncle were merchants who traveled to many lands. Marco polo simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This book was just as influential in invoking peoples curiosity of the east than marco polo. The book has detailed descriptions of the wealth of china, a japan filled with gold, and the exotic custom of central asia, west asia and southeast asia soon made it a bestseller.
At the age of 46 marco polo got married and began having. Marco polos influence on later explorers 1614 words 123. A few learned men believed that marco wrote truly, however, and they spread marco s stories of faraway places and unknown peoples. This book inspired many explorers including christopher columbus. The life and accomplishments of marco polo 1471 words 6 pages. 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. According to tradition, while in prison he dictated the stories of his travels to a cellmate, rustichello da pisa, who wrote them down in old french. The author of a travel book that inspired christopher columbus. The travels of marco polo from venice to asia opened up a whole new world to europeans.
The travels by marco polo meet your next favorite book. 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 an instant success and was translated into many languages. His father, niccolo, and his uncle maffeo had left the year before on a. Marco polo was born in 1254, joining his father on a journey to china in 1271. The book helped europeans to learn about asian peoples and goods.
He first set out at age 17 with his father and uncle, traveling overland. He planned on continuing marco polo s work by contacting the successor to kublai kahn, who was one of marco polo s main friends and employers during his travels. 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. 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. Still extolling his overlord he claimed to have been a trusted servant of kublais regimepolo wrote that the new year was celebrated in cambaluc with a parade of kublais elephants, which. The venetian polo and his coauthor, rusticiano of pisa, were both prisoners of war in genoa when they met and wrote the book. The polos sailed over the mediterranean sea to what is now israel.
Many years later, as he lay dying, family members and the attending priest begged marco polo to recant all the outrageous lies he had told about his incredible adventures. Marco polo has 379 books on goodreads with 22044 ratings. Marco joined the venetian forces, but he was captured and became a prisoner of war. At the time, there was an intense rivalry between the great trading cities of venice, pisa and genoa. There he wrote his book with help from another prisoner, rustichello, who was a writer of romances. Dec 03, 2019 venetian merchant and adventurer marco polo traveled from europe to asia from 1271 to 1295. One of the worlds greatest explorers was marco polo. Marco polo is important not because he traveled extensively in asiaother thcentury europeans did thatbut because he wrote down his experiences for others to read. He wrote his famous travels after returning home, whilst a prisoner in genoa. May 12, 2020 while his book, the travels of marco polo, brought knowledge of the far east to the european world, marco polo wasnt actually the first european to visit china. Known for his travels to china, the book he wrote about his expeditions, the travels of marco polo, and his sharing of asian spices, marked him as a great influence in the th century and beyond. The wealth of new geographic information recorded by polo was widely used by european navigators.
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. How long did it take marco polo to reach the end of the silk route. About the author marco polo travelled to china in 1271 and spent the next twenty years in the service of kublai khan. What evidence is there that marco polo did make it to china. Still extolling his overlord he claimed to have been a trusted servant of kublais regime polo wrote that the new year was celebrated in cambaluc with a parade of kublais elephants, which. Marco polo, the great explorer, recorded seeing dragons while. Books by marco polo author of the travels goodreads. Marco polo was born in the cityrepublic of venice in 1254. Unfortunately, because marcos book il milione is only. Marco polo was known for the book, travels of marco polo, where he talked. It was translated into multiple languages and read throughout europe. Afterward, he served kublai khan on numerous diplomatic missions in the far east.
Marco polo was known for the book, travels of marco polo, where he talked about asia. In prison he met a writer, and he told the writer about his travels. His travels are recorded in the travels of marco polo also known as book of the marvels of the world and il milione, c. He refused, insisting that everything he said and wrote had all been absolutely true. Aug 31, 2018 by the time of their release in 1299, the two men had completed the book that would make marco polo a household name.
He experienced cultures and learned skills from his father and uncle during the 23year trip. 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. His name appears in the court records of his time in many lawsuits over property and money. Marco polo heavily influenced many explorers to come, including christopher columbus, who was an avid admirer and carried marco polo s book with him on his voyage to the new world. 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. The book starts out with the statement of marco polo, that he is only able to record the very least portion of all the strictly adult rated, but what kid is willing to plow through all of the cultural and historical fiction. Mar 16, 20 there, polo traveled around on various missions. Marco polo 125424, is probably the most famous westerner traveled on the silk road. He wrote il milione, known in english as the travels of marco polo. 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. He apparently returned to private life and business until his death in 24. Marco polo biography life, family, story, death, mother. During the middle ages the italian merchant marco polo spent many years in china.
His travels are recorded in the travels of marco polo also known as book. On the trail of marco polo travel guide at wikivoyage. Rusticello wrote down his words which became a book called the travels of marco polo, and became famous throughout europe. Marco polo was seventeen when he set out for china, and fortyone when he came back. This book inspired adventurers throughout history, including christopher columbus. It is better known, however, as the travels of marco polo. Marco polo was born in 1254 and died on january 8,24. A wellknown traveler and explorer, marco polo headed for china along the silk road in the yuan dynasty 127168. It is possibly one of five manuscripts relating to marco polo s journey that belonged to king charles v of. 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 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. The worldfamous explorer marco polo is credited with many things, but perhaps the greatest is compiling one of the worlds first bestselling travelogues. Though not the first european to explore chinahis father and uncle, among others, had already been. Marco polo s qualifications for being a good leader came from his bravery, pioneership, how he traded with empires, and how he wrote a book about all his travels. In english, this book is also known as the travels of marco polo, and it. Marco polo wrote a book called book of ser marco polo actually i thought he wrote the travels of marco polo, but the thing is about there is so many diffrent answers.
For the next 16 or 17 years the polos lived in the emperors dominions, which included, among other places, cathay now north china and mangi, or manzi now south china. The greatest explorer of marco polo 780 words 4 pages. His account of those travels, known in english as the travels of marco polo, is a classic. They traveled the silk road to china where he met the great ruler kublai khan. The books also include timelines, bibliographies, and suggestions for further research. 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. A sparkling new translation of the most famous travel book ever written marco polos voyages began in 1271 with a visit to china. They may have moved with the court from shangdu, to the winter residence, dadu, or taidu modern beijing. Marco polo 125424 was a venetian merchant believed to have. Marco polos travels was one of the worlds first best. The beginning of the book focuses on marcos first adventure to china with his father and uncle, and overall.
Marco polo owes his fame to a book which he wrote after his return. Polo is sometimes mistakenly identified as the first westerner to reach china, but he wasnt. View images title page of a 1503 spanish edition of the travels of marco polo. Also, the stories he wrote in his book are inspirational, and lead the world to new discoveries. He reached further than any of his predecessors, beyond mongolia to china. Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from europe to asia from 1271 to 1295 and remaining in china for 17 of those years. Marco polo was born in about 1254, probably in venice now in italy. After the fall of kublai kahn, the ming dynasty took over china. The writer recorded the story of his travels, wellknown as the travels of marco polo. 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.
Bravery when marco was only seventeen, his father took him on a dangerous mission to. The published editions of polos book rely on single manuscripts, blend multiple versions together, or add notes to clarify, for example in the english translation by. China used paper money that was made from mulberry. They met for the first time when marco was fifteen years old. Marco polo writes in great detail about his first meeting with kublai khan. The travels of marco polo, dictated by him, described chinese politics, economy, and culture in detail, which greatly aroused the desire of westerner to go to china and had a great effect on the european navigation. They traveled the silk road to china where he met the great ruler. Marco traveled much of china and the east, and his stories were written into a popular book. While marco polo was not the first to write about lands distant and alien to ones own, he wrote of a journey of immense challenge and difficulty. He wrote that the emperor khubilai khaan sent a military expedition to the japanese archipelago to take its gold, but that the expedition failed after a huge storm scattered the mongol fleet.
But did marco polo experience the things he wrote about. He spent the next twenty years travelling in the service of kublai khan. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The travels of marco polo may be perhaps the most challenging travelogue ever put together. In this excellent study, john larner of glasgow university assesses the impact of polo s travels on the intellectual society of his day. Polos book was what we would call a blockbuster hit and made marco polo. There is evidence that marco travelled extensively in the mongol empire and it is fairly certain he visited india. Unfortunately, because marcos book il milione is only incidentally a biography and autobiography, it is exceedingly difficult to ascertain where the polos went and what they did during these years. He wrote of fabulous things, but also of everyday matters relating to. Originally the books name was a description of the world now the book is called the travels of marco polo. Little is known of marco polos life after his return to venice.
He was one of the first europeans to explore central asia and east asia. During this time, he also dictated many of his adventures to rustichello da pisa, a romance writer, who penned the book il milione the million, later traduced into english as the travels of marco polo. Historpedia marco polos effects on the east and the. And he did so in a book he called description of the world. Although he was not the first european to travel to china, he was the first to write about his adventures and so it was his experiences that formed the basis of early european knowledge of. 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. A sparkling new translation of the most famous travel book ever written, in a collectible clothbound edition marco polo s voyages began in 1271 with a visit to china. Marco polo soon was caught up in the war between venice and genoa. Today geographers agree that marco s book is amazingly accurate. In his book he wrote about kublai khans wealthy, new empire that had a postal system.
Many other explorers, including christopher columbus, looked up to him. Marco polo the greatest explorer ever the worlds finest explorer was marco polo is mainly known for the book he wrote about his travels, the travels of marco polo, and his sharing of asian spices, marked him as a great influence all the way back then going onto today still teaching kids about marco polo besides his long. 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. Aug 30, 2017 the travels of marco polo from venice to asia opened up a whole new world to europeans. A sparkling new translation of the most famous travel book ever written, in a collectible clothbound edition marco polos voyages began in 1271 with a visit to china.
The book s contribution to learning was immense, giving medieval europeans new. For the rest of that year in the prison cell marco would tell the 24 year story and rustichello would write it all down. Among his travels were present day china, turkey, india, sri lanka, and mongolia, all of which he wrote about, and then some. The book was written by romance writer rustichello da pisa, who worked from accounts which he had heard from marco polo when they were imprisoned. 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. The italian marco polo is probably the worlds most famous traveler and one of the worlds first travel writers. The travels of marco polo became a very popular book. 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.
Marco polo, the great explorer, recorded seeing dragons. He wrote a book about his travels, called the travels of marco polo. 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. Difficulty that is difficult to appreciate in our modern world. Polo s book, description of the world, offered one of the. Originally the book s name was a description of the world now the book is called the travels of marco polo. Marco polo carries his popular book il milione, known in english as the. Sep 10, 2019 in the englishspeaking world, the book is often known as the travels of marco polo. 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. Later it was part of the library of the french book collector alexandre petau. Introduction marco polo was a merchant in venice before he became the famous explorer we know today.
He was famous for his adventures, and as a result he was treated with unusual courtesy for a prisoner and released within a year. While marco polos book may be able to give us a look into what he witnessed in the many foreign places he went to. He excelled all the other travelers in his determination, his writing, and his influence. When his father and uncle made a second trip to china in 1271, marco went with them. Marco polo was a merchant in venice before he became the famous explorer we know today. Each book tells the story of a persons life and major accomplishments, and discusses the historic events that shaped his or her world. Marco polo was released from prison, but was still a prisoner of war. Marco polo was not the first european to travel to asia.
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