Marco polo, europes greatest ever traveller, suffered badly. Maps he brought back helped to develop european cartography, and he introduced europe to. In armenia he found petroleum, of which there was a fountain whence rises oil in such abundance, that a. View images title page of a 1503 spanish edition of the travels of marco polo. Full text of the travels of marco polo the venetian. I have read everything written on marco polo, and john mans book is, by far, my favorite work on the subject. Marco polo simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Marco polo is the great khans emissary who is commissioned to travel throughout his empire. A wellknown traveler and explorer, marco polo headed for china along the silk road in the yuan dynasty 127168. This friend wrote them down, along with some of his own stories. Buy the travels of marco polo wordsworth classics of world literature new edition by marco polo isbn. Like someone spinning a yarn of his adventures as an intergalactic warrior in the far reaches of outer space, polo told a tale that was almost mythical yet in most particulars absolutely true and accurate. Concerning the kingdoms and marvels of the east, volume 1, ed. It is possibly one of five manuscripts relating to marco polos journey that. Aug 29, 2019 a wellknown traveler and explorer, marco polo headed for china along the silk road in the yuan dynasty 127168.
Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from. Marco polo changed the world by writing a book about his travels from venice to the court of kublai khan in china. The book is polos account of his travels to china, which he calls cathay north china and manji south china. Many other explorers, including christopher columbus, looked up to him. Marco polo was known for the book, travels of marco polo, where he talked about asia. When he was 17 years old he traveled to asia with his father and uncle. Marco was released in 1299 and became a successful merchant in venice. 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. Cambridge university press rq ehkdoi ri school of oriental. Page 115 our notice of those portions of polos travels which deal with countries other than china must be very brief. 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. 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 apparently even served in the administration of the emperor and had visited the imperial court, many times. The story of his journey influenced mapmakers and inspired christopher columbus.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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 joined the war but was captured in 1296 and put in prison. The travels of marco polo wordsworth classics of world. Evoking a remote and longvanished world with colour and immediacy, marcos book revolutionized western ideas about the then unknown east and is still one of the greatest travel accounts of all time.
For the rest of that year in the prison cell marco would tell the 24 year story and rustichello would write it all down. Marco polo, the book of ser marco polo, the venetian. Polos book, description of the world, offered one of the. Marco polo was born in 1254 and died on january 8,24. The polos returned to venice in 1295 with a great many gemstones and jewels. Sadly this book seems to have little or nothing to do with marco polo. 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. He spent his time telling his cellmate all about his travels. Polo, the book of ser marco polo, the venetian, 27.
It is the story of a drainage engineer called henry yule in the 1800s. Marco polo and his travels have had a very large cultural influence on the western world. Marco polos travels along the silk road marco polo in venice marco polo 125424 was a venetian merchant believed to have journeyed across asia at the height of the mongol empire. The polos traveled thousands of miles through unknown and hostile territory in order to reach lands hitherto only vaguely rumored to exist. Jan 09, 2014 marco joined the war but was captured in 1296 and put in prison. As a result, he was appointed as a special envoy of the yuan court.
His account of his journeys inspired other adventurers, such as the explorer christopher columbus, who always carried a copy of polos book. Marco polos influence on later explorers 1614 words. His account of his journeys inspired other adventurers, such as the explorer christopher columbus, who always carried a copy of polo s book. The text is comprised of a prologue and four subsequent books.
Marco polo 125429 has achieved an almost archetypal status as a t. The first great eastern journey of the polos began in 1260. May 31, 2018 the travels of marco polo born in venice in 1254 marco polo travelled with his father and uncle to asia and chronicled his travels. Jan 01, 2004 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.
Marco polos travels was one of the worlds first best. 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. With copious notes, illustrating the route and observations of the author, and comparing them with those of more recent travellers. For this edition the first completely new english translation of the travels in over fifty years nigel cliff has gone back to the original. 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. The illustrations are so beautiful that they are likely to draw in the reader.
He was one of the first europeans to travel into mongolia and china and became famous for his book that told the story of his travels along the silk route to china. The wealth of new geographic information recorded by polo was widely used by european navigators. Because marcos family was wealthy, he received a good education, learning. Marco polos travels was one of the worlds first bestsellers. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Marco polo 125429 has achieved an almost archetypal status as a traveller, and his travels is one of the first great travel books of western literature, outside the ancient world. The travels of marco polo wordsworth classics of world literature. His travels are recorded in the travels of marco polo also known as book. Marco polo s travels influenced mapmakers and inspired christopher columbus, among many other explorers. An authoritative version of marco polos book does not. The travels of marco polo, from valuable early manuscripts recently published by the french society of geography and in italy by count baldelli bone. As marco polo immersed himself in chinese culture, and was a gifted linguist, he quickly gained favor with the great khan.
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. This is not merely another adventure story, it is the adventure story of all time. One of the worlds greatest explorers was marco polo. Page 153 here are also red pearls, large, and of equal value with the white, with many other precious stones. The book included polos personal remembrances as well as stories related to him by others. Introduction marco polo was a merchant in venice before he became the famous explorer we know today. He was one of the first europeans to explore central asia and east asia. Marco polos influence on later explorers 1614 words 123. The life and adventures of marco polo ancient origins. The thcentury book by rustichello book of the marvels of the world later know as the travels of marco polo was a bestseller and had a huge impact on medieval and early modern explorers, missionaries, and merchants. Polos remarkable story became a hugely influential book, the travels of marco polo.
How did marco polos travel influence europe answers. A combination of marco polos gift of observation and the writing style of rusticiano emerged in the final version of marco polos travels. Marco polo is sent to investigate and report back his findings about people, customs, culture, climate, flora and fauna, game, birds and. Map of marco polos travels some of these places may not exist today. The travels of marco polo born in venice in 1254 marco polo travelled with his father and uncle to asia and chronicled his travels.
Originally the books name was a description of the world now the book is called 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. Marco polo, europes greatest ever traveller, suffered badly for what cynics assumed were his outlandish flights of. In part 2, chapter 40, marco polo reports what he describes as huge serpents. What does the travels of marco polo tell us about religion in china at that time. Marco polo s 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. In the englishspeaking world, the book is often known as the travels of marco polo. 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. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and rustichello of pisa free ebook project gutenberg. His father, nicolo, and his uncle, maffeo, were merchants who had seats in the great council and were enrolled with the noblemen of venice. 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.
The travels by marco polo meet your next favorite book. The journey took 3 years after which they arrived in cathay as it was then called and met the grandson of genghis khan, kublai khan. Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from europe to asia from 1271 to 1295 and remaining in china for 17 of those years. They may have moved with the court from shangdu, to the winter residence, dadu, or taidu modern beijing. 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 traveled much of china and the east, and his stories were written into a. Marco polo biography life, family, story, death, mother. Marco polos travels influenced mapmakers and inspired christopher columbus, among many other explorers. Even then, the city where he was bornvenicewas a center for commerce and trading in the mediterranean region.
During his travels, polo spent over 17 years in china. Aug 30, 2017 the travels of marco polo from venice to asia opened up a whole new world to europeans. Marco polo, the great explorer, recorded seeing dragons. Marco polo by laurence bergreen books the guardian. This trip, which would end up taking 24 years since they stayed for very long in china, is the one chronicled by marco polo in his book. Later it was part of the library of the french book collector alexandre. The italian marco polo is probably the worlds most famous traveler and one of the worlds first travel writers. Marco polo 125429 has achieved an almost archetypal status as a traveller, and his travels is one of the first great travel books of western literature. You will find that there is a complete timeline of marco poloas travels in the book of marco polo. Marco polo, the great explorer, recorded seeing dragons while. In china, the polos were well received by kublai khan. What is the main message of the travels of marco polo. The book was cowritten by rustichello da pisa, an italian writer who met polo while the two were in prison in genoa, italy.
Marco also had another uncle who lived in constantinople and crimea and was engaged in commerce. This book inspired many explorers including christopher columbus. The life and accomplishments of marco polo 1471 words 6 pages. 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. His account of those travels, known in english as the travels of marco polo, is a classic.
Marco polo, venetian merchant and adventurer who traveled from europe to asia in 127195, remaining in china for 17 of those years. Afterward, he served kublai khan on numerous diplomatic missions in the far east. Map of marco polo s travels some of these places may not exist today. The journeys of marco polo and their impactoverviewmarco polo c. The travels of marco polo the famous explorer marco polo was born in the year 1254 to a family of merchants. A sparkling new translation of the most famous travel book ever written marco polos voyages began in 1271 with a visit to china. The book included polo s personal remembrances as well as stories related to him by others. The travels of marco polo is one of a handful of books that can truly be said to have changed the world. Full text of the travels of marco polo the venetian see other formats. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and. The resulting book, the travels of marco polo, soon spread across the continent. The travels of marco polo presents a broad and wideranging panorama of kubilai khans thirteenth century empire.
Marco was a wealthy man and married the daughter of a leading merchant. In the travels of marco polo, rustichello recounts the explorers encounters with the people of these lands and the experiences he had that gave him a personal understanding of the various. Everyman s library edited by ernest rhys travel and topography marco polo s travels with an introduction by john masefield the publishers of jlbefr will be pleased to send freely to all applicants a list of the published and projected volumes to be comprised under. The travels of marco polo by marco polo librarything. Sep 10, 2019 in the englishspeaking world, the book is often known as the travels of marco polo. He jocularly said i did not write half of what i saw, for i. When traveling in asia, he became a favorite of kublai khan, the mongol emperor. Unfortunately, because marcos book il milione is only. 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. They traveled the silk road to china where he met the great ruler kublai khan. 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.