It could be circulated only one copy at a time, since printing in europe did not begin until almost 200 years later. 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 was nicknamed marco of the millions because his venetian countrymen took the grandiose stories of his travels to be exaggerated, if not outright lies. In part 2, chapter 40, marco polo reports what he describes as huge serpents. It was translated into multiple languages and read throughout europe. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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. Full text of the travels of marco polo the venetian see other formats. 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.
He jocularly said i did not write half of what i saw, for i. Marco polo author marco polo was born in 1254, joining his father on a journey to china in 1271. He was one of the first europeans to explore central asia and east asia. Marco polo is remembered thanks to a colorful and popular narrative about his eastward voyage, known simply as the travels of marco. Cambridge university press rq ehkdoi ri school of oriental. 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. The book helped europeans to learn about asian peoples and goods. He excelled all the other travelers in his determination, his writing, and his influence. Marco polo was born in venice, one of the most successful trading cities.
They traveled the silk road to china where he met the great ruler kublai khan. 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. That book reminded me that id read jennings the journeyer several decades ago. Marco polo was born in 1254 and died on january 8,24. He reached further than any of his predecessors, beyond mongolia to china. 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 asia between 1271 and 1295, and his experiences at the court of kublai khan. A journey through china and shadow of the silk road.
After his travels he became a prisoner of war in genoa, where he wrote a book called description of the world divasament dou monde, which we know today at the travels of marco polo. The journeyer by gary jennings goodreads share book. His father and uncle often traded into the west coast of mediterranean. 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 carries his popular book il milione, known in english as the travels of marco polo, in this 19thcentury mosaic in the doriatursi palace, genoa. Today geographers agree that marcos book is amazingly accurate. Marco polo and his travels have had a very large cultural influence on the western world. 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, venetian merchant and adventurer who traveled from europe to asia in 127195, remaining in china for 17 of those years. The thcentury book by rustichello book of the marvels of the world. 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.
Marco polo was born in the cityrepublic of venice in 1254. Aug 30, 2017 the travels of marco polo from venice to asia opened up a whole new world to europeans. 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 venetian merchant born in 1254, who is famous for being the first european to travel across asia and record his travels not the first european to travel across asia. The book was cowritten by rustichello da pisa, an italian writer who met polo while the two were in prison in genoa, italy. Marco polo travelling, miniature from the book the travels of marco polo il milione, originally published during polos lifetime c. If the task is properly done, no one can fail to follow marco polo from his venetian home, across the entire continent of asia to the court of kublai khan, and in his various adventures and journeys while in the faroff orient, without eager curiosity and everdeepening interest. It was only when prompted by rustichello that marco polo dictated the story of his travels, known in his time as the description of the world or the travels of marco polo. His account of his journeys inspired other adventurers, such as the explorer christopher columbus, who always carried a copy of polos book.
The travels of marco polo became a very popular book. 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. 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. 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. There is evidence that marco travelled extensively in the mongol empire and it is fairly certain he visited india. 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.
Jan 01, 2004 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The book included polos personal remembrances as well as stories related to him by others. The life and adventures of marco polo ancient origins. I am a professor and am preparing a lecture on marco polo and the china that he visited i have also followed his route in reality. His uncle, maffeo, and his father, niccolo, were wealthy jewel merchants that.
Marco polo, the great explorer, recorded seeing dragons while. 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. Dec 16, 2016 book of marco polo by marco polo restaurant book of marco polo by marco polo hotel book of marco polo by marco polo club book of marco polo by marco. 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. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and rustichello of pisa free ebook project gutenberg. How marco polo went to china marco polo was born in venice in the year 1254. The book of ser marco polo, the venetian, concerning the kingdoms and marvels of the east, volume 1 audiobook rustichello da pisa 1272 0 and. 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. As marco polo immersed himself in chinese culture, and was a gifted linguist, he quickly gained favor with the great khan. The text is comprised of a prologue and four subsequent books. Written in the th century, the travels of marco polo details italian explorer marco polos movements through asia between 1271 and 1295. Marco polo 125429 has achieved an almost archetypal status as a t. Marco polo changed the world by writing a book about his travels from venice to the court of kublai khan in china. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and.
He spent the next twenty years travelling in the service of 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. Marco polo, the great explorer, recorded seeing dragons. Introduction marco polo was a merchant in venice before he became the famous explorer we know today. Marco polos travels was one of the worlds first bestsellers. Marco polos travels was one of the worlds first best. 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. Almost 750 years later, acclaimed author john man traveled in marco polo s footsteps to xanadu then on to beijing and through modern china in search of the history behind the legend. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. His travels and adventures was first published in 1880 and towle passed away in 1893. In fact, in the travel book that i read last month about the travels of ferdinand magellan, this book was mentioned several times as the magellan fleet brought this book.
His father, nicolo, and his uncle, maffeo, were merchants who had seats in the great council and were enrolled with the noblemen of venice. His account of those travels, known in english as the travels of marco polo, is a classic. Marco polo simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. I just read italo calvinos invisible cities which is a short book about an encounter between marco polo and kublai khan. He wrote his famous travels whilst a prisoner in genoa. A combination of marco polos gift of observation and the writing style of rusticiano emerged in the final version of marco polos travels. There is a story about children following him around saying, messer polo, tell us another.
It was the same case for christopher columbus because both the world navigators came after the travels of marco polo, his father nicolo and his uncle maffeo that happened this. Marco polo was known for the book, travels of marco polo, where he talked about asia. 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 travels of marco polo is one of a handful of books that can truly be said to have changed the world. When any of the cards are torn or spoiled, the owner carries them to the place whence they were issued, and receives fresh ones, with a deduction of 3 per cent. The year 1998 marks the sevenhundredth anniversary of the initial composition of the book. The travels of marco polo classics of world literature.
Map of marco polo s travels some of these places may not exist today. Nov 11, 2014 marco polo also revealed the wonders of xanadu, the summer capital of mongol emperor kublai khan. Marco polos famous travelogue was penned in prison. Marco polo 1254 january 89, 24 was an italian merchant, explorer, and writer, born in the republic of venice. Marco polo carries his popular book il milione, known in english as the travels of marco polo, in this 19thcentury mosaic in the doriatursi. 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. The travels recounts polos journey to the eastern court of kublai khan, the chieftain of the mongol empire which covered the asian continent, but which was. 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. A sparkling new translation of one of the greatest travel books ever written. They may have moved with the court from shangdu, to the winter residence, dadu, or taidu modern beijing. Many other explorers, including christopher columbus, looked up to him. This is not merely another adventure story, it is the adventure story of all time. Colin thubron is an awardwinning author of novels and travel books, including behind the wall. This story i have often heard when i was a young ster from the illustrious messer hasparo malpiero, a gentle man of very great age, and a senator of eminent virtue and.
It was only after polos death that people realized the book contained the truth about his travels and what he witnessed. Buy the travels of marco polo classics of world literature new edition by polo, marco, colbert, benjamin, griffith, tom, marsden, william isbn. Page 58 in this manner the great sire possesses all the gold, silver, pearls, and precious stones in his dominions. Read more read less inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. Full text of the travels of marco polo the venetian. The travels of marco polo born in venice in 1254 marco polo travelled with his father and uncle to asia and chronicled his travels. Marco polo was born in a merchant family in venice in 1254. And although marco polo became famous in his own lifetime through the grand tales he told, he himself wasnt necessarily taken seriously, either. Aug 29, 2019 a wellknown traveler and explorer, marco polo headed for china along the silk road in the yuan dynasty 127168. Marco polo also revealed the wonders of xanadu, the summer capital of mongol emperor kublai khan. The story of his journey influenced mapmakers and inspired christopher columbus. His travels and adventures and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. 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 also had another uncle who lived in constantinople and crimea and was engaged in commerce.
Larner, john 1999 marco polo and the discovery of the world londen. Mar 18, 2012 a couple notes on the travels of marco polo many scholars do not take the book seriously at all. Jump to navigation jump to search 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. This story of the return of marco polo with his father and uncle comes from his very first editor, john baptist ramusio, who, in his collection of voyages and travels says. The polos traveled thousands of miles through unknown and hostile territory in order to reach lands hitherto only vaguely rumored to exist. 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. During the middle ages the italian merchant marco polo spent many years in china. His father and uncles were merchants who traveled to distant lands to trade. Two years later, the three of them set out on a journey to cathay. Marco polo biography life, family, story, death, mother. A sparkling new translation of the most famous travel book ever written marco polos voyages began in 1271 with a visit to china. Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from. His account of the wealth of cathay china, the might of the mongol empire, and the exotic customs of india and africa made his book the bestseller soon after. In the book he mentions noodles and some have used this as evidence that he brought them back with him from china, having discovered this new kind of food.
The wealth of new geographic information recorded by polo was widely used by european navigators. As the first european to claim that he had been to china and back not to mention. 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. 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. Polo s mother died when he was very young and he was raised by his aunt and uncle. 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 polos seminal account of his journeys in the east, in a. His father and uncle returned from their silk road travels when marco was about 15 years old. Polo might have been forgotten had his book, the travels of marco polo, not engaged widespread interest. The travels of marco polobook 4chapter 4 wikisource. It is possibly one of five manuscripts relating to marco polos journey that belonged to king charles v of.