Damon Runyon
American writer (1880-1946)
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant, explorer, and writer who traveled extensively through Asia along the Silk Road in the late 13th century. His detailed accounts of the East’s geography, customs, and innovations, including porcelain, gunpowder, and paper money, provided Europeans with their first comprehensive look into China, Persia, and other Asian societies.
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About the Marco Polo
Marco Polowas a Venetian merchant, explorer and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in The Travels of Marco Polo (also known as Book of the Marvels of the World and Il Milione, c. 1300), a book that described the then-mysterious culture and inner workings of the Eastern world, including the wealth and great size of the Mongol Empire and China under the Yuan dynasty, giving Europeans their first comprehensive look into China, Persia, India, Japan, and other Asian societies.
Born in Venice, Marco learned the mercantile trade from his father and his uncle, Niccolo and Maffeo, who travelled through Asia and met Kublai Khan. In 1269, they returned to Venice to meet Marco for the first time. The three of them embarked on an epic journey to Asia, exploring many places along the Silk Road until they reached “Cathay”. They were received by the royal court of Kublai Khan, who was impressed by Marco’s intelligence and humility. Marco was appointed to serve as Kublai’s foreign emissary, and he was sent on many diplomatic missions throughout the empire and Southeast Asia, visiting present-day Burma, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. As part of this appointment, Marco also travelled extensively inside China, living in the emperor’s lands for 17 years and seeing many things previously unknown to Europeans. Around 1291, the Polos offered to accompany the Mongol princess Kokochin to Persia; they arrived there around 1293. After leaving the princess, they travelled overland to Constantinople and then to Venice, returning home after 24 years. At this time, Venice was at war with Genoa. Marco joined the war effort on behalf of Venice and was captured by the Genoans. While imprisoned, he dictated stories of his travels to Rustichello da Pisa, a cellmate. He was released in 1299, became a wealthy merchant, married, and had three children. He died in 1324 and was buried in the church of San Lorenzo in Venice.
Though he was not the first European to reach China, Marco Polo was the first to leave a detailed chronicle of his experience. His account provided the Europeans with a clear picture of the East’s geography and ethnic customs, and it included the first Western record of porcelain, gunpowder, paper money, and some Asian plants and exotic animals. His narrative inspired Christopher Columbus and many other travellers. There is substantial literature based on Polo’s writings; he also influenced European cartography, leading to the introduction of the Catalan Atlas and the Fra Mauro map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant, explorer, and writer who traveled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295.
Marco Polo’s account provided Europeans with their first comprehensive look into the geography, ethnic customs, and innovations of China, Persia, India, Japan, and other Asian societies, including porcelain, gunpowder, and paper money.
Marco Polo lived in the emperor’s lands for 17 years, serving as Kublai Khan’s foreign emissary and traveling extensively within China.
Marco Polo embarked on the journey to Asia with his father and uncle, who were experienced merchants, in order to learn the mercantile trade and explore the mysterious cultures of the East.
Marco Polo’s detailed chronicle of his travels inspired Christopher Columbus and many other explorers, and his narrative also influenced European cartography, leading to the creation of the Catalan Atlas and the Fra Mauro map.
After returning to Venice, Marco Polo joined the war effort on behalf of his hometown and was captured by the Genoans. While imprisoned, he dictated stories of his travels to a cellmate, Rustichello da Pisa, which were later published as ‘The Travels of Marco Polo’.
No, Marco Polo was not the first European to reach China, but he was the first to leave a detailed chronicle of his experiences and provide Europeans with a comprehensive understanding of the East.