Marco Polo known for
The Travels of Marco Polo
What was Marco Polo's famous for?
Polo was known for the book The Travels of Marco Polo, which describes his voyage to and experiences in Asia. Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from Europe to Asia from 1271 to 1295 and remaining in China for 17 of those years.
What was Marco Polo's greatest achievement?
Some of the major accomplishments that Marco Polo had were that he met the famous author, Rustichello, he wrote about Marco's travels and explorations in the book, "The Book of Travels", from this book many Europeans learned about China and its currency and what it used things for, this book also stimulated interest in ...
How did Marco Polo change the world?
It was Marco Polo's book of his travels that introduced Europeans to China and Central Asia. 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 the country.
What is Marco Polo's legacy?
The information in his book proved vital to European geographic understanding and inspired countless explorers — including Christopher Columbus, who, it is said, took a copy of Polo's book with him in 1492. "About fifty years after Polo's death, his work began to be utilized in the making of maps," said Abernethy.
What did Marco Polo do on the Silk Road?
Marco described the vast Asian trading network and, in particular, the thriving silk, iron, and salt industries. He also described the foreign concept of paper money as well as Chinese inventions such as porcelain pottery (China).
Why is Marco Polo important today?
His account of the Orient provided the western world with its first clear picture of the East's geography and ethnic customs. His travels enabled him to gain expertise in a topic.
How did Marco Polo influence Christopher Columbus?
The geographical descriptions in his writing generated a basis for Columbus' scientific calculations for his expedition and the explicit depictions of the luxury of Cipangu and Cathay, flawed though they were, created a strong motivation for Columbus.
How did Marco Polo influence the Renaissance?
Marco Polo influenced the Renaissance period by bringing back inventions and ideas from his travels. Some things he introduced to Europe were; Pasta, Paper Money, Coal, Lenses, Gunpowder, Silk and Spices. Pasta: Used in many Italian recipes. Paper Money: Revolutionized finance and commerce in Europe.
What was Marco Polo’s family like?
The Polos were likely shrewd, alert, and courageous; they traded with the Middle East and acquired considerable wealth and prestige. Marco Polo’s f...
What did Marco Polo do?
Marco Polo was 17 or 18 when he began his journey from Venice to the farthest reaches of the Mongol empire. Living among the emperor’s dominions, w...
Why was Marco Polo so influential?
Marco Polo’s account in Il milione opened new vistas to the European mind, and, as Western horizons expanded, Polo’s legacy grew as well. The wealt...
What were Marco Polo’s other accomplishments in Asia?
Kublai Khan sent Marco Polo on fact-finding missions to distant parts of the empire, including visits to Yunnan (and possibly Myanmar [Burma]) and...
Who was Marco Polo?
1254, Venice [Italy]—died January 8, 1324, Venice), Venetian merchant and adventurer who traveled from Europe to Asia in 1271–95, remaining in China for 17 of those years, and whose Il milione (“The Million”), known in English as the Travels of Marco Polo, is a classic of travel literature.
What were Marco Polo's other accomplishments in Asia?
What were Marco Polo’s other accomplishments in Asia? Kublai Khan sent Marco Polo on fact-finding missions to distant parts of the empire, including visits to Yunnan (and possibly Myanmar [Burma]) and through southeastern China to “Quinsay” (now Hangzhou).
Where did the Polos travel to?
Leaving Badakhshān, the Polos proceeded toward the Pamirs, but the route they followed to cross these Central Asian highlands remains uncertain. Descending on the northeastern side of the chain, they reached Kashi (“Cascar”) in what is now the Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang, China.
How old was Marco Polo when he started his journey?
Marco Polo was 17 or 18 when he began his journey from Venice to the farthest reaches of the Mongol empire. Living among the emperor’s dominions, with his father and uncle, as an advisor and emissary for 16 or 17 years, he returned to Venice by way of Hormuz (aboard ship) and Constantinople (overland).
Where was Marco Polo's letter presented?
Marco Polo, his uncle, and his father presenting the pope's letter at the court of Kublai Khan, detail of an illuminated manuscript; in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, England. © Photos.com/Getty Images Plus.
Who was Marco Polo's father?
Marco Polo’s father, Niccolò, and uncle, Maffeo, continued this legacy. Traveling east as far as Mongol emperor Kublai Khan ’s summer residence, Shangdu, they established friendly relations with him before returning to Europe as his ambassadors.
Who was the pope who was elected Pope by the Polos?
The Polos had been on the road for only a few days when they heard that their friend Teobaldo had been elected pope as Gregory X. Returning to Acre, they were given proper credentials, and two friars were assigned to accompany them, though they abandoned the Polos shortly after the expedition resumed. Marco Polo.
Who was Marco Polo?
Italian explorer and merchant noted for travel to central and eastern Asia. Marco Polo. Polo wearing a Tartar outfit, print from the 18th century. Born. September 15, 1254. Venice, Republic of Venice. Died. January 8, 1324 (aged 69) Venice, Republic of Venice.
What is the nickname of Marco Polo?
Nickname Milione. Corte Seconda del Milion is still named after the nickname of Polo, Il Milione. Marco Polo is most often mentioned in the archives of the Republic of Venice as Marco Paulo de confinio Sancti Iohannis Grisostomi, which means Marco Polo of the contrada of St John Chrysostom Church .
What happened to Marco Polo in 1295?
Marco Polo returned to Venice in 1295 with his fortune converted into gemstones. At this time, Venice was at war with the Republic of Genoa. Polo armed a galley equipped with a trebuchet to join the war. He was probably caught by Genoans in a skirmish in 1296, off the Anatolian coast between Adana and the Gulf of Alexandretta (and not during the battle of Curzola (September 1298), off the Dalmatian coast, a claim which is due to a later tradition (16th century) recorded by Giovanni Battista Ramusio ).
Why was Milione nicknamed Milione?
However, since also his father Niccolò was nicknamed Milione, 19th-century philologist Luigi Foscolo Benedetto was persuaded that Milione was a shortened version of Emilione, and that this nickname was used to distinguish Niccolò's and Marco's branch from other Polo families.
What is the book of Marco Polo called?
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' ".
How many daughters did Marco Polo have?
They had three daughters, Fantina (married Marco Bragadin), Bellela (married Bertuccio Querini), and Moreta. Pietro d'Abano, philosopher, doctor and astrologer. Pietro d'Abano philosopher, doctor and astrologer based in Padua, reports having spoken with Marco Polo about what he had observed in the vault of the sky during his travels.
What is Marco Polo's role in Uncharted 2?
Polo appears as a Great Explorer in the strategy video game Civilization Revolution (2008). Marco Polo's 1292 voyage from China is used as a backdrop for the plot of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009), where Nathan Drake (the protagonist) searches for the Cintamani Stone, which was from the fabled city of Shambhala.
What are some interesting facts about Marco Polo?
10 Facts About Marco Polo. Explore the real Marco Polo and decipher the man from the many myths. Explore the real Marco Polo and decipher the man from the many myths. Venetian explorer Marco Polo spent more than two decades in the service of Kublai Khan, one of the greatest rulers in history who reigned over Mongolia for 34 years.
Where did Marco Polo meet Marco Polo?
The two met while in prison, where Polo dictated the stories of his travels and his adventures at the court of Kublai Khan. [Marco was a prisoner of war, having been captured in a battle between Venice and its rival city-state Genoa in 1298.]
How long did Marco Polo travel?
Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from Europe to Asia from 1271 to 1295 and remaining in China for 17 of those years. Take a look at real life of this legendary explorer to separate fact from the fiction.
How old was Polo when he left Venice?
Polo was only 15 years old when he left Venice on the great adventure that took him to the court of Kublai Khan. His father Niccolò and his uncle Maffeo Polo had made the journey previously. Polo barely knew his father, who had spent Polo's childhood as a traveling merchant when they left on their quest.
How many languages did Polo speak?
Polo knew four languages. In addition to his native tongue, Polo wrote that he knew four languages. He never elaborated on which four they were, but from his writings, historians have surmised they were Mongolian, Persian, Arabic, and Turkish — not Chinese.
Where did Marco Polo observe sheep?
In The Travels of Marco Polo, he mentions observing the mountain sheep on the Pamir Plateau in Badakhshan [now northeastern Afghanistan] . Of course, the sheep weren't named after him in his lifetime. The first scientific mention of Ovis ammon polii was in 1841 by zoologist Edward Blyth.
Who was the Venetian explorer who spent more than two decades in the service of Kublai Khan?
Venetian explorer Marco Polo spent more than two decades in the service of Kublai Khan, one of the greatest rulers in history who reigned over Mongolia for 34 years. Polo was known for the book The Travels of Marco Polo, which describes his voyage to and experiences in Asia.
What was Marco Polo famous for?
What was Marco Polo most famous for? By: Pedro. Marco Polo was very famous for his travels and stories he told from Ancient China. He was considered very "Brave" because he sailed the Ocean of "Risk" of falling out of Earth. Back then thought Earth was flat. Through his travels through ancient China he met a very famous Leader of a Clan.
What languages did Marco Polo speak?
Marco Polo was fluent in four languages. Which are Latin,Chinese,Persian, And Mongolian.
Did Marco Polo go on special missions?
They say that he went on "Special" missions that Europeans did not see again till the last Century. His book " The Travels Of Marco Polo" inspired many young travelers and Explorers; Including our very own Christopher Collumbus. His Father was a rich Merchant and a very good liar. Marco Polo developed his father skills.
Was Marco Polo's father a good liar?
His Father was a rich Merchant and a very good liar. Marco Polo developed his father skills. He fooled a large amount of people into believing that he's seen one or more of things he possibly could haven't have seen. He was wise to leave his clan; There leader Kublai Khan was withering to old age.
What are some interesting facts about Marco Polo?
Top 10 Facts about Marco Polo. In a time when travelling to the neighboring town took days, Marco Polo was among the few Europeans who were able to make the gruesome journey to Central Asia and China. He came with tales from the mystical region highlighting the court of the legendary Mongol emperor Kublai Khan , ...
What did Marco Polo see?
Marco Polo mystified some creatures he saw. Rhinoceros – Wikipedia. While in Asia Marco Polo encountered strange creatures that were unknown to him like the elephants, monkeys and many more creatures. When he came back to Venice he mistook these creatures with creatures from myths and legends.
How long did Marco Polo stay in Kublai Khan?
The trip was initially meant to be a brief stay at the court of Kublai Khan but it ended up lasting for more than 20 years in which Marco Polo got to travel and explore the great empire of Kublai Khan. It is believed that this was probably Marco Polo’s first long trip away from the home he grew up in.
How old was Marco Polo when he met his father?
At 15 years of age is when Marco Polo physically met his estranged father and uncle for the first time. The pair stayed in Italy until 1271 when they ventured into the sea and headed East once age. Macro Polo accompanied the two men whom he briefly got to know between 1269 and 1271. 3.
What did Europeans believe about unicorns?
For instance in 13 th century Europeans believed in the existence of unicorns. They described unicorns as horse-like creatures with horns. However, upon seeing an Asian rhinoceros Marco Polo confused it with a unicorn and declared that unicorns were not majestic creatures.
What is a game named after Marco Polo?
9. There is a well-known kid’s game named after him. Marco Polo game – Wikipedia. It is a game where one child is “it” and that child closes his or her eyes while trying to catch another player. The “it” child shouts the word “Marco” while the other kids yell “Polo” to aid the “it” child to move to their direction.
What was Marco Polo's first expedition to Asia?
Marco Polo’s first expedition to Asia was with strangers. Polos leaving Constantinople – Wikipedia. In 1271 Marco Polo joined his father and uncle whom he barely knew for their more extensive second trip to Asia. Before Marco’s birth the two had travelled to Asia, therefore Marco grew up not knowing either one of them.
Who Was Marco Polo?
Most of us famously know Marco Polo as a famed adventurer who traveled from Europe to Asia, explored China, and wrote about it in his book The Travels of Marco. But what do we know about his life or his childhood?
What Did Marco Polo Do?
Initially, Marco Polo was an explorer and jewel merchant from Venice, traveling and working with his father and uncle. When they finally reached Khan’s empire, the ruler accepted them and gave them access to his empire and important positions in his court.
When Did Marco Polo Go to China?
Marco Polo began his voyage in China in 1271, as a teenager in the company of his father and his uncle. Through their journey, they were forced to sometimes go through harsh and challenging territories. Their travel took them from Armenia to Persia, to Afghanistan, to Pamirs.
Why Did Marco Polo Explore China?
Initially, Marco’s exploration of China was inspired by the stories that his father and uncle told him and the family when they returned. During his travel, he became intrigued by Asia and especially China, in terms of its culture and civilization.
What Did Marco Polo Discover in China?
Marco Polo is considered to be the first European to travel and explore so far into the East. He has traveled for over 20 years, going farther than any explorer before him. Based on his extensive travels through China, Marco Polo experienced and discovered many things.
What Did Marco Polo Bring Back from China?
When Marco Polo finally returned to Europe, he is said to have brought a lot back with him. He is credited for introducing the then Western world to Chinese technology and civilization that was more advanced at the time. It is believed that his accounts influenced most of the changes and developments that later occurred in China.
When Did Marco Polo Die?
After his long journey and adventure around China and across Asia, Marco Polo finally returned home after 24 years. He married, raised a family of three daughters, and continued with his family’s business for another 25 years. He finally died in January 1324, in Venice Italy. In his last days, many of his fans came from far and wide to see him.
Overview
Marco Emilio Polo was 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 to Europeans the then mysterious culture and inner workings of the Eastern world, including the weal…
Life
Marco Polo was born in 1254 in Venice, capital of the Venetian Republic. His father, Niccolò Polo, had his household in Venice and left Marco's pregnant mother in order to travel to Asia with his brother Maffeo Polo. Their return to Italy in order to "go to Venice and visit their household" is described in The Travels of Marco Polo as follows: "...they departed from Acre and went to Negro…
The Travels of Marco Polo
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. A total of about 150 copies in various languages are known to exist. Before the availability of printing press, errors were frequently made during copying and translating, so there are many difference…
Scholarly analyses
Sceptics have long wondered whether Marco Polo wrote his book based on hearsay, with some pointing to omissions about noteworthy practices and structures of China as well as the lack of details on some places in his book. While Polo describes paper money and the burning of coal, he fails to mention the Great Wall of China, tea, Chinese characters, chopsticks, or footbinding. Hi…
Legacy
Other lesser-known European explorers had already travelled to China, such as Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, but Polo's book meant that his journey was the first to be widely known. Christopher Columbus was inspired enough by Polo's description of the Far East to want to visit those lands for himself; a copy of the book was among his belongings, with handwritten annotations. Bento de Góis, …
See also
• Chinese expeditions to the Sinhala Kingdom
• Chronology of European exploration of Asia
• Rabban Bar Sauma, Uyghur Nestorian Christian monk from Zhongdu (Khanbaliq, modern Beijing) who led a Mongol diplomatic mission to medieval European monarchs and the pope, visiting Greece, Italy, and France
Bibliography
• Marco Polo, Marci Poli Veneti de Regionibus Orientalibus, Simon Grynaeus Johannes Huttichius, Novus Orbis Regionum ac Insularum Veteribus Incognitarum, Basel, 1532, pp. 350–418.
• Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Marco Polo" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Further reading
• Marco Polo (1918). Marsden, William (ed.). The Travels of Marco Polo. London: J.M. Dent & Sons. p. 461.
• Hart, H. Henry (1948). Marco Polo, Venetian Adventurer. Kessinger Publishing.
• Dalrymple, William (1989). In Xanadu.