The travels of marco polo

On his return to the west he was made a prisoner of war and met rustichello of. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and. Polo explores everywhere from baghdad, armenia and russia to the caspian sea, the gobi desert and the small fishing villages of china, describing the geography, architecture and customs of. Marco polo and his travels have had a very large cultural influence on the western world. Asia description and travel early works to 1800 subject. What mythical creature did marco polo claim to find. This signet classic edition is the most thoroughly annotated popular edition ever published of the. Publication date 1908, 1929 printing usage public domain topics voyages and travels, asia description and travel, mongolia history. In addition to reporting a sighting of the mythical unicorn, marco polo also claimed to have seen a. For some scholars, novelists, filmmakers, and dramatists, he was a brilliant young courtier, a man of prodigious memory, a most conscientious observer, and a successful official at the. He recorded his adventures in a book published as the.

Marco polos records of his travels and adventures are in general authentic and somewhat reliable, however, they need to be read with care because of some fabrications, exaggerations, and omissions. The book is a biographical and somewhat confused recounting of the italian explorers thcentury expedition to the middleeast and china. When he was 17 years old he traveled to asia with his father and uncle. His account of those travels, known in english as the travels of marco polo, is a classic. Peter harris is the editor of the everymans pocket poets volume zen poems. Nigel cliff was previously a theatre and film critic for the times and a regular writer for the economist, among other publications, and now writes historical nonfiction books. Marco polo was a venetian explorer known for the book the travels of marco polo, which describes his voyage to and experiences in asia.

Messer marco polo asked a great many questions of the people of that city as to those three magi, but never one could he find that knew aught of the matter, except that these were three kings who were buried there in days of old. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project. Marco polo was born in venice, italy on september 15, 1254. His travels are recorded in the travels of marco polo also known as book of the marvels of the world and il milione, c. How marco polo went to china marco polo was born in venice in the year 1254.

Marco also had another uncle who lived in constantinople and crimea and was engaged in commerce. Polo explores everywhere from baghdad, armenia and russia to the caspian sea, the gobi desert and the small fishing villages of china, describing the geography, architecture and customs of these exotic places. It is possibly one of five manuscripts relating to marco polos journey that belonged to king charles v of. Marco polo, venetian merchant and adventurer who traveled from europe to asia in 127195, remaining in china for 17 of those years. The travels of marco polo, from valuable early manuscripts recently published by the french society of geography and in italy by count baldelli bone. Written in the th century, the travels of marco polo details italian explorer marco polo s movements through asia between 1271 and 1295. Colin thubron is an awardwinning author of novels and travel books, including behind the wall. What is the main message of the travels of marco polo. The wealth of new geographic information recorded by polo was widely used by european navigators. The travels of marco polobook 2chapter 49 wikisource. Marco polo 125424, is probably the most famous westerner traveled on the silk road. Milton rugoff was a longtime editor for several publishing houses.

Presents the accounts of the authors travels that provide a glimpse of the different societies he encountered. He excelled all the other travelers in his determination, his writing, and his influence. His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to china, after which he served the kubilai khan on numerous diplomatic missions. He wrote his famous travels after returning home, whilst a prisoner in genoa. The travels of marco polo is one of a handful of books that can truly be said to have changed the world. However, at a place three days journey distant he heard of what i am going to tell you. While in captivity, he dictated the travels of marco polo to a fellow prisoner. Marco polo was supposedly born in the venetian republic, in what is now venice, italy.

The travels of marco polo born in venice in 1254 marco polo travelled with his father and uncle to asia and chronicled his travels. There are also stories and various documents which point to his ancestry originating in korcula, croatia. 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. He recorded his adventures in a book published as the travels of marco polo. 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 travels of marco polobook 1chapter wikisource. Written in the th century, the travels of marco polo details italian explorer marco polos movements through asia between 1271 and 1295. 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 lake appears to communicate with the mekong, and the story goes, no doubt fabulous, that boats have come up to tali from the ocean.

The travels of marco polo is the classic account of marco polos journey to china from venice, and his discoveries as an emissary to the great kublai khan. The travels of marco polo complete mobi classics ebook. They may have moved with the court from shangdu, to the winter residence, dadu, or taidu modern beijing. Today we know that marcos account is not only an amazing narrative of strange experiences, but the richest and most reliable picture of the near east, india, and the orient of the middle ages. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and rustichello of pisa. The travels of marco polo great tales from long ago by felicity trotman, daniel woods and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from. The book was cowritten by rustichello da pisa, an italian writer who met polo while the two were in prison in genoa, italy. He was well educated, and learned merchant subjects including foreign currency and the handling of cargo ships. 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. The travels of marco polo the venetian by polo, marco, 125423 marsden, william, 17541836. This is not merely another adventure story, it is the adventure story of all time. Photographic technology had not yet been developed at the time of marco polos thcentury travels, and the explorers personal accounts were converted into drawings. The travels marco polo was the most famous traveller of his time.

Search for library items search for lists search for. The travels of marco polo volume 1 the project gutenberg ebook of the travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and rustichello of pisa this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. The polos traveled thousands of miles through unknown and hostile territory in order to reach lands hitherto only vaguely rumored to exist. In the bottom left exotic creatures evoke the marvellous lands for which they are headed. Complete by marco polo and rustichello of pisa, translated by henry yulethe travels of marco polo is the usual english title of marco polos travel book, nicknamed il milione or le livre des merveilles the book of wonders. He is the author of a number of books, including a harvest of world folk tales, marco polos adventures in china, the great travelers, and the beechers. 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 text is comprised of a prologue and four subsequent books. With copious notes, illustrating the route and observations of the author, and comparing them with those of more recent travellers. Marco polo travelled to china in 1271 and spent the next twenty years in the service of kublai 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 magnificent painting illustrates the opening of marco polo s travels, and shows marco, his father and his uncle on the brink of their departure from venice in 1271, bound for kublai khans xanadu.