Lienzo by SAUL DIAZ INFANTE RUIZ

MARCO POLO'S JOURNEY

ruizdiaz1 — 2024-04-22 18:40:23 UTC

Who was Marco Polo?

ruizdiaz1 — 2024-04-22 18:46:07 UTC

Born in 1254, one of the most well-known Europeans to travel the silk road in Medieval times was Marco Polo (1245-1324), a merchant, explorer and writer who recorded his travels in the book “Livres des merveilles du monde” (Book of the world’s marvels), published around the year 1300. In English, this book is also known as The Travels of Marco Polo, and it describes – among other things – Polo’s travels along the Silk Road and the various Asian regions and cities that he traverses, including China.

ruizdiaz1 — 2024-04-22 18:49:24 UTC

A citizen of the Republic of Venice, Polo grew up in a family where both his father Niccoló and uncle Maffeo were merchants. Even before Marco was born, the brothers had travelled extensively, setting up trading posts in Constantinople, Sudak, Crimea, and the western part of the Mongolian Empire. They even visited China.

Marco Polo´s Family Journey

ruizdiaz1 — 2024-04-22 18:52:31 UTC

Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from Europe to Asia from 1271 to 1295

ruizdiaz1 — 2024-04-22 18:53:21 UTC

When the three Polo’s finally returned to Venice, the city state was at war with neighbooring Genoa. Marco particpated in the war and was eventually imprisoned, spending his time in jail dictating travel stories to a cellmate. After being released from prison in 1299, Marco Polo went back to being a merchant and ammassed considerable wealth. He also married and had three children. He is buried in the San Lorenzo church in Venize.

Cultural Influence

ruizdiaz1 — 2024-04-23 16:38:57 UTC

Marco Polo and his travels have had a very large cultural influence on the western world. The 13th-century book by Rustichello “Book of the Marvels of the World” later know as “The travels of Marco Polo” was a best-seller and had a huge impact on Medieval and Early Modern explorers, missionaries, and merchants.

Return To Europe

ruizdiaz1 — 2024-04-23 16:40:11 UTC

When the Kublai Khan was in his late 70s, the Polo family began to worry about what would happen to them when he died. The Polos had amassed great amounts of gold and jewelry, but would they be able to take it out of China without the protection of the Khan? At the same time, the Khan really enjoyed their company and was reluctant to let them go.