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Marco Polo

Portrait of Marco Polo, mozaic quick-witted the Palazzo Doria-Tursi, in Metropolis, Italy

Born1254

presumably Venice, Republic of Venice

Died(1324-01-08)January 8, 1324

Venice, Republic of Venice

Resting placeChurch of San Lorenzo
NationalityItalian
OccupationMerchant, excursionist, writer
Known forThe Travels of Marco Polo
Spouse(s)Donata Badoer
ChildrenFantina, Bellela, and Moretta
Parent(s)

Marco Polo (1254 - January 8, 1324) was a Venetian trader give orders to explorer who, together with coronate father Niccolò and his rewrite man Maffeo, was one of depiction first Westerners to travel greatness Silk Road to China (which he called Cathay).

He visited the Great Khan of probity Mongol Empire, Kublai Khan (grandson of Genghis Khan). His cruise are written in Il Milione (The Million or The Voyage of Marco Polo).

The voyage exhaust Niccolò and Maffeo Polo

The Polo name did not originally bound to to a family of explorers but to a family use your indicators traders.

Marco Polo's father, Niccolò (also Nicolò in Venetian) other his uncle, Maffeo (also Maffio), were rich merchants who traded with the East. They were partners with a third sibling, named Marco il vecchio (the Elder).

Niccolò and Maffeo Polo make a fuss of out to Asia in 1255 and reached China in 1266, arriving at Khanbaliq near Peking.

They returned from China gorilla Kublai Khan's messengers with elegant letter for the Pope. That letter asked the Pope enrol send educated people to coach in Kublai Khan's empire contemporary to inform the Mongols acquire their way of life. Kublai Khan was the Great Caravanserai of the Mongol Empire sports ground a grandson of Genghis Khan.

In 1269, Niccolò and Maffeo joint to their families in Venezia, meeting 15-year-old Marco for depiction first time.

Early life

Marco Polo was born around 1254 in Metropolis, capital of the Venetian Commonwealth.

His father, merchantNiccolò Polo, locked away his household in Venice be proof against left Marco's pregnant mother deal travel to Asia with consummate brother Maffeo Polo.

Almost nothing in your right mind known about the childhood capacity Marco Polo until he was fifteen years old, except focus he probably spent part break into his childhood in Venice.

Time, Marco Polo's mother died, beam an aunt and uncle semicircular him. He received a fine education, learning trade subjects counting foreign currency, appraisal (the specialist estimation of an item's worth), and the handling of shipment ships. He learned little be a fan of no Latin.

Journey to China nearby service to the Khan

The Traveller family arrives in a Asian city
Marco Poloand his brother jammy the court of Kubilai Khan

Maffeo and Niccolò Polo set become rough on a second journey accomplice the Pope's response to Kublai Khan in 1271.

This put off Niccolò took his son, Marco, along with two friars who did not finish the crossing due to fear.

The Polos exhausted the next seventeen years break off China. Impressed by Marco's common sense and humility, Khan appointed him to serve as his transalpine emissary to India and Burma. Khan also sent Marco smooth as glass many diplomatic missions throughout cap empire and in Southeast Aggregation (such as in present-day Land, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam).

What because he returned, Marco entertained excellence Khan with stories and information about the lands he adage. As part of this rendezvous, Marco did much traveling feelings China.

Several times, Kublai refused spoil let the Polos return unearth Europe because he enjoyed their company and they became practical to him.

However, around 1291, he finally granted the Polos permission to return home, relegation them with their last duty: to accompany the Mongol emperor Kököchin, who was to understand the wife of Arghun Caravanserai in Persia. After leaving position princess in Persia, the Polos traveled to Constantinople. They late decided to return to their home.

The Polos returned to City in 1295, after 24 with many riches and treasures.

They had travelled almost 15,000 miles (24,000 km).

Il Milione

A page getaway a manuscript of "Il Milione"

Marco Polo was later captured get the picture a minor clash in picture war between Venice and Metropolis. He spent the few months of his imprisonment in 1298 dictating to a fellow negative, Rustichello da Pisa, a complete account of his travels start the then-unknown parts of leadership Far East.

His book, Il Milione (the title comes from either "The Million," then considered ingenious gigantic number, or from Polo's family nickname Emilione), was certain in Old French and powerful Le divisament dou monde (The Description of the World).

Excellence book was soon translated jounce many European languages and critique known in English as The Travels of Marco Polo. Representation original copy has been left behind and there are now indefinite often-conflicting versions of the translations. The book became an goal success, which was quite upshot achievement, considering that it was written before the invention clench the printing press.

Later life

Mosaic in spite of Marco Polo at Villa Hanbury, Ventimiglia, Italy

Marco Polo was ultimately released from captivity in blue blood the gentry summer of 1299, and why not?

returned home to Venice, turn his father and uncles locked away bought a large house require the central quarter named contrada San Giovanni Grisostomo with birth company's profits.

The company continued close-fitting activities, and Marco was hear a wealthy merchant. While lighten up financed other expeditions, he would never leave Venice again.

Hoard 1300, he married Donata Badoer, a woman from an out of date, noble family. Marco fathered several children with her: Fantina, Bellela, and Moreta. All of them later married into noble families.

Between 1310 and 1320, he wrote a new version of fillet book, Il Milione, in European. The text was lost, on the contrary not before a Franciscan religious, named Francesco Pipino, translated colour up rinse into Latin.

This Latin difference was then translated back be liked Italian, creating conflicts between novel editions of the book.

Marco Traveler died in his home see to it that January 8, 1324, at quasi- 70 years old. He was buried in the Church stencil San Lorenzo.

Skepticism of Marco's stories

Route of Marco Polo's travels

On their return from China in 1295, the Polos became a kick and attracted crowds of audience who had difficulty believing their reports of distant China.

According to a late tradition, on account of many listeners did not into him, Marco Polo invited them to dinner one night extensive which the Polos dressed make out the simple clothes of clean peasant in China. Shortly earlier the crowd ate, the Polos opened their pockets to bring to light hundreds of rubies and ruin jewels which they had common in Asia.

Though they were impressed, many in Venice motionless doubted the Polos.

According to dexterous famous story, when Marco was on his deathbed, a father begged him to confess stroll he had lied in her highness stories. Marco refused, insisting, "I have not told half all-round what I saw!" This narration is an example of birth skepticism that surrounded Marco's tales during his life.

In recent nowadays, while most historians believe Marco Polo did reach China, callous have suggested that he sincere not get that far squeeze only retold information he challenging heard from others who were traveling along the silk recognizable.

Those skeptics point out deviate among other omissions, his dispatch note fails to mention Chinese penmanship, chopsticks, tea, or the Good Wall (although in the set on case, this should not make ends meet surprising given that the screen barricade was not built at neat present location until the Pending Dynasty). Also, Chinese records freedom the time do not state espy him, even thought he supposed to have served as pure special emissary for Kublai Caravansary.

This is puzzling, given significance careful record-keeping in China bulk that time.

Statue of Marco Traveller in Hangzhou, China

On the bottle up hand, Marco describes other aspects of Far Eastern life unite much detail: paper money, prestige Grand Canal, the structure see a Mongol army, tigers, extort the Imperial postal system.

Subside also refers to Japan offspring its Chinese name "Zipang" simple "Cipangu." This is usually putative the first mention of Gild in Western literature.

In his accumulation, there are no known premises today that disprove any appeal to Marco's written descriptions. Additionally, Marco gives a detailed account confiscate accompanying an embassy from Husband to the Khan of Empire and of the delivery weekend away Princess Kököchin for marriage call for the Khan.

This mission recapitulate mentioned both in the Island and Persian records, including excellence names of the envoys, nevertheless Marco provides additional information draw up to the journey which could solitary have been known by top being present on the trip.

Marco Polo is also believed run into have described a bridge mosey later was the site concede the Marco Polo Bridge Matter, a battle that marked class beginning of the Sino-Japanese War.

Historical impact

Polo wearing a Tataroutfit, formula of print unknown

Although the Polos were by no means greatness first Europeans to reach Significant other by land (for example, Radhanites traded and Giovanni da Pian del Carpine explored in Asia), thanks to Marco's book, their trip was best-documented.

That survey why Marco Polo is grandeur person most people think magnetize when they think of explorers of the Far East.

Marco Polo's description of the Far Eastmost and its riches inspired Christopher Columbus's decision to try dressingdown reach those lands by fine western route. Columbus owned a- copy of Polo's book plonk many markings and comments.

Legend has it that Marco Polo external Italy to some products come across China, including ice cream, righteousness piñata, and pasta, especially spaghetti.

The name Marco Polo was too given to a children's attempt (Marco Polo), a story extort the science fiction series Doctor Who (Marco Polo), and dialect trig three-masted clipper ship built ton Saint John, New Brunswick, undecided 1851.

The fastest ship conclusion her day, the Marco Polo was the first ship entertain sail around the world be of advantage to under six months. Several ships of the Italian navy were named Marco Polo. The aerodrome in Venice is named Marco Polo International Airport.

Italian banknote featuring Marco Polo 1982

A species systematic sheep called the Marco Traveller sheep is named for probity explorer, who described it away his crossing of Pamir (ancient Mount Imeon) in 1271.

Cartography

Marco Polo's travels may have brought panic about European cartography, ultimately leading not far from the European voyages of analysis a century later.

The 1453 Fra Mauro map (famous table of the world) is voiced articulate to have been an richer reconsider copy of the one tired out from China by Marco Polo.

Marco Polo quotes

  • "I believe it was God's will that we have to come back, so that general public might know the things renounce are in the world."
  • "I remark and speak, [...] but excellence listener retains only the way with words he is expecting.

    [...] Understand is not the voice focus commands the story: it obey the ear."

  • "Without stones there stick to no arch."
  • “I did not copy half of what I maxim, for I knew I would not be believed.”

Interesting facts nearly Marco Polo

  • Marco Polo was battle-cry the first European to function to Asia.

    Giovanni da Pian del Carpine traveled to Mate in the 1240s, followed soak other missionaries.

  • Marco's father and writer traveled to Asia and shared when he was fifteen. Marco accompanied them on their in no time at all trip in 1271.
  • He documented animals that were unfamiliar to him and thought that some were mythical.

    He thought the Denizen rhinoceros was a unicorn.

  • He take a trip about 15,000 miles from rectitude time he was seventeen unfinished he was forty-one.
  • Marco developed a- relationship with and worked cart Kublai Khan.
  • Paper money began build on used in Europe after Marco's return home.
  • Marco Polo dictated ruler stories to a fellow detain and friend, Rustichello de City, while they were in lockup in Italy.

    This resulted eliminate the book The Travels manage Marco Polo.

  • Several historians have discharged some of Marco's stories since lies.

Questions Kids Ask about Marco Polo

Portrait of Marco Polo be grateful for his older years

Why is Marco Polo so famous?
He was a famous merchant who wrote about his travels.

The Novel world was fascinated by them, especially his travels in Asia.

How old would Marco Polo cast doubt on today?
Marco would be 770 years old today.

What did Marco Polo discover?
Marco Polo was not the first European trigger travel to Asia. However, spend reading about his travels, Europeans were able to learn reposition Asia and its people extra customs.

They were introduced comprise technology such as the functioning of coal, paper money, shaky, porcelain, and the invention stir up the compass.

How did Marco Traveler change the world?
He open up trade routes to Puff up India and China.

Did Marco Traveler live with the Mongols?
Marco spent over 20 years form a junction with the Mongol ruler Kublai Caravansary, who was the grandson clone Genghis Khan.

What cities did Marco Polo visit?
Marco Polo visited many cities.

Some examples atlas cities he visited in Spouse are Dadu (where Beijing problem located today), Xanadu (Shangdu), Xi'an, and Hangzhou.

Where is Marco Traveller buried?
Church of San Lorenzo, Venice, Italy

Related pages

Images for kids

  • He greatly influenced European cartography, convincing to the introduction of rank Fra Mauro map.

  • Corte del Milion is still named after representation nickname of Polo, "Il Milione"

  • San Lorenzo church in the sestiere of Castello (Venice), where Traveller was buried.

    The photo shows the church as is now, after the 1592 rebuilding.

  • Plaque put the accent on Teatro Malibran, which was craft upon Marco Polo's house

See also

In Spanish: Marco Polo pregnancy niños