Netflix marco polo series riddled with errors seeker. Marco polo facts marco polo was an italian venetian merchant, explorer and writer born in venice in 1254. The book helped europeans to learn about asian peoples and goods. Excerpt from the book of ser marco polo the venetian concerning the kingdoms and marvels of the east. While he was under arrest, marco told detailed stories of his journeys to a writer named rustichello who wrote them all down in a book called the travels of marco polo. The life and adventures of marco polo ancient origins. Dec 03, 2019 marco polo was a venetian explorer known for the book the travels of marco polo, which describes his voyage to and experiences in asia. Below are 25 adventurous facts about the man behind the. The million, deriving from polos nickname emilione citation needed, or oriente poliano, lit. Marco polo junior world explorers graves, charles parlin, keane, ray on. Although physicians did the best they could, marco polo died on january 8, 24. A boy who lived in venice, italy a teenager who traveled to china and came back twentyfour years later the author of a travel book that inspired christopher columbus. Unfortunately, because marco s book il milione is only. The book livre des merveilles du monde indicate his journey.
Aug 31, 2018 discover fascinating facts about the life of marco polo and his legendary travels to the far east. Your children will love coloring pages, solving puzzles. As all books were handwritten until the invention of the printing press in 1439, a definitive or original version of marco polo s book does not exist. Here are some surprising facts about marco polo, the man who helped start it all. The travels of marco polo became a very popular book. Many other explorers, including christopher columbus, looked up to him. Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from. Marco also had another uncle who lived in constantinople and crimea and was engaged in commerce. Marco polo was not the first european to travel to asia. Marco polo upon returning to venice became a wealthy merchant, married and had three children. Marco polo was known for the book travels of marco polo where he talked about asia. Born in venice, italy in 1254, marco polo was able to grow up islandhopping the city on the adriatic sea is made up of 118 small islands, with many of them connected by 400 bridges.
Marco polos famous travelogue was penned in prison. The book was recognized as the most important account of the world outside europe that was available at that time. Marco polo wasnt yet a seasoned traveling merchant when he embarked on his great journey east. Filled with fun facts about the explorer and also of the times, this book is jam packed with loads of information that may truly surprise you.
Kids will learn how, at 17, marco polo journeyed to beijing, where he became a favorite of the mongol court and was sent out on the factfinding missions that provided the material for his book. Kublai khan was the mongol leader when niccolo and marco s uncle made their first trip to china and had asked marco s father and uncle to petition the pope to send 100 priests to beijing. Introduction marco polo was a merchant in venice before he became the famous explorer we know today. Facts about marco polo marco polo was an italian merchant adventurer. Kids will discover marco polo s larger world as well, with an overview of many of the other great empires and civilizations of the th century. Gary jennings was known for the rigorous and intensive research behind his books, which often included hazardous travel. A combination of marco polos gift of observation and the writing style of rusticiano emerged in the final version of marco polos travels. For more links, lessons and loads of other goodies for teachers and kids.
Marco polo was born in the republic of venice, though the exact date and place. Haw also argues in his book marco polos china that marcos account is much more correct and accurate than has often been supposed and that it is extremely unlikely that he could have obtained all the information in his book from secondhand sources. Free powerpoint presentations about marco polo for kids. Marco polo returned to venice in 1295 with his fortune converted. His father was a wealthy merchant who traded with the near east. They traveled the silk road to china where he met the great ruler kublai khan. Discover fascinating facts about the life of marco polo and his. The travels of marco polo arvindguptatoys books gallery. 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 travels of marco polo, dictated by him, described chinese politics, economy, and culture in detail, which greatly aroused the desire of westerner to go to china and had a great effect on the european navigation. After 24 years spent on the asian continent, the polos returned to venice, but marco polo was captured in 1298 at the battle of curzola by the genoese army.
A wellknown traveler and explorer, marco polo headed for china along the silk road in the yuan dynasty 127168. He was born into a wealthy jewel merchant family niccolo polo his father and his mother nicole anna defuseh who died when marco was very young. During the middle ages the italian merchant marco polo spent many years in china. Marco polo traveling, from the book the travels of marco polo il milione, originally published during polos lifetime september 15, 1254. Some people debate over the location where he was born. Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from europe to asia from 1271 to 1295 and remaining in china for 17 of those years. Marco polo was 17 or 18 when he began his journey from venice to the farthest reaches of the mongol empire. Marco polo 125424 ce was a venetian merchant and explorer who travelled to china and served the mongol ruler kublai khan l. Marco polo simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Marco traveled much of china and the east, and his stories were written into a. A couple notes on the travels of marco polo many scholars do not take the book seriously at all.
The book included polos personal remembrances as well as stories related to him by others. Polian east citation needed, 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 polos travels through. His writings about china and the mongol empire in the travels of marco polo had a significant impact on european beliefs about and behavior toward the east and inspired the travels of christopher columbus. Interesting facts and information about marco polo in the medieval era of the middle ages.
The wealth of new geographic information recorded by polo was widely used by european navigators. Marco polo 125424 was a venetian merchant believed to have journeyed across asia at the height of the mongol empire. His father, niccolo, and his uncle maffeo were successful. Livres des merveilles du monde is the book, which narrates the travel of marco polo circa 0. A combination of marco polo s gift of observation and the writing style of rusticiano emerged in the final version of marco polo s travels. Below are 25 adventurous facts about the man behind the myth. Short biography, facts and history about the life of marco polo and his famous travels to china and his meeting with the kublai khan. Living among the emperors 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. In 23 polo was struck with an illness and was bedridden for most of that year. As marco polo immersed himself in chinese culture, and was a gifted linguist, he quickly gained favor with the great khan. He planned on continuing marco polo s work by contacting the successor to kublai kahn, who was one of marco polo s main friends and employers during his travels.
Marco polo was a venetian explorer known for the book the travels of marco polo, which describes his voyage to and. His travels are recorded in livre des merveilles du monde book of the marvels of the world, also known as the travels of marco polo, c. Learn all about marco polo and his life, from the time he was born, to his twentyfour years in china, to his time in jail, up until his death. Marco polo was born around 1254 into a wealthy venetian merchant family, though the actual date and location of his birth are unknown. Marco polo 1254 january 89, 24 was an italian merchant, explorer, and writer, born in the republic of venice.
He divided his large portion to his family and other organizations. Marco traveled from europe to asia between 1271 and 1295. The book included polo s personal remembrances as well as stories related to him by others. Many people say marco polo was the greatest explorer that ever lived, traveling 33, miles by land and sea from venice, italy, to modernday beijing, china.
It was translated into multiple languages and read throughout europe. Published in 1903 i repeat that everything appertaining to this city is on so vast a scale, and the great kaans yearly revenues therefrom are so immense, that it is not easy even to put it in writing, and it seems past belief to one who merely hears it told. The exact date of his birth has been up for debate at various times. After the publication of this book, he became a famous personality in venice and inspired many others to travel, including christopher columbus. Marco polo, venetian merchant and adventurer who traveled from europe to asia in 127195, remaining in china for 17 of those years. There is a story about children following him around saying, messer polo, tell us another. His famous book, the travels of marco polo, indicates that he was a man of extraordinary bravery, brilliance, and. 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.
They may have moved with the court from shangdu, to the winter residence, dadu, or taidu modern beijing. Kids will discover marco polos larger world as well, with an overview of many of the other great empires and civilizations of the th century. Aug 30, 2017 these writings, written in french, were titled books of the marvels of the world, but are better known in english as the travels of marco polo. Marco documented all these experiences and adventures in his historic book based on several manuscripts. Jan 29, 2015 netflix marco polo series riddled with historical errors according to mongolian historians, much of the series plot plays fast and loose with the facts. Marco polo heavily influenced many explorers to come, including christopher columbus, who was an avid admirer and carried marco polo s book with him on his voyage to the new world.
How marco polo went to china marco polo was born in venice in the year 1254. He was one of the first europeans to explore east asia. Unfortunately, because marcos book il milione is only. The polos traveled home in a fleet of ships that also carried a princess who was to marry a prince in iran. Fun facts the travels of marco polo was also called il milione or the million. To learn more interesting facts about his childhood, personal life and interesting accounts about his travel expeditions and experiences, scroll down and continue to read the biography of marco polo. Marco polo biography life, family, story, death, mother. His mother died when he was young, and he was raised by his aunt and uncle. His book the travels of marco polo was an inspiration for travellers such as christopher columbus. For hundreds of years, polo remained the only european source.
The great explorer christopher columbus was greatly inspired by polos description of the far east to visit those lands himself. More than seven hundred years ago, marco polo traveled. The travels of marco polo was also called il milione or the million. And although marco polo became famous in his own lifetime through the grand tales he told, he himself wasnt necessarily taken seriously, either. Marco polo 1254 to january 8, 24 was a venetian explorer known for the book the travels of marco polo, which describes his voyage to and experiences in asia. His mother died when he was young, and he was raised by his aunt. The journey was dangerous and only 117 of the 700 original travelers survived. The great explorer christopher columbus was greatly inspired by polo s description of the far east to visit those lands himself. Marco polo was born on 15th september 1254 in venice. The only proof of marcos journey to asia is his book and this has caused.
The travels of marco polo from venice to asia opened up a whole new. Look at the information about the famous venetian merchant traveler on facts about marco polo. Marco polo barely knew his father and uncle when they began their expedition. Marco polo born in september 15,1254 and died in january 8,24 was an italian trader and explorer. His father, nicolo, and his uncle, maffeo, were merchants who had seats in the great council and were enrolled with the noblemen of venice. Netflix marco polo series riddled with historical errors according to mongolian historians, much of the series plot plays fast and loose with the facts. His account of those travels, known in english as the travels of marco polo, is a classic. Polos book was what we would call a blockbuster hit and made. While his book, the travels of marco polo, brought knowledge of the far east to the european world, marco polo wasnt actually the first european to visit china. According to the 15thcentury humanist giovanni battista ramusio, his fellow citizens awarded him this nickname when he came back to venice, because he kept on saying that kublai khans wealth was counting in millions. He was often away and lived in for a time in constantinople. Born in buena vista, virginia in 1928, jennings passed away in 1999 in.
Map of marco polo s travels some of these places may not exist today. The book explains the wealth of europe, china, and other european countries. Marco polo facts, biography, timeline the history junkie. Marco polo was seventeen when he set out for china.
573 1162 1457 440 1146 972 1382 1295 1276 1050 1468 787 272 670 806 1114 1433 1193 516 836 351 103 875 1284 125 102 442 586 267 267 188 1066