Interesting life of Marco Polo

Interesting life of Marco Polo

   Marco Polo (1254 - 1324) was one of the world's most famous explorers and adventurers, and one of the first Europeans who is traveled through''Silk Road''. During his travels, he wrote travel journals, by which he became famous.

    It's believed that he was born on the Korcula island, Adriatic Sea, (Croatia). His father Niccolo and uncle Matteo, were merchants at that time. In search of new goods, they traveled to the east. They were traveling through ''Silk Road''  and they arrived at China 1265, joining delegates, which were sent by the Persian Khan Hulagu. Together they traveled to the Khanbaliq, China, where they met Kublai Khan. 

Marco Polo meet Kublai Khan

    

   They returned from China as an messenger of  big emperor Kublai Khan. They were carrying a letter for Pope, in which he request from Pope to send educated people to his country, so that they could teach his people. When they started the second trip to the China in 1271. they led the young Marco with them. By sea they sailed to the Syrian coast, through the Kermenti the Balc, so along the upper course of the river Amy Darya, all the way to the Pamirs plateau. And they was continued between the Tibet and Lop Nur, they cross the Gobi desert, and arrive to the Kublai Khan 1275. Marco is gained his trust, and he stayed in his service seventeen years.

   During that time, he was traveled many parts of the Far East, and he was meet with many languages ​​and cultures in Asia. In 1292, they were given the opportunity to return to Venice, when the delegates followed the Mongol princess, as a bride for Persian Khan Arghun. They were traveling by the sea along the coast of Indochina, Sumatra, Nicobar, Cejlon (Sri Lanka) and west India, until Hormuz. When they accompanied the princess, they continued to the Tabriz, across Trabzon and Tsargrad. They arrived in Venice in 1295.

   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.The latter claim is due to a later tradition (16th Century) recorded by Giovanni Battista Ramusio^.He spent several months of his imprisonment dictating a detailed account of his travels to a fellow inmate, Rustichello da Pisa, who incorporated tales of his own as well as other collected anecdotes and current affairs from China. The book soon spread throughout Europe in manuscript form, and became known as The Travels of Marco Polo. It depicts the Polos' journeys throughout Asia, giving Europeans their first comprehensive look into the inner workings of the Far East, including China, India, and Japan.
    From the 14th century his travelogue served as the basis for the geographical maps of Asia.

Masco Polo's routes

Interesting facts about Marco Polo

   He presented the concept of paper money in Europe - The Mongol Empire used a paper money system, far before European countries. In his book, he described the Khan's skill of making paper money, and systems that would prevent counterfeiting.

    He presented Europeans a new species of animals - During his travels, Marco Polo is encountered numerous animal species. He was the first man, who brought Yak in Europe.

   He believed in magic and spells - In his book he described encounters with magicians. On the court of Kublai Khan, he described meeting with astrologers who control time from the roof of the palace.

   He brought ginger root to Europe - Ginger has allegedly existed in Europe even during the Roman Empire, but it was expensive and rare. Marco Polo was found rare quantities of spices and seeds during his travels.

    He was served as an inspiration to the Christopher Columbus

    When he saw the rhino for the first time, he thought it was a unicorn

    Before his death, his family begged him to admit that he made up all his stories.
Rejecting this request, he was said ''I only told half of what I saw''.