Why is she so important to Canadian history and Canadians in general? Become a Study.com member to unlock this While in Asia, Marco Polo, his father and his uncle encountered a number of strange sights, and they even achieved some political success. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Back then thought Earth was flat. Why Marco Polo Marine Ltd's (SGX:5LY) Ownership Structure Is Important By Simply Wall St Published July 20, 2018. Before reaching Shazhou, the Polos had traveled primarily among Muslim peoples, though they also encountered Nestorian Christians, Buddhists, Manichaeans, and Zoroastrians. He was impressed with the empire's paper money, effi… The family had traded with the Middle East for a long time, acquiring considerable wealth and prestige. What navigation tools did Marco Polo use? His father, Niccolo, and uncle, Maffeo, were successful travelers and traders who had set off to Asia just after Polo's birth. Marco Polo, his uncle, and his father presenting the pope's letter at the court of Kublai Khan, detail of an illuminated manuscript; in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, England. It is, however, difficult to establish which districts he traversed and which he may have described from information gathered en route. It is also believed that Marco visited territories to the south (other parts of Afghanistan, Kafiristan in the Hindu Kush, Chitral in what is now Pakistan, and perhaps Kashmir) during this period. The three of them embarked on an … Marco Polo never saw himself as an explorerhe preferred the term wayfarerbut his do-or-die approach to travel helped inspire a whole generation of globetrotting adventurers. Descending on the northeastern side of the chain, they reached Kashi (“Cascar”) in what is now the Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang, China. © copyright 2003-2021 Study.com. The Polos apparently managed their affairs well at Berke’s court, where they doubled their assets. A name closely associated with exploration of this time is Marco Polo. He was age 15 or 16 when his father and uncle returned to meet him and learned that the pope, Clement IV, had recently died. Services, Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. Through it all, Marco Polo marveled at China's cultural customs, great wealth and complex social structure. Living among the emperor’s 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). For over 3000 years the great Silk Road was the longest land route in the world. Who were her builders and travellers? According to his book, "The Travels of Marco Polo," Marco Polo even became an official in Kublai Khan's government, serving as an envoy, governor and member of the Privy Council. Marco traveled much of China and the east, and his stories were written into a popular book. His travels enabled him to … There the Polos decided not to risk a sea passage to India and beyond but to proceed overland to the Mongol capital. He brought back information that had been unknown before his time, and he inspired others to explore as well. His father, Niccolo, and his uncle Maffeo were successful jewel merchants who spent much of Marco's childhood in Asia. Marco polo sheep bear the scientific name Ovis ammon polii and are among the 9 argali subspecies. This timeline covers his life and travels. Marco Polo studied the Chinese language, and it was not very long before he could speak it. Niccolò and Maffeo remained in Venice anticipating the election of a new pope, but in 1271, after two years of waiting, they departed with Marco for the Mongol court. Marco Polo’s account in Il milione opened new vistas to the European mind, and, as Western horizons expanded, Polo’s legacy grew as well. These stepping-stones led to Shazhou (“Saciu”) on the borders of China, a place now called Dunhuang. Returning to Acre, they were given proper credentials, and two friars were assigned to accompany them, though they abandoned the Polos shortly after the expedition resumed. His travels are recorded in The Travels of Marco Polo (also known as Book of the Marvels of the World and Il Milione, c. 1300), a book that described to Europeans the then mysterious culture and inner workings of the Eastern world, including the wealth and great size of the Mongol Empire and China in the Yuan Dynasty, giving their first comprehensive look into China, Persia, India, Japan and other Asian … Marco Polo’s writings on the places and cultures he witnessed were remarkable and exceptionally accurate – his sharing was valuable! They are also known as Pamir Argali or Marco Polo’s Argali. This is the currently selected item. He was considered very "Brave" because he sailed the Ocean of "Risk" of falling out of Earth. cartography, compass, ship-building) and curiosity increased through the first few centuries of the first millennium A.D., there was a surge of exploration throughout Europe for the purposes of trade, enlightenment and missionary work. answer! Create your account. He did the work well and from that time was often employed as an envoy of the Chinese monarch. In the vast province of Gansu (called “Tangut” by Marco), an entirely different civilization—mainly Buddhist in religion but partly Chinese in culture—prevailed. Omissions? 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