The Travels of Marco Polo

Marco Polo undertook a second journey from Venice to Peking due to his fascination with China and its culture, as well as Kublai Khan's request for Polo to bring members of the clergy. Despite the...

Marco Polo was motivated to travel widely to many parts of the world because he was excited by the stories of his merchant father and uncle. Further, the Polos had financial reasons for their...

Marco Polo's travels in China reveal a diverse religious landscape during Kublai Khan's rule, with no official state religion. Buddhism and shamanistic practices were prevalent, but the region was a...

Luck played a role in Marco Polo's return home when Kublai Khan, who was reluctant to let him leave, received a request from Arghun, the ruler of Persia, for a princess to replace his deceased wife....

Kublai Khan's postal system operated by way of little forts established every three miles between post-houses. In each of these forts lived people who acted as the Emperor's foot-runners. They would...

Kublai Khan receives the Polos with considerable honor and hospitality. He shows great pleasure in their visit and asks them many questions about life in Europe.

Marco Polo describes the palace at Shangdu, or Xanadu, in positively glowing terms. He tells us it is a very beautiful place, renowned for the elegance of its design. It has been built out of marble...

Marco Polo reached Peking (now Beijing) through his close relationship with Kublai Khan, who entrusted him with diplomatic missions. Polo's time with Kublai Khan allowed him to witness the...

It took the Polos three and half years to reach China from Venice. They travelled from late 1271 to May 1275.

Polo's work appears to be self- glorification and spiking the age of exploration. The message that comes out of it is the idea that there is a world to be discovered and can be discovered. To...

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