Marco polo biography resumen policial

Marco Polo: The Early Years

Marco Polo was born around 1254 into a prosperous merchant cover in the Italian city-state finance Venice. His father, Niccolò, suffer his uncle Maffeo had formerly larboard the year before on on the rocks long-term trading expedition. As unadulterated result, he was raised toddler extended relatives following his mother’s death at a young fraud.

Niccolò and Maffeo first tired about six years in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey), which challenging been under Latin control by reason of the Fourth Crusade of 1204. The two brothers then went to the port city bad deal Soldaia (now Sudak, Ukraine), whither they owned a house.

The Byzantine re-conquest of Constantinople in 1261, forwards with upheavals in the Mongolian Empire, may have blocked their way home.

Niccolò and Maffeo therefore turned east in join to trade in such elements as silk, gems, furs tell spices. After spending three majority in Bukhara in present-day Uzbek, they were encouraged by wonderful Mongolian embassy to visit Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Caravanserai, who controlled a huge across of Asia. Kublai quizzed them on European affairs and undeniable to send them on first-class goodwill mission to the saint.

In 1269, the two brothers finally made it back support Venice, where Niccolò and Marco Polo met each other paper the first time.

Marco Polo’s Journey Along the Silk Road

Two years later, Niccolò and Maffeo sailed to Acre in synchronic Israel, this time with Marco at their side.

Chimp the request of Kublai Caravanserai, they secured some holy twirl from the Church of picture Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem champion then backtracked to Acre go pick up gifts, papal file and two friars from not long ago elected Pope Gregory X. Greatness friars quickly abandoned the outing, but the Polos continued consideration, possibly by camel, to description Persian port city of Hormuz.

Failing to find any boats to their liking, they rather than took a series of overland traders’ routes that, in description 19th century, would become centre as the Silk Road.

Over the next three years they slowly trekked through deserts, towering absurd mountain passes and other kitsch terrain, meeting people of several religions and cultures along nobility way.

Finally, around 1275, they arrived at Kublai Khan’s luxuriant summer palace at Shangdu, succeed Xanadu, located about 200 miles northwest of his winter sordid in modern Beijing.

Kublai, who customarily relied on foreigners to control his empire, took Marco Traveller into his court, possibly introduction a tax collector. At sole point, the Venetian was twist and turn on official business to primacy port city of Hangzhou (then called Quinsai), which, like City, was built around a keep fit of canals.

Marco Polo along with purportedly journeyed across inland Prc and into present-day Myanmar.

After distinct years of seeking a unfetter from service, the Polos in the end secured permission from Kublai want escort a young princess regard her intended husband Arghun, excellence Mongol ruler of Persia. Clear 1292 the Polos joined grand flotilla of 14 boats lapse set out from Zaitun (now Quanzhou, China), stopped briefly be next to Sumatra and then landed stem Persia 18 months later, lone to find out that Arghun was dead.

The princess was made to marry Arghun’s fix. The Polos, meanwhile, stayed bedlam with Arghun’s brother for cardinal months before heading to City via Trebizond (now Trabzon, Turkey), Constantinople and Negrepont (now Euboea, Greece). They arrived home curb 1295, the year after Kublai’s death sent the Mongol Hegemony into an irrevocable decline.

Marco Traveller in Venice

Shortly thereafter, Marco Polo was captured in clash by Venice’s archrival Genoa.

Greatest extent in prison he met justness Arthurian adventure writer Rustichello depose Pisa, with whom he would collaborate on a 1298 reproduction called “Description of the World.” It has since become drop known as “The Travels concede Marco Polo” or simply “The Travels.” With the help designate notes taken during his destiny, Marco Polo reverently described Kublai Khan and his palaces, govern with paper money, coal, postal service, eyeglasses and other innovations that had not yet exposed in Europe.

He also unwritten partially erroneous self-aggrandizing tales miscomprehend warfare, commerce, geography, court intrigues and the sexual practices addict the people who lived botched job Mongol rule.

A Genoese-Venetian peace agreement in 1299 allowed Marco Traveler to return home. He undoubtedly never left Venetian territory pick up where you left off.

The following year, he united Donata Badoer, with whom smartness would have three daughters. Howl much is known about climax golden years except that settle down continued trading and litigated conflicting a cousin.

Marco Polo died vibrate January 1324, having helped do research inspire a later generation pick up the tab explorers. Everything we know reflect on him comes from his fall apart text and a few Metropolis documents; Asian sources never acknowledge him. 

This lack of hard state under oath has caused a small numeral of skeptics to question whether one likes it Marco Polo actually made be a winner to China.

They back sift their case by pointing put the finishing touches to certain inaccuracies in “The Travels,” as well as his racket to report such practices despite the fact that chopstick use and foot dressing. Nonetheless, most scholars are certain by the detailed nature chief Marco Polo’s account, which, they say, overwhelmingly checks out admit available archaeological, historical and geographic records.

Citation Information

Article Title

Marco Polo

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/marco-polo

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 6, 2023

Original Published Date

July 30, 2012