The million, deriving from polo s nickname emilione, 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 polo s travels through asia between 1271 and 1295, and his experiences at the court of kublai khan. The travels of marco polo arvindguptatoys books gallery. His travels are recorded in the travels of marco polo also known as book of the marvels of the world and il milione, c. Marco polo, venetian merchant and adventurer who traveled from europe to asia in 127195, remaining in china for 17 of those years. Originally the books name was a description of the world now the book is called the travels of marco polo. 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. I wanted to read marco polos travels in a good english translation, with accompanying medieval illustrations and modern photos and references to the places and events mentioned, and thats exactly what this book provides. We had another great marco polo reading session while the little kids rested upstairs. The travels of marco polo is one of a handful of books that can truly be said to have changed the world. On his return to the west he was made a prisoner of war and met rustichello of pisa, with whom pdf he collaborated on. Marco polos adventures in china stemmed from a trip taken there by his father nicolo and his uncle maffeo. The book of ser marco polo the venetian concerning the kingdoms and marvels of the east in the nineteenth century and. His account of those travels, known in english as the travels of marco polo, is a classic. The million, deriving from polos nickname emilione, 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 asia between 1271 and 1295, and his experiences at the court of kublai.
It is possibly one of five manuscripts relating to marco polo s journey that belonged to king charles v of. The reason why marco went to do this 24 year trip was because his dad and uncle had made a promise to the khan. Now you must know that the idols of cathay, and of manzi, and of this island, are all of the same class. This is not merely another adventure story, it is the adventure story of all time. The quality is outstanding, the text, illustrations etc. The travels of marco polo was a book conceived in a prison cell in genoa italy in 1298. This description of his travels and stays in the orient, including asia, persia, china and indonesia, between 1271 and 1298 is also known as oriente poliano or. Despite its age, the travels of marco polo is surprisingly accessible to 21stcentury readers. It was perhaps the first book to achieve bestseller status before the invention of the printing pressit was certainly the most controversial.
Colin thubron is an awardwinning author of novels and travel books, including behind the wall. Did venetian trader and explorer marco polo 125424 actually reach the court of kublai khan, serve the emperor as his emissary, and journey the distant lands of cathay for 17 years, as he relates in his travels of marco polo. For the rest of that year in the prison cell marco would tell the 24 year story and rustichello would write it all down. Marco polos vivid descriptions of the splendid cities and people he encountered on his journey along the silk road through the middle east, south asia, and. The travels of marco polo, volume 2 by marco polo and rustichello of pisa part 16 out of 23.
Just after marco polo was born, his dad niccolo and uncle maffeo both went on a 6 year trip to cathay for trades. The travels of marco polobook 3chapter 10 wikisource. Polos observations about the many peoples and cultures he meets are often quite amusing, though occasionally repetitive. It is possibly one of five manuscripts relating to marco polos journey that belonged to king charles. Livre des merveilles du monde or description of the world devisement du monde, in italian il milione the million or oriente poliano and in english commonly called the travels of marco polo, is a thcentury travelogue written down by rustichello da pisa from stories told by marco polo, describing polos travels through asia.
Sadly this book seems to have little or nothing to do with marco polo. Marco polo was a thirteenthcentury venetian explorer, arguably the worlds most welltraveled explorer, and the travels of marco polo chronicles his journey through asia as. And in this island as well as elsewhere, there be some of the idols that have the head of an ox, some that have the head of a pig, some of a dog, some of a sheep, and some of divers other kinds. The travels by marco polo meet your next favorite book.
A journey through china and shadow of the silk road. A few years earlier, in 1292, after a twentyfour year journey, polo had returned to the west from kublai khans eastern empire. Marco polos travels was one of the worlds first bestsellers. Books of the marvels of the world or description of the world divisament dou monde, also nicknamed il milione the million or oriente poliano and commonly called the travels of marco polo, is a thcentury travelogue by rustichello da pisa and marco polo, describing the supposed travels of the latter through asia, persia, china, and indonesia between 1271 and 1298. Marco polo was a thirteenthcentury venetian explorer, arguably the worlds most welltraveled explorer, and the travels of marco polo chronicles his journey through asia as a special envoy to. Marco polo carries his popular book il milione, known in english as the travels of marco polo, in this 19thcentury mosaic in the doriatursi. Marco polo was the most famous traveller of his time. This superb book is exactly what i was looking for. How marco polo went to china marco polo was born in venice in the year 1254. His late thirteenth century account has been translated numerous times, one of the most popular editions being henry yules tr. His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to china, after which he served the kubilai khan on numerous diplomatic missions. Tales are described to him by marco polo who claims to see these things with his own eyes. The polos traveled thousands of miles through unknown and hostile territory in order to reach lands hitherto only vaguely rumored to exist. Narrator of marco polos travels proclaims this book will describe all the great wonders and curiosities of many territories including armenia, persia, tartars, india and other lands.
The wealth of new geographic information recorded by polo was widely used by european navigators. An authoritati ve versio n of marco polos book does not. There are also stories and various documents which point to his ancestry originating in korcula, croatia. Marco polo was not the first european to visit china, but he was the first person to leave a detailed account of his travels, in the form of a story he told to a fellow inmate as a prisoner of. The travels of marco polo by marco polo librarything.
Previous part 15 next part 17 a lecture with a bibliography which is the basis of the list of this edition of marco polo. He recorded his adventures in a book published as the travels of marco polo. The account of marco polos travels through asia dictated to another while he was in prison in venice. Book of the marvels of the world in english commonly called the travels of marco polo, is a thcentury travelogue written down by rustichello da pisa from. I wanted to read marco polo s travels in a good english translation, with accompanying medieval illustrations and modern photos and references to the places and events mentioned, and thats exactly what this book provides. It is the story of a drainage engineer called henry yule in the 1800s. The travels of marco polo the venetian by william marsden. The amount of appropriate material, and of acquaintance with the mediaeval geography of some parts of asia, which was acquired during the compilation of a work of kindred character for the hakluyt society, 1 could hardly fail to suggest as a fresh labour in the same field the preparation of a new english edition of marco polo. Later it was part of the library of the french book collector alexandre. Marco also had another uncle who lived in constantinople and crimea and was engaged in commerce. On his return to the west he was made a prisoner of war and met rustichello of pisa, with whom he collaborated on this book. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and rustichello of pisa free ebook project gutenberg. The travels of marco polo from venice to asia opened up a whole new. Indeed one kindly critic in the examiner laid it upon.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Marco polo was the frst western traveller to speak of burma mien. While the two of them were there they traveled to china and befriended kublai khan. The travels of marco polo is the usual english title of marco polos travel book, nicknamed il milione the million, see below or le livre des merveilles the book of wonders. Marco polo was supposedly born in the venetian republic, in what is now venice, italy. When nicolo and maffeo polo departed venice, italy, they took marco polo with them. Marco polo was a venetian explorer known for the book the travels of marco polo, which describes his voyage to and experiences in asia. Polos book was what we would call a blockbuster hit and made. Buy the travels penguin clothbound classics 01 by polo, marco, cliff, nigel, cliff, nigel isbn. The travels of marco polobook 3chapter 4 wikisource. My ambleside online curriculum suggests a few different childrens picture books for learning about marco polo s travels from italy to china, but i had accidentally ended up with the actual 300pluspage unabridged travelogue.