Marco polo brief biography of mahatma
Biography of Marco Polo, Famous Explorer
Marco Polo was an inmate in the Genoese prison at the Palazzo di San Giorgio from 1296 to 1299, arrested for commanding a Venetian galley in a war against Genoa. While there, he told tales of his travels through Asia to his fellow prisoners and the guards alike, and his cellmate Rustichello da Pisa wrote them down.
Once the two were released from prison, copies of the manuscript, titled The Travels of Marco Polo, captivated Europe. Polo told tales of fabulous Asian courts, black stones that would catch on fire (coal), and Chinese money made out of paper. Ever since people have debated the question: Did Marco Polo really go to China, and see all of the things he claims to have seen?
Early Life
Marco Polo was probably born in Venice, although there is no proof of his place of birth, around 1254 CE. His father Niccolo and uncle Maffeo were Venetian merchants who traded on the Silk Road; little Marco's father left for Asia before the child was born, and would return when the boy was a teenager. He may not have even realized that his wife was pregnant when he left.
Thanks to enterprising merchants such as the Polo brothers, Venice flourished at this time as the major trading hub for imports from the fabulous oasis cities of Central Asia, India, and far-off, wondrous Cathay (China). With the exception of India, the whole expanse of Silk Road Asia was under the control of the Mongol Empire at this time. Genghis Khan had died, but his grandson Kublai Khan was Great Khan of the Mongols as well as the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China.
Pope Alexander IV announced to Christian Europe in a 1260 papal bull that they faced "wars of universal destruction wherewith the scourge of Heaven's wrath in the hands of the inhuman Tartars [Europe's name for the Mongols], erupting as it were from the secret confines of Hell, oppresses and crushes the earth." For men such as the Polos, however, the now stabl
Life and Major Accomplishments of Marco Polo, the Renowned Venetian Explorer and Merchant
Marco Polo (1254-1324) was a Venetian merchant, explorer, and writer whose travels to Asia became one of the most well-known adventures of the Middle Ages. His journey opened the doors to a deeper European understanding of the Eastern world.
Mosaic of Marco Polo displayed in the Palazzo Doria-Tursi, Genoa, Italy
In the article below, WHE explores the life and major accomplishments of this Venetian explorer and merchant:
Born into a noble and merchant family in Venice, Marco Polo grew up hearing tales of travel. His father, Niccolò, and his uncle, Maffeo, were merchants who had journeyed to China. When Marco was seventeen, he joined them on a journey that lasted 24 years.
READ ALSO: Rise and Fall of the Mongol Empire
The Polos traveled through Armenia, Persia, Afghanistan, and into the Mongol Empire. They eventually reached the court of the powerful Mongol leader, Kublai Khan. Marco won the favor of Kublai Khan and was appointed to various administrative positions in his kingdom. This allowed him to travel extensively throughout Asia, amassing knowledge and understanding of its diverse cultures and traditions.
READ ALSO: Most Famous Rulers of the Mongol Empire
Major Accomplishments
Detail of the Catalan Atlas depicting Marco Polo travelling to the East during the Pax Mongolica
Marco Polo, a Venetian explorer, journeyed extensively across Asia, serving Kublai Khan and penning “The Travels of Marco Polo”, bridging cultural understanding between the East and West.
- Detailed Exploration of Asia: Marco traveled further than any of his European predecessors during his time in Asia. He ventured as far as Mongolia and China, exploring places Europeans had never been.
- Service to Kublai Khan: Marco Polo wasn’t just a passive traveler; he served the Yuan Dynasty’s Kublai Khan in various capacities, including as a special envoy.
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- How did marco polo die
Who was Marco Polo and how did his adventures inspire European exploration and interest in Asia?
Marco Polo (c. 1254 – 8 January 1324) was a Venetian merchant, explorer, and writer whose name is synonymous with adventure and exploration. His extensive travels through Asia between 1271 and 1295, chronicled in “The Travels of Marco Polo,” offered Europeans their first comprehensive look into the cultures, geography, and inner workings of various Asian societies. His accounts, particularly of the Mongol Empire and China under the Yuan dynasty, played a pivotal role in inspiring European exploration and igniting interest in Asia.
Marco Polo, the most famous Western Silk Road traveler, began his journey to China in 1271. Image: Mosaic of Marco Polo displayed in the Palazzo Doria-Tursi, Genoa, Italy
In the article below, World History Edu provides a detailed look at Marco Polo’s life, his journeys, and the profound impact his travels had on European exploration and perceptions of the East.
Early Life and Background
Marco Polo was born in Venice around 1254, into a family of merchants with extensive experience in trade and travel. His father, Niccolò Polo, and his uncle, Maffeo Polo, were seasoned traders who had previously embarked on a journey through Asia, reaching the court of Kublai Khan, the Mongol ruler. Their interactions with Kublai Khan laid the groundwork for future travels. In 1269, they returned to Venice, where they met Marco for the first time.
8 Most Famous Rulers of the Mongol Empire
In 1271, Marco Polo, then about 17 years old, joined his father and uncle on an ambitious journey back to Asia. They traveled along the Silk Road, a network of trade routes connecting Europe and Asia. This journey would ultimately take them to “Cathay,” known today as China. The Silk Road was fraught with peril, including harsh climates, treacherous terrains, and the threat of bandits, yet it was also a conduit for cultural and economic ex
Marco Polo Biography
Marco Polo was a wealthy merchant as well as an explorer and writer. He journeyed from Europe to the Orient, where he served the Mongol leader for 17 years before returning to Europe and writing a book of his accounts.
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was born circa 1224 in the Republic of Venice into a wealthy merchant family. In 1271, Marco Polo joined his father and uncle on their trip to Asia; they took with them two priests. They crossed the Middle East and the Gobi desert, witnessing many sights described later in his book The Description of the World, (which later became known as The Travels of Marco Polo). They remained in China for 17 years. Khan appointed Marco's father and uncle to high positions in his Court and later employed Marco as an envoy he sent to explore parts of Asia the Europeans hadn't reached, including Burma, India, and Tibet.
Marco was promoted more than once; he served as governor of a Chinese city, an official of the Privy Council, and at one time, he was a tax inspector in Yanzhou. Marco learned four languages during his time in the East. He was impressed by the communication system, the paper money, the economy and production scale of the Mongol empire. His book describes both his journey to China and his observations of the culture and landscapes he encountered while living there.
After so many years living in Khan's empire, he was not happy when his father and uncle decided to leave. In 1295, the Polos reached Venice, where their family failed to recognize them, and they had trouble speaking their native tongue. Marco got involved in a naval conflict as commander of a Venetian ship and was captured and imprisoned by the Genoese. While in prison, Marco befriended another prisoner and writer, Rustichello da Pisa, who wrote down Marco's stories and included some of his own. The book was printed in French, Italian, and Latin and quickly spread throughout Europe.
After Marco Polo was released from prison, he retu