Post by fairweatherfan on Apr 16, 2024 0:34:27 GMT -5
Marco Polo was a legendary Venetian merchant traveler who lived in the 13th and 14th centuries. He embarked on an epic journey with his father and uncle, reaching the court of Kublai Khan, the Mongol ruler of China, in 1275. Marco Polo may have been the most well-traveled person in history up to that point, and he would have experienced a greater range of climates than anyone else. Which climates he visited are your favorite?
Information from Encyclopedia Brittanica
Marco Polo's father and uncle were adventurous traders working in Asia. They had established relations with the Mongol Khan, who requested that they bring him the lamp oil from the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. They returned home to Venice when Marco was around 15 or 16. They waited two years for a new pope to be elected, but finally set out on their own initiative.
While on the road near Acre, they discovered that their friend, the archdeacon of Acre, had been elected pope. They returned to Acre to get official letters from the Pope.
From Acre, the Polos sailed to Ayas (modern-day Yumurtalฤฑk) where they continued overland.
They passed through Erzurum and Tabriz while on their way to Hormuz, where they decided to continue overland rather than sail to China.
After passing through harsh deserts, the party rested for a year in Badakhshan's benign climate.
Khorog, a city in Badakhshan
The Polos passed through Kashgar before arriving at Dunhuang in China's borderlands.
The Polos then passed through Ningxia before arriving at the Mongol's summer capital, Shangdu.
Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia
Plain Blue Banner (Shangdu)
The Polos were employed by the Khan as officials, moving with the Mongol court to the winter capital of Dadu (Beijing).
Marco Polo travelled throughout China and was particularly impressed by Hangzhou. He also travelled to Yunnan and possibly Tagaung.
Kunming, capital of Yunnan
After 16 or so years in China, the Polos were homesick and yearned to return home. The aging Kublai Khan finally granted them permission to leave, and asked them to accompany a Mongol princess to Persia. The Polos set sail from Quanzhou and visited Champa before stopping by Sumatra for five months to avoid monsoon storms.
Quy Nhon, a port in Champa
Medan, a city in Sumatra
The party then landed in Hormuz and travelled overland. Unfortunately, when they first stepped foot into Christendom, into Trebizond, they were robbed of most of their belongings.
The Polos set sail from Constantinople before finally arriving home back to Venice.
Fortune would have it that soon after Marco Polo arrived home, he would be captured prisoner in a battle against the Genoese. Marco Polo compiled his account, Il Milione, inside a prison in Genoa.
After some time, Polo was released and moved back to Venice, where he lived a quiet life as a merchant.
Information from Encyclopedia Brittanica
Marco Polo's father and uncle were adventurous traders working in Asia. They had established relations with the Mongol Khan, who requested that they bring him the lamp oil from the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. They returned home to Venice when Marco was around 15 or 16. They waited two years for a new pope to be elected, but finally set out on their own initiative.
While on the road near Acre, they discovered that their friend, the archdeacon of Acre, had been elected pope. They returned to Acre to get official letters from the Pope.
From Acre, the Polos sailed to Ayas (modern-day Yumurtalฤฑk) where they continued overland.
They passed through Erzurum and Tabriz while on their way to Hormuz, where they decided to continue overland rather than sail to China.
After passing through harsh deserts, the party rested for a year in Badakhshan's benign climate.
Khorog, a city in Badakhshan
The Polos passed through Kashgar before arriving at Dunhuang in China's borderlands.
The Polos then passed through Ningxia before arriving at the Mongol's summer capital, Shangdu.
Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia
Plain Blue Banner (Shangdu)
The Polos were employed by the Khan as officials, moving with the Mongol court to the winter capital of Dadu (Beijing).
Marco Polo travelled throughout China and was particularly impressed by Hangzhou. He also travelled to Yunnan and possibly Tagaung.
Kunming, capital of Yunnan
After 16 or so years in China, the Polos were homesick and yearned to return home. The aging Kublai Khan finally granted them permission to leave, and asked them to accompany a Mongol princess to Persia. The Polos set sail from Quanzhou and visited Champa before stopping by Sumatra for five months to avoid monsoon storms.
Quy Nhon, a port in Champa
Medan, a city in Sumatra
The party then landed in Hormuz and travelled overland. Unfortunately, when they first stepped foot into Christendom, into Trebizond, they were robbed of most of their belongings.
The Polos set sail from Constantinople before finally arriving home back to Venice.
Fortune would have it that soon after Marco Polo arrived home, he would be captured prisoner in a battle against the Genoese. Marco Polo compiled his account, Il Milione, inside a prison in Genoa.
After some time, Polo was released and moved back to Venice, where he lived a quiet life as a merchant.
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