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Introduction The Book Marco's World The Crusades The Mongols The Merchants of Venice The Travels Kublai Khan The Voyage Home Man of a Million Lies? Timeline Bibliography A Note on Religion A Note on the Texts Map of Marco's Journey Links |
The World of Marco Polo Many of Marco's stories were about China and its people. He wrote of the towns, cities and populations in great detail. With very little contact between China and the West, it is little wonder that trading states such as Venice and Genoa could not believe in vast, wealthy city states inhabited by millions of people. There could surely be no comparison with Venice? Yet there was, and our deeper knowledge of the world today proves it. The Chinese kept meticulous accounts of their wealth and status throughout the centuries, supporting Marco's stories. In a century of turmoil and opportunity, these two worlds of wealth and power could still exist with the minimum of contact. In our age of communication and the global village, it seems almost inconceivable that the world could have existed in this way. It makes the achievements of Marco Polo seem all the more remarkable. Venice depended upon the enterprise of its native traders for its survival, and merchants could expect to spend years away from home in pursuit of new wealth. Oriental wares, especially silk and spices were highly prized. In these early days of international trade, jewels were the accepted currency. They were of high value and easily portable in small bulk. Marco, along with his father, Nicolo, and Uncle, Maffeo, were no different. It should be remembered that they were always traders first, travellers second. Even so, the young Marco was intensely interested and observant of everything, accurately reporting much of what we know to be true today. A large caravan was assembled for the journey consisting of camels, carts and pack animals. Camels were important for the journeys success. A drink of water could last a camel for five days or so, and in difficult times, they could be forced to regurgitate water for the travellers' needs. The entire journey to China, then known as Cathay, was initially planned as a sea-faring one. However, the vessel awaiting them at Hormuz was considered unseaworthy, and they abandoned the plan in favour of travelling overland. Their intial quest was to reach Jerusalem where the pope had given them permission to collect oil from the Holy Sepulchre at the request of Kublai Khan. They would then travel to the new Chinese capital of Peking to deliver this gift. Kublai is said to have requested the oil for his Christian-worshipping mother, but it may also have been for his own reasons. Kublai Khan had a deep interest in all faith and religion. He honoured them all except those that practised human sacrifice, and he even practised some of them. In effect, if there was an afterlife or a god to answer too, then Kublai was keeping his options open. On Nicolo and Maffeo's previous trip to China, Kublai had given them a special pass, a paiza. This was a medallion, a kind of passport, allowing its bearers safe passage, hospitality and supplies as requested. This was valid throughout the Mongol empire. It was in effect, a direct instruction from Kublai Khan himself. Any who failed to observe it could expect to feel the full force of the entire Mongol army brought down upon them. In the respect of law, the Mongols were ruthless. And so it was that in 1271AD, at the age of seventeen, the great journey of Marco Polo began. But would Marco have been so keen to go if he had known then that he would not see home again for another twenty-six years? |