Marco Polo

Traveller, Adventurer and Renowned Trader

An Early Start to Grand Adventures

Marco Polo was just 17 years old when he began his great journey east in 1271, departing Venice with his father Niccolo and uncle Maffeo. This was likely his first time leaving home and possibly the first time he had met his father and uncle, who had been traveling the world since his birth.

The elder Polos were not new to the Far East; they had already visited China and met with Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan prior to Marco's journey. Kublai Khan, curious about Christianity, had requested that Niccolo and Maffeo bring him 100 Christian men to learn about the religion, as well as holy oil from Jerusalem. While they procured the oil, they could not gather the 100 Christians for the return journey.

A Journey Spanning Decades and Continents Marco Polo's epic journey lasted 24 years, from 1271 to 1295. During this time, he traveled approximately 15,000 miles over land along the Silk Road and by sea, traversing vast parts of Asia. Controversial (and possibly forged) maps suggest he may even have visited parts of the Alaskan coast hundreds of years before Vitus Bering.

Life at Kublai Khan's Court.

Marco arrived at Kublai Khan's summer palace in Shangdu (Xanadu) in 1275, at the age of 21. He claimed to have not only reached the court but also to have befriended the emperor, becoming his right-hand man and advisor. Marco served in various administrative posts for 17 years. He learned to provide detailed and interesting reports to the Khan, noting "peculiar features of the places that he traveled" because Kublai was often "bored by the brief and factual accounts".

Marco’s flattering portrayal of the Khan demonstrates his fondness for the ruler. When Marco eventually wished to return home, Kublai Khan, having grown attached, initially denied his request. He finally consented in 1292, on the condition that Marco accompany Princess Kokachin on her sea voyage to Persia. To ensure their safety, the emperor granted Marco a golden tablet of safe conduct. Some sources suggest Marco Polo may have been a member of Kublai Khan's keshig, his personal bodyguard. The monk Jean le Long of Ypres described Marco as being "retained by the Emperor and employed in his military service," even being made a "knight". Ramusio's edition of Polo's book states that Kublai Khan had Marco "inscribed among his other honoured attendants". Marco's detailed knowledge of the keshig, which was a "state secret," further supports this hypothesis.

Observations and Insights (and Some Common Misconceptions).

Marco Polo was an acute observer who recorded much that was new to Europeans. He is credited with introducing the concept of paper currency to Europe, describing in detail how the Mongol Empire circulated paper money and the systems in place to prevent counterfeiting.

He was fascinated by the yak's silky fur and brought some yak hair back to Venice as a curiosity. He also encountered the chow chow dog breed and musk deer.

Contrary to popular belief, Marco Polo did not introduce pasta to Italy. Noodles were already common in Europe at the time. While he didn't bring ice cream to Europe, he described an early "milkshake" made by Mongols who dried milk, added water while riding and the motion caused it to thicken. He also described new and unusual foods, including rare spices like ginger, which had become scarce in Europe.

Marco Polo believed in sorcery and evil spirits, recounting stories of magicians who could control the weather and make wine levitate. He also repeated myths as fact, such as evil spirits haunting the Gobi Desert.

Marco learned four languages during his travels but while he primarily used Persian, the lingua franca of the Mongol empire, some sources indicate he was unfamiliar with Chinese. His accurate reporting of Chinese folk culture and particular naming for certain individuals, verifiable by Chinese sources, suggests direct contact with Han Chinese populations, contradicting the idea that his accounts were based solely on hearsay.

Interestingly, Marco Polo's book does not mention famous Chinese cultural elements like tea-drinking, foot-binding or the Great Wall. This is often attributed to his focus on Mongol administration and trade rather than daily Chinese life. It is also noted that the famous Ming Dynasty Great Wall was constructed later, and earlier sections were in ruins during his visit, making its omission reasonable. However, he did describe money printing, porcelain and coal. He also accurately identified asbestos as a mineral fiber, dispelling the common belief that it was an amphibian's skin or fur.

Return to Europe and the Creation of His Book

After returning to Venice in 1295, Marco Polo found his homeland at war with the Republic of Genoa. He took up arms for Venice and was subsequently captured by Genoese forces and imprisoned. During his time in jail (until May 1299), he befriended Rustichello of Pisa, a writer of popular romances. Marco dictated his life story to Rustichello, who then produced the manuscript that would become The Travels of Marco Polo. The book covers a vast geographical area, from Constantinople to Japan, Siberia and Africa.

A Contentious Legacy Despite its eventual influence, The Travels of Marco Polo was initially regarded by many readers as a work of fiction or a chivalric fable, similar to the King Arthur legends. His accounts were often considered exaggerated, leading to the phrase "It's a Marco Polo" to describe an unbelievable tale.

On his deathbed in 1323, friends reportedly asked him to recant his stories, but Marco refused, famously saying, "I have not written down the half of those things which I saw". Nevertheless, much of his reporting has been corroborated by later explorations and historical research. For instance, his detailed descriptions of the city of Quinsai (Hangzhou) are largely consistent with contemporary Chinese sources. His accounts of places like Zhenjiang, including the presence of Nestorian Christians and the governor Mar Sargis, are supported by 14th-century Chinese local gazetteers.

Marco Polo's journey and his book profoundly inspired subsequent explorers, most notably Christopher Columbus, who carried a copy of The Travels of Marco Polo on his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. In recognition of his contributions to natural history, a subspecies of wild sheep (Ovis ammon polii) was named after him in 1841. The academic debate regarding the exact veracity of his travels continues, but his historical significance remains undisputed