Marco Polo: From Venice to XanaduAs the most celebrated European to explore Asia, Marco Polo was the original global traveler and the earliest bridge between East and West. A universal icon of adventure and discovery, he has inspired six centuries of popular fascination and spurious mythology. Now, from the acclaimed author ofOver the Edge of the World: Magellan’s Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe(“Superb . . . A first-rate historical page turner”—The New York Times)—comes the first fully authoritative biography of one of the most enchanting figures in world history. In this masterly work, Marco Polo’s incredible odyssey—along the Silk Road and through all the fantastic circumstances of his life—is chronicled in sumptuous and illuminating detail. We meet him as a callow young man, the scion of a wealthy Venetian merchant family, only seventeen when he sets out in 1271 with his father and uncle on their journey to Asia. We see him gain the confidence of Kublai Khan, the world’s most feared and powerful leader, and watch him become a trusted diplomat and intelligence agent in the ruler’s inner circle. We are privy to his far-flung adventures on behalf of the Khan, living among the Mongols and other tribes, and traveling to magical cities, some far advanced over the West. We learn the customs of the Khan’s court, both erotic and mercantile, and Polo’s uncanny ability to adapt to them. We follow him on his journey back to Venice, laden with riches, the latest inventions, and twenty-four years’ worth of extraordinary tales. And we see his collaboration with the famed writer Rustichello of Pisa, who immediately saw in Polo the story of a lifetime; enlivened by his genius for observation, Polo’s tales needed little embellishment. Recorded by Rustichello as the two languished as prisoners of war in a Genoese jail, theTravelswould explode the notion of non-Europeans as untutored savages and stand as the definitive description of China until the nineteenth century. Drawing on original sources in more than half a dozen languages, and on his own travels along Polo’s route in China and Mongolia, Bergreen explores the lingering controversies surrounding Polo’s legend, settling age-old questions and testing others for significance. Synthesizing history, biography, and travelogue, this is the timely chronicle of a man who extended the boundaries of human knowledge and imagination. Destined to be the definitive account of its subject for decades to come,Marco Polotakes us on a journey to the limits of history—and beyond. |
Contents
The Commander | 3 |
The Merchants of Venice II | 11 |
The Golden Passport | 31 |
Copyright | |
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Ahmad animals army Asia Balkh barons battle Battle of Curzola Bayan beasts beautiful became brothers Buddhist Cambulac century China Chinese Christian court custom death describes desert Despite doge drink dynasty East elephants emperor enemies Europe European father and uncle forces Genghis Khan Genoa Genoese gold Hangzhou History horses hundred idols inhabitants island journey Kaidu Khan's king kingdom known Kublai Khan land lion live lord manuscript Marco explains Marco Polo Marco relates Marco reports Marco says Marco's account merchants miles Mongol Empire Mongolian mountains Muslims Nayan Nestorian palace Pax Mongolica pearls Persian Polo company Polo's pope province Quinsai Ramusio region ruler Rustichello Rustichello of Pisa seemed ships Silk Road spirit stones Tartars tell things thousand tion took trade Translated Travels Venetian Veneto Venice wife wind wish wives women Yüan Yuan Dynasty Yule and Cordier