At first, many people were skeptical about his book. Rustichello wrote it in francoitalian francovenetian, a lingua franca of crusaders and western merchants in the orient. Marco polos book influenced columbus selfeducated american. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Marco polos travelogue was the only written account to have enlightened the european world with details of the eastern world. Christopher columbus himself brought along a copy of marco polo s book when he traveled to the new world in 1492. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and rustichello of pisa free ebook project gutenberg.
From venice to xanadu by laurence bergreen, the journeyer by gary jennings, in xanadu. He first set out at age 17 with his father and uncle, traveling overland. Marco polo has 373 books on goodreads with 21723 ratings. Marco polo 125424 was a venetian merchant believed to have journeyed across asia at the height of the mongol empire. Concerning the lands of india, and a prince called gran khan. Marco polo and christopher columbus selfeducated american. At the age of 41, christopher columbus wrote to the king and queen of spain in 1492. Wonders and whoppers following in marco polo s footsteps through asia leads our intrepid author to some surprising conclusions. The book was written by romance writer rustichello da pisa, who worked from accounts which he had heard from marco polo when they were imprisoned together in genoa.
A map may prove that marco polo discovered america more than two centuries before christopher columbus. In the 12th of may 1492, christopher columbus, accompanied show more content marcos book remained more for entertainment purposes until the 1450s and 60s when johann gutenberg invents the letterpress and catalyzes its spread. This book essentially follows marco polo using his own book as the framework but with added commentary and observation. His travels are recorded in the travels of marco polo also known as book of the marvels of the world and il milione, c. A sheepskin map, believed to be a copy of the th century italian explorers, may. Columbus owned a copy of marco polos book, and wrote numerous personal notes in the margins. The travels of marco polo volume 1 by marco polo and. In the 12th of may 1492, christopher columbus, accompanied by the writings of marco polo, sets sail to change history forever. Marco polo was a venetian explorer known for the book the travels of marco polo, which describes his voyage to and experiences in asia. According to a new book, centuriesold maps may reveal that marco polo sailed to the new world 200 years before christopher columbus. In 1492, christopher columbus wrote to the king and. Thanks to all of the school counselors who stopped by the booth to shop, browse dr. Marco polo, europes greatest ever traveller, suffered badly.
Istanbul marco polo city map marco polo city maps by marco polo travel publishing and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Marco polo was a thirteenthcentury venetian explorer, arguably the worlds most welltraveled explorer, and the travels of marco polo chronicles his journey through asia as a special envoy to. I believe it was gods will that we should come back, so that men might know the things that are in the world, since, as we have said in the first chapter of this book, no other man, christian or saracen, mongol or pagan, has explored so much of the world as messer marco, son of messer niccolo polo, great and noble citizen of the city of venice. Marco polo by laurence bergreen books the guardian. Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from. Marco polo was a th century italian merchant from venice. Marco polo may have discovered america hundreds of years. Marco polo may have discovered america in th century.
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