A late thirteenth century, Venice was still a major maritime trading nations and the world. It was common to hear there, in the shadow of the domes of opal, along with sumptuous palaces and the golden light of the gondolas, the most extraordinary and strange stories. But that Messer Marco Polo had fresh from the confines of the world, eclipsed them all. Claimed to have been extracted from the bowels of the earth in China, black stones that burned better than wood . The Venetians, who heard him laughed, for them, coal was the most fantastic thing. He also spoke of another stone that could be spun like wool, but it was fireproof, his audience burst out laughing, even harder to imagine that the coal was asbestos. Neither believed him when he described a source he had seen in a remote country which no water flowed, but very black oil:their fellow citizens could not even suspect the existence of the oil fields of Baku.
However, it was not possible for a man, though endowed with a prodigious imagination, imagine all that. Marco Polo had returned from his travels bringing great wealth, of which perhaps the most valuable was the experience accumulated over twenty-four-year absence. Many ups and downs and his contemporaries made unlikely crossed his mind. He had much to say, no wonder it was one of the greatest travelers that mankind has known.
Marco Polo
The Wonder Book, which greatly enriched the geographical knowledge of the Europeans, is the only source (other than a will and many suits) to which goes in search of information on the life and times of Marco Polo and his Because everything that could corroborate or refute what he has in has never been found or, as his tomb, has disappeared. Of course, a book so great (and some very fancy), which has suffered versions countless interpretations and translations, has caused serious concerns, extensive discussions and a disqualification . However, all scholars seem to agree that the Polo, traders of modest wealth, came from a family Dalmatian know who settled in Venice in the eleventh century, and even the grandfather quote Andrea. They soon integrated into the dynamic commercial world of Venice, becoming a family of merchants bold. Marco's grandfather had three children: Andrea, Nicholas and Matthew. None of the three troubled them were the fatigues and the distance if glimpsed a substantial financial transaction.
Intrepid merchants:
Andrea, the eldest, was established in Constantinople and established fruitful relations with men of the caravans that came from distant countries beyond the Black Sea. The news spoke of the achievements of the Mongols in the West Asia soon made a dent in his keen business sense, so he called his brothers, who remained in Venice, and encouraged them not to waste this great opportunity of doing business.The history of "wonderful traveler" began back in 1253, just months before his birth and, as is de rigueur, with a trip. His father, Nicolas Polo, said goodbye to his pregnant wife and his brother Matthew left for Constantinople in a gallery full of wood and wrought iron bars, grain, wool and salted meat. The magnetic needle (recently imported) and the stars happily led the way to the Greek capital. Soon after arriving, she gave birth to Nicholas in Venice in 1254, Marco.
Nothing is known about the early life of that child who had to run around the streets and bridges of Venice. Mother died very suddenly, is believed to have lived in the care of his aunt Flora. It appears that he received instruction, and who could read and write, but without doubt his best school offered it the Venice of the wandering. A Venice vibrating to the beat of business and punished more harshly than crimes against property than those perpetrated against the people.
Nicholas and Matthew Polo leaving Constantinople
Six years later. As Marco grew up in Venice, Nicholas and Matthew traded in Constantinople, until one day in 1259, disturbed by the threat that hung over the city, decided to leave to settle in Crimea, in the city of Soldaia, where businesses were not as successful as expected. It then penetrated the region of the steppes and settled in Bolgar.
After two years, the nostalgia started to sting and, in the spring of 1262, prepared to return. But fate had other plans for them. Kings war broke out between Mongols and the return was filed complicated and fraught with danger. Then decided to travel towards the rising sun and settled in Bukhara, pending a peaceful path to return to Venice. The trip was not easy, but the Pole was a tireless pioneer race, bought here, sold there, learned foreign languages and found new markets, receiving good treatment everywhere and profitable by establishing agreements with the Mongols. These, which were causing such fear Christianity, proved to be a skilled administrator who lived in peace with the conquered peoples. The wall Muslim since the seventh century prevented any contact between China and the West, was nothing more than a simple curtain. The Polo brothers were the first to cross successfully.
The Polo in Bukhara
In the city of Bukhara, in the heart of Asia almost three thousand miles away from their home country, Matthew and Nicholas remained for three years, delivered himself into the trade. One day he came to them a commission sent by the great Kublai Khan, whose empire stretched from the Arctic Ocean to the Indian Ocean, and from the Pacific coast to the borders of Central Europe. The committee gave them the invitation to visit him. A year of travel took them to reach the king.
The Khan had never seen Western Europe and was an extremely odd man. Grandson of the legendary Genghis Khan, Kublai was 43 when the Polo were taken to their presence. It was a smart despot and experienced, excellent and good overall ruling, which also possessed a spirit eager for knowledge. It made them a thousand questions about European customs, especially about their religion and the Pope of Rome, who had heard about in glowing terms.
For the latter also gave a surprising request. Kublai, showing that it was extremely open in religious matters, asked the Pope to send him a hundred men learned in the Christian creed, in order that they had a dispute with the monks, Buddhist monks in their country, and promises to him and his people Christianity if it was proved that his best religion. And as evidence of his eclecticism, merchants also asked him to be brought lamp oil of the Holy Sepulchre.
Nicholas (also this time leaving his current wife pregnant), Matthew and the young Marco, seventeen, sailed towards Acre. His first concern was to locate Theobald of Piacenza, papal legate, Nicholas and Matthew who already knew of his previous trip, and ask for authorization to travel to Jerusalem. With the right papers, the three Polo sailed towards Joppa and then covered a journey of thirteen miles to Jerusalem.
Executed the first of the orders of the Great Khan, they returned to Acre with holy oil, and prepared to seek justification for not complying with the second. Theobald provided them with letters establishing that the delay they caused the death of the pope and the delay in the election of his successor.
The Polo, now quiet, they resumed the trip, but got very little progress. In Spades, they found that a rebellion was blocking the route of the caravans, and while waiting patients who cleared the way received an email from Acre. Tybalt, with the name of Gregory X was the new pope. The Pole returned to Acre in search of a hundred Christian doctors, though they provided only two friars preachers.
Nicholas and Matthew Polo before Pope Gregory X
At the beginning of 1271 decided to leave back to the court of the Great Khan. Nicholas's son, Marco, begged his father to let him join the expedition. For two years, day after day listening to the tales of travelers, and blindly believed in their stories. I was accompanied on the visit to the pope and, although she was only seventeen, he embodied the spirit of the family. Nicholas could not refuse. I knew that Marco was capable of anything; he possessed an insatiable curiosity, a privileged memory and ability to overcome adversities probably greater than yours.
From Venice to China:
Thanks to the old laissez-passer of the emperor, the three travelers were able to move smoothly. However, the two monks who accompanied them decided to go back to the first sign of danger. Polos continued their journey, which lasted more than three years. Marco Polo, who made a thorough and comprehensive review of everything he saw, spent only a short page that followed the precise route from Venice to Xanadu, leaving the reconstruction of the exact route the reader. However, it seems that after crossing the Little Armenia, which described the trade, hunting and customs of its people, "who are not good Christian but do not practice religion as the Romans, came to Anatolia Polo Turcomania called land of weavers 'the world's most beautiful rugs, "and from there to the Great Armenia, where he saw" a source from which oil wells can not be used as food, but excellent fuel.
Leaving the port of Venice
Then visited Mosul, where are the most beautiful gold and silk fabrics, called "mosulin" in Tabriz and was enraptured with the largest pearl market of the globe. Saba said he admired the tombs of the Magi, and in Kerman, the famous turquoise, which carry with them the misery of those who have love, it is believed from the skeletons of people unhappy in love.
They were attacked by bandits and tried wearily reach Hormuz, from where they intended to sail for China, but once there they changed the plans in view of the risk posed by the weakness of the boats. Then launched toward the northeast and went into the continent to Tunocain, after crossing the desert regions. The days passed tiring to reach Balkh in northern Afghanistan. Decided to take a long rest at Balash, where the caravan stopped for a time .
Buying and selling, ultimately increasing profits (though without ever talking about it), hunting from time to time and always admire women ("maidens of Tunocain Mohammedan, in my opinion the most beautiful in the world 'or the ladies of Balash, site that "that which appears thicker waist down is considered more beautiful"), Marco Polo traveled with his relatives for the vast Asia. They had already accomplished much of the journey begun in the spring of 1271, and at no time had left Marco Polo noted in his memory industry, fruits, animals (wild sheep Ovis call a cop in his honor) and all what excited his curiosity, which was a lot.
In the court of Kublai Khan
In June of 1275 came at last to Xanadu, the summer residence of the monarch, who fled for a few months Cambaluc heat (Beijing), the capital. Kublai recalled perfectly to your friends, read the pope's letter showed no signs of disappointment at the absence of a hundred wise and put the oil of the Holy Sepulchre with her other treasures. Kublai have immediately asked who was the smart girl who accompanied the travelers, to which Nicholas replied: "It is my son and your servant, and I brought with me with great dangers and efforts of such distant lands, considered the most precious garment I have, for ofreceroslo as a slave".And it was. Marco Polo Kublai served for seventeen years, who above all to see, target and report back. King impressed by both the wit and intelligence of the Venetian as the panache with which dealt with political affairs, sent first to the city of Caragian (in Yunnan province, six-month journey from the capital), where he completed his task with such brilliance and produced a report so detailed that amazed all and sundry.
Ambassador for a year in Campicion, several stays in Quinsay to control the receiver of taxes, the governor for three years in Yangzhou, in addition to an embassy in India, were some of the missions that followed and from which sandwiched a wandering self . By then, Marco had already mastered several languages and dialects, eastern and could, therefore, go without an interpreter the various countries that were part of the vast Mongol empire. The vivid and glowing accounts of their experiences and the ease with which thousands of details remembered loved to Khan, bored with the monotony of reports from its officials.
While serving his master, he soaked up life in China and could not stop observing the smallest detail. Marco Polo saw and described the wonderful civilization of medieval China. Advances in this country in relation to the Europe of the time can be determined by the things that remind the tireless traveler then as wonderful and new for him: broad streets, police patrol at night, public carriages, bridges high enough to allow the passage of ships, sewers under the streets or roads lined on both sides by trees and exquisitely fragrant care. Severe compared the regulation of prostitution in the domains of Khan with the promiscuity of the Venice of his time, was amazed at the use of paper money and described some of consuming foods such as ice cream and pasta, "The wheat has of both peak between them, but I picked and eaten as macaroni or other kinds of pasta. "It also amazed "to a class of large black stones that are extracted from the mountains ... that fire and flames are like sticks and serve to cook better than wood".
Meanwhile, his father and uncle grew rich from trade. Discrete, efficient and faithful, the three Venetians never had disappointed his master, he felt for them a real appreciation. There had been rich, but they were tired and longing for the gentle breezes of the Adriatic, the brightness of the dome of St. Mark, the call of the gondoliers and sweet Italian accent. It was time to return home to enjoy his fortune and establish a framework.
The journey of Marco Polo
The challenge was to find a pretext to secede from Kublai without offending and, above all, without compromising the price of their labors. The Great Khan was growing old and envy for the favors that he had been growing around him. China knew enough to know that the death of his master would be theirs. But it was easier to get into the court of Kublai to leave her. Nicholas was commissioned to ask permission first, "because in my country I have a wife and Christian law helplessly as I can not live. " The king found perhaps too trivial pretext, and he replied that though they could walk in any part of their domains, "nothing in the world could abandon them". Followed by other requests and the answer is always negative, saying that he were needed.
Meanwhile, the crafty merchants sold all they possessed, the product invested in precious stones and drew up three dresses lined with cotton wool, which sewed the jewelry. Finally there was a favorable opportunity. The Mongol ruler of Persia, Argon, a cousin of Kublai, had been widowed. The last wish of his wife was that the new consort was chosen by the emperor among the descendants of Genghis Khan. Kublai received this request and appointed a beautiful princess of seventeen, Cocachin, immediately giving the order to be carried to distant Persia.
The Polo is offered to fulfill this mission. Marco had just returned from India and brought valuable information. It was easy, he said, reaching the Persian Gulf coasting along the mainland to avoid the many dangers that dotted the land routes. Reluctantly, the Khan agreed. Made available to the Venetians thirteen ships, crew and an escort, gave them a fortune in gold and entrusted to the maid. Finally, in mid 1292, the Polo left Beijing.
Return
The Polo, Princess Cocachin guardians, future queen of Persia, embarked on one of the great ships chartered for the expedition and began the long journey from China to Persia, first as Venice, later. Marco Polo went on to describe the long-standing custom of the country by the time they passed. The first appointment is Sumatra, divided into several kingdoms, where they arrested five months because of bad weather. They learned to make palm wine and learned the properties of the coconut and drink and food.Sumatra became the Andaman and thence to Ceylon, India coast. In Malabar visited the pearl fisheries and do not forget to note that "he who drinks wine can not be a witness or who navigate the sea. Because they say a wine drinker who surf the sea are desperate people and not accept them as witnesses, or take into account his testimony. "Gullible, Marco Polo repeated odd tall tale, as when he asserts that "Indian children at birth are clear complexion, but her parents bathe weekly with sesame oil and become as black as hell".
The port of Hormuz in an illustration
Two and half years were the trip up to Hormuz, they already knew. Argon was dead and Princess Cocachin became an embarrassment to not know what to do. Finally she was married to the son of argon and was free of charge. Arrived at the port of Venice on a winter day in 1295 .
There were twenty-five years since they left Venice, Nicholas and Matthew were already old, Marco Polo was forty-two years and had spent most of his life in distant lands, it was a strange foreign accent "had an indescribable air Tartar Tatar was like his accent, having forgotten about the Venetian language".
When they knocked at the door of his home in the canal of St. John Chrysostom, someone who did not know was open. During his long absence, his relatives believed they had been killed and their property had been sold. Nobody recognized those three strange pilgrims dressed in tattered and dirty clothes. The words of Venetian dialect are entangled in the language, so they assumed foreigners. To prove his identity, Polo gave a banquet to which they invited many personalities. Throughout the evening, changed his clothes several times and finally got the rags that covered the back, I descend linings and showed their wealth before the stunned crowd. Such abundance of sapphires, diamonds, rubies and pearls was for those merchants Croesuses more tangible proof that all stories in the world. Travelers willingly answered many questions they were asked. His story, however, seemed so fantastic at all hereafter to appoint a charlatan; they used to say in Venice: "This is a Polo!"
Although labeled as fantasy, the Pole were unusually rich. Therefore, when war arose between Genoa and Venice, Marco put together a galley at his own expense and sent as captain. But the Marco Polo warrior was not so fortunate as an explorer and trader. In 1298, at the Battle of Curzola, was captured and taken to Genoa, where he was forced to march barefoot through the cobbled streets before being locked in a dungeon of the palace of the Capitano del Popolo.
The Wonder Book:
This misfortune, however, Marco Polo owes part of his celebrity. Because it was during his captivity when issued the wonderful book of his travels.Indeed, a man of letters a prisoner like him, Rustichello of Pisa, was fascinated by his stories and gave way during the long hours the two spent together in jail Genoese. Rustichello, author of several French romances about King Arthur, accepted with alacrity the opportunity to collaborate in the description of the world. Marco Polo asked his father to send him the notes he had taken during his travels and his partner gave everything he had lived until then.Thus arose, in French, a French perhaps not grammatically correct and in which there are many Italian terms, a work which is known by many titles: The description of the world, The Book of Marco Polo, The Book of Wonders, The Travels of Marco Polo, dubbed the Milione ... The book ended with the year of grace 1298, but the life of his hero continued.
The following year, Marco was released and returned to Venice with the manuscript, he did copy by friends and sent him to edit. The story would get an overwhelming success, although it was regarded as pure fantasy. Marco Polo was already forty-five, and plunged into business. Gradually he inherited all his relatives and became increasingly greedy and friend of lawsuits. Married and although the date of its link with Donata Badoer Vitale's daughter, is not on any record (the first documented report on it is called is a legal letter of March 17, 1312, by which his uncle was liquidating dowry for Marco), had three daughters: Fantina, Bellela and Moreta.
The coming years will be monotonous and uniform occurred to him that he had known the squabbles of a magnificent court. Body and soul dedicated to trade, sell glass lamps, brought to Venice or Florence fabrics imported indigo leaves a large scale. They have always quoted astronomical and hence it is assumed that he got the nickname Milione: "Due to continuously repeat the often told story about the splendor of the Great Khan, his riches, which were ten to fifteen million gold, and how to always speak of the many other riches of those countries in terms of millions, he was given the nickname of Polo Milione Messer. "There have been, however, other explanations for the nickname.
He lived his last years in peace and trade until his death on the evening of January 8, 1324, death, like him, unnoticed by his countrymen. He was seventy years. He was buried according to his wishes, alongside his father on the porch of the church of San Lorenzo, tombs, like almost everything that is part of life or death of Marco Polo, have disappeared.
The extensive stories on festivals, wine and food seem to indicate, moreover, enjoyed the pleasures of life. Some scattered notes Wonder Book presumes that "he was well trained and sympathetic figure and face, without being handsome, " and through a sentence can be deduced that "women of different races find him attractive, " but is very difficult to separate fact from fable in the life of a Venetian who was a famous storyteller.
His contemporaries did not take all that seriously, and even his friends, worried about the bad reputation he reported "telling stories so exaggerated, " he advised that "correct the work and withdraw what he had to write off the truth. " They say that Marco Polo said: "I have not written even half the things I was permitted to see. " Half a century later, other passengers confirmed, point by point, as reported by Marco. It took much more time for the halo of legends surrounding his book will dissipate. Hundred and fifty years later, his information that a large ocean bathed in East Asia suggested to the idea that ocean sailing westward across the Atlantic, it was possible to reach China. It was Christopher Columbus, and today we know that during his travels took him a volume of the fabulous story of Marco Polo.
