Marco Polo: Timeline, Biography and Accomplishments

Marco Polo was the son of Niccolò and Dona Lisa Polo. He was born on September 15, 1254 to this family of traders, led by his uncle Maffeo. Marco Polo was among the early Westerners to successfully travel to China. He literally played envoy to the grandson of Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan, of the Yuan Dynasty. He died on January 8, 1324 from cancer. He was in Venice, Italy at the time and the ailment was then referred to as 'consumption' on account of insufficient research and medical assistance available.

Biography

Marco's 'Polo' surname indicates the family of traders. His father and uncle were prosperous as merchants, who traded regularly with the Orient. They explored the regions of Constantinople, Crimea and Sudak, in and around the Balkans. The adventures along the land routes helped the family establish good political ties. This seemed to be preordained to help him in his travels later. The family then moved base to the Crimean city of Soldaia, in 1259. Their decision to move from Constantinople proved wise, since the region was recaptured by Nicaea, in 1261.

The Polo traders frequented Sarai and the court of Berke Khan, Bukhara and the court of Kublai Khan. It was on one such journey that he met the Mongol king. They reached Khanbaliq and met with Kublai Khan in 1274. They used the Northern Silk Road and braved through perils of the terrain and interspersed tribes. They spent 17 years in China, with much of Marco Polo's time spent in the company of Kublai Khan.

The family returned from China in 1295. They chose the Italian city of Venice to settle down in and attracted eager crowds to listen to their accounts of China. In the war between Venice and Genoa, he was captured and imprisoned, in 1298. It was in prison that a French cellmate noted his accounts in 'Il Milione' or 'The Million'. The French language version took the form of a book called 'Le divisament dou monde' or 'Description of the world'. On his release from prison in 1299, he returned to Venice. As a wealthy merchant, he financed world expeditions. He married Donata Badoer in 1300 and had three children. He died in 1324, at the age of 70, and is buried in San Lorenzo.

Accomplishments

Marco Polo's interaction with the orient has been penned to detail in his travelogue. This has helped us to assimilate information on oriental and occidental interactions even as the crusades were on. Kublai Khan's Mongol ambassador to the Pope, Koeketei, had carried a letter from his master inviting educated followers of Christianity to introduce Western customs to the orient. The invitation was accompanied by an authorization to obtain lodging, food and horses throughout the Khan's kingdom. This is indicative of the Khan's religious tolerance and eagerness to know about new customs and traditions.

His diary or travelogue maintained details of diplomatic missions and assignments, observations of land and people of the orient and his tenure as governor of Yangzhou city, for three years. His travel account clearly specifies the love of Kublai Khan for foreign visitors and his versatility as a king, diplomat, administrator and friend. His long exposure to Chinese culture gave the European continent a rich understanding about the Silk Route and the initial adventures along newly discovered sea routes.