Marco Polo who was a Venetian merchant traveler lived in the Venice Republic. The travels of Marco Polo was recorded by Messer Rustichello of Pisa when Marco Polo was in prison in Genoa in 1298 (Polo Travels extract 1). As the book record, when Marco Polo stayed in China, The book records the Asian wonders and curiosities and Marco Polo’s journey and experience. “It is no exaggeration to say that never before or since has one man given such an immense body of new geographical knowledge to the west.” (Laner 1999, p.1). This book has a huge influence on the west, but it always exists controversy about the reality and reliability of it. This essay will discuss The travels of Marco Polo is not “an accurate record, free from any sort of fabrication”
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Furthermore, Marco Polo was best in recounting details about finances and trade (Cantor 1999, p.299). As Jacoby (2006, p.2017) point out, the travel account provided by Marco lend credibility of commodities, manufacture, trade in the late thirteenth century. The details about the currency in China is helpful for historians to research the Yuan dynasty’s monetary system. The process of money’s production and the use of paper money was recorded in detail. The bast between the bark and the wood of mulberry trees is stripped off and then it is crumbled and pounded and flattened out with the aid of the glue into sheets of cotton paper. They are cut into rectangles of various sizes and different sizes worth different value of silver or gold (Polo Travels extract 25). Many of Marco Polo’s descriptions are in excellent agreement with what is reported in Chinese sources, as for example the “History of the Yuan” (Vogel 2013, p.1).
In conclusion, the travels of Marco Polo is not entirely accurate and reliable and even exists fabrication. It is undeniable that both directly and indirectly, Marco Polo was able to bring about a monumental leap of exploration into history. It is useful for historians to know the social environment in the East and the Western’s perspective to China. From his book, individuals can know the Asian glory scenery, interesting customs, and different culture, which invokes a desire to future Europeans to engage in Eastern interactions. Marco’s contribution can not be
Furthermore, Marco Polo was best in recounting details about finances and trade (Cantor 1999, p.299). As Jacoby (2006, p.2017) point out, the travel account provided by Marco lend credibility of commodities, manufacture, trade in the late thirteenth century. The details about the currency in China is helpful for historians to research the Yuan dynasty’s monetary system. The process of money’s production and the use of paper money was recorded in detail. The bast between the bark and the wood of mulberry trees is stripped off and then it is crumbled and pounded and flattened out with the aid of the glue into sheets of cotton paper. They are cut into rectangles of various sizes and different sizes worth different value of silver or gold (Polo Travels extract 25). Many of Marco Polo’s descriptions are in excellent agreement with what is reported in Chinese sources, as for example the “History of the Yuan” (Vogel 2013, p.1).
In conclusion, the travels of Marco Polo is not entirely accurate and reliable and even exists fabrication. It is undeniable that both directly and indirectly, Marco Polo was able to bring about a monumental leap of exploration into history. It is useful for historians to know the social environment in the East and the Western’s perspective to China. From his book, individuals can know the Asian glory scenery, interesting customs, and different culture, which invokes a desire to future Europeans to engage in Eastern interactions. Marco’s contribution can not be