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Recommended: Essays of Travel
Will Dunn
Mr. Leite
Western Civilization
19 November 2017
Marco Polo
The name Marco Polo isn’t just famous for the child's water game. Marco Polo is one of the most famous travelers and traders in history. In my paper, I will discuss his historic travels and his life. Marco Polo was born around 1254, most likely in Venice, Italy. He died at about 70 years of age in 1324 after a full life, well lived. Marco Polo was a Venetian explorer well-known for his merchant travels and the famous book Description of the World, which tells the story of his travels, experiences and adventures in Asia.
Despite his great fame, not much is known about the early years or personal life of Marco Polo. We do know he was born into
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When the Polos arrived in Venice, the city was at war with a rival city, Genoa. Marco Polo joined the Venetian Navy in 1298. Marco rose to the rank of gentleman-commander. During a battle with Genoa, Marco Polo was captured and imprisoned. By this time he was famous, and as a result, was treated with unusual courtesy for a prisoner. He was released within a year. It was during his time in prison that Marco Polo told his story to a popular writer, Rustichello of Pisa. Rustichello wrote the now famous book, Description of the World. This manuscript became the most widely read book in Europe and inspired later explorers like Christopher …show more content…
Marco Polo described the Khan’s postal system and use of paper money, both of which were later adopted by European countries. Polo detailed many other Chinese customs, including the mining and use of coal - which he called “black stones.” The book led to more contact and trade between Europe and Asia. Many believe the book also helped bring Chinese inventions, such as the compass and printing to Europe. History has proven Marco Polo’s maps and stories of local customs to be remarkably accurate. This famous book is Marco Polo’s most important contribution to history. Not much is known about his life after his return to Venice. He died in his home in Venice on January 8, 1324. He was buried at the Church of Lorenzo in Venice, and remains to this day one of Italy’s most celebrated
When comparing the Chinese and Western historical development, the similar key events would have very different outcomes due to their different backgrounds. During the fifteenth century, Zheng He was commissioned to lead the “treasure ships” for seven voyages down the Western Seas. And, Prince Henry sent expeditions to explore the western coast of Africa. China and Portugal, the both ends of the Eurasian continent, almost simultaneously began marine navigations. They have shared some similar features, but there are actually major differences between the two. This paper will compare and contrast these two remarkable explorers. The focus will be on the ideas and circumstances that influenced their actions, and their importance in shaping history.
Christopher Columbus is a mythical hero or in other words, not a true hero. The story of Christopher Columbus is part of the many myths of Western civilization. Also the story of Christopher Columbus represents the power of those that are privileged and in most cases white European men that have written this mythical history. Zinn (2009 exposes the truth about Columbus through eyes of the people who were there when he had arrived which were the Native Indians (p.481). Columbus had kept a personal journal for his voyage to describe the people and the journey. What was evident throughout his journal was the Native Americans were very nice, gentle and kind hearted people (Zinn, 2009, 481). As Zinn suggests Columbus spoke of the Native Americans as” they are the best people in the world and
He is said to have been introduced to the sailing life when he was 14 years of age when “he left his home to become a ship’s mate on a Portuguese fleet to Africa (Hurst 1).” While with the fleet, that is where he would have been exposed to many of the things that years later shaped his own expedition. He sailed north from Africa, to “England, Ireland, and even Iceland when he was 25 years of age (Hurst 2).” In Africa, he would have learned of the gold and slave trade and even catch glimpses of the New World from shipmates.
Christopher Columbus began many of his adventures with preexisting sources and models from well-known philosophers and explores, mixture of inventions, misrepresentations and concealment (Bodmer,10). Despite his knowledge of geography and cosmology, he used models that were complex and contradicting, providing factual and mythical reports of what he could expect to find on the islands he would soon explore. The most detailed information which was creditable based on objectivity and accurate accounts were described by Marco Polo. The book ‘Travels’, would become a resource used by Columbus to compare his discoveries, for here it would reveal actual and potential problems that were identified by Marco Polo (Bodmer, 13,14). According to Polo, land that was located beyond the reach of commercial expeditions would belong to the first man who could reach them, according to the rules of the imperialistic pattern of appropriation (Bodmer, 16). As Columbus’s imagines of finding lands rich ...
It is thought by many that Christopher Columbus was a skilled sailor on a mission of greed. Many think that he in fact did it all for the money, honor and the status that comes with an explorer, but this is not the case entirely. Columbus was an adventurer and was enthused by the thrill of the quest of the unknown. “Columbus had a firm religious faith and a scientific curiosity, a zest for life, the felling for beauty and the striving for novelty that we associate with the advancement of learning”. He had heard of the legendary Atlantic voyages and sailors reports of land to the west of Madeira and the Azores. He believed that Japan was about 4,800 km to the west of Portugal. In 1484, Columbus wanted support for an exploratory voyage from King John II of Portugal, but he was refused. In 1485, Columbus took his son Diego and went to Spain to get some help.
In our personal lives we consider our past forgotten, however in our history everyone affects how they see themselves. "history repeats itself " is gradually long time we know manipulated and deceived us the wrong information, books, learning in school, the "biased" report before the newspaper, radio and television. Let us move on and we just solemn pray for that will prosper in our country. I noticed that there have been distortions in our history. It’s sad because it seems like we have forgotten the sacrifices of those who died during the time of dictatorship. This tragedy cannot continue. We should stand up for someone’s rights today. Times have changed. More sooner than later, they will take power into their hands by all and whatever
around 1622 to 1673 in Europe. In "The Journey to The West”, Tripitaka, and three of his
Sensenig, Pearl L. "Marco Polo: An Inspiration to Christopher Columbus and The Age of Discovery". Sensen01.cwk@millersv.edu
“Three explorers from the Age of Exploration” Age of Explorations was a time of discovery of the new world during the 15th through 17th century. Many Explorers were in search for new passage ways, new trading ports, new land, new spices, and riches. The three explorers discussed in this paper is Henry Hudson, Jacques Cartier, and Francisco Pizarro. Henry Hudson was an explorer whose main purpose was to find a route to Asia from Europe, he had a series of three voyages trying to achieve this. Jacques Cartier was sent to find riches and a route to Asia as well.
He didn't have a very exciting life when he was younger but he did grow up sailing on short trips on the English coast. Since a young age he knew he wanted to be on the water. When he was older he sailed on countless voyages.
There is a debate whether or not Marco Polo truly went to China. The side that does not believe Marco Polo traveled to China has this view because Marco Polo did not mention the Great Wall. In addition, the Chinese culture was not noted of. Being a foreigner, Marco Polo did not write about these strange things such as foot binding, calligraphy and etcetera. Not only that, but Marco Polo did not catch onto and learn the Chinese language due to the time he was there. Also, Marco Polo was not mentioned or documented about directly in the Chinese writings. However, three Venetians were written about.
Were the Medicis the great heroes of the Renaissance or the great villains? The Medici’s were a prominent family in the Renaissance, who ruled Florence from 1434 to 1737. They are regarded as being one of the most powerful and richest families in the whole of Europe. The Medics used this great status and wealth to develop an improved Florence, one that was significantly influenced by the Renaissance.
Who was Amerigo Vespucci? This is a question I asked myself as I was researching the man credited with the discovery of the new world. Much information has been written about Christopher Columbus and very little about Amerigo Vespucci. To understand who Amerigo Vespucci was is to look at his life and times in that time period. This paper is an attempt to look at his history and try to get a better understanding of his life in the “Age of Discovery”. To have an understanding of Vespucci is to remember that to the day of his death, Columbus persisted in claiming he was in parts of Asia. This is part of the old world mentality and shows that Columbus never fully comprehended the achievements of his voyages. Two continents are named after Amerigo Vespucci. A great achievement for a man who many feel is a charlatan of geography. Did he discover America or was this honor bestowed on the wrong man?
Divided into four sections: Prelude; Love Hope and Sex and Dreams; Paradise Lost; Adventures of a Perilous and Swashbuckling Nature; War; and finally, Cast Away, the order of the sections already give insight on the life that Columbus lead. At first his life was full of hope and ambition, through the first chunk Columbus’ life is depicted. Beginning with the voyage the whole world remembers, Dugard unveils sides of Columbus’ character that many readers weren't aware of. Columbus was exactly 41 when he sailed in 1492, he was an Italian vagabond who ironically was quite cheerful, confident, and at times prone to the occasional boast. At six feet tall, with a very cunning mind, he somehow seduced the most powerful woman in the world at that time: Queen Isabella. Columbus was married, and then widowed, to a woman named Felipa Puestrello y Mariz. In his youth, Columbus became interested in traveling the world because of a man named Marco Polo. In 1271, Marco Polo, traveled to china via ship and camel. He returned twenty four years later with more knowledge of the world than...
Around the time of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, Europe was a place in need of inspiration. Marco Polo, a merchant, and still a simple man, was this source of inspiration. He was an ordinary boy during his childhood, living a similar life to the other boys his age. Although his intentions might not have been as significant as his impact, he was very influential. Marco Polo served as an influence to many later explorers. Whether it was through his book, The Travels of Marco Polo, which focused mainly on descriptions of spices and commercial goods and many other interesting trade items he encountered in his travels, he sparked an interest and desire of not only Europe, but later explorers as well . Marco Polo was viewed to have had definite charm and also having much capability. He has also proven that he was a tough man. This is evident because of the many voyages he survived, which included occurrences of bandit ambushes, disease, and not to mention the fatigue of the travel. There have been many who believe that Marco Polo was not intellectually equipped, meaning that he was not a very educated man, as no European probably was at the time . But as always, there is of course some speculation on the many aspects of the life of Marco Polo. Many people have their own beliefs of whom the real Marco Polo was and what he accomplished. There will be mention on some of the alleged negative, yet also positive aspects of his life. Despite all the accusations or assumptions of Marco Polo, history was affected as a result of his existence. He still remains an important figure in history.