Marco Polo
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| + | "Sceptics have long wondered whether Marco Polo wrote his book based on hearsay, with some pointing to omissions about noteworthy practices and structures of China as well as the lack of details on some places in his book. While Polo describes [[paper money]] and the burning of coal, he fails to mention the [[Great Wall of China]], [[tea]], [[Chinese characters]], [[chopstick]]s, or [[footbinding]]." | ||
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| + | '''Marco Polo''' (September 15, 1254 - January 8, 1324) was a [[Republic of Venice|Venetian]] [[merchant]], [[explorer]], and writer who travelled through Asia along the [[Silk Road]] between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in ''[[The Travels of Marco Polo]]'' (also known as ''Book of the Marvels of the World '' and ''Il Milione'', c. 1300), a book that described to Europeans the then mysterious culture and inner workings of the [[Eastern world]], including the wealth and great size of the [[Mongol Empire]] and China in the [[Yuan Dynasty]], giving their first comprehensive look into [[China]], [[Persia]], [[India]], [[Japan]] and other Asian cities and countries. | ||
| - | '''Hassan-i Sabbāh''' ([[1034]]-[[1124]]) was a Persian [[Nizari|Nizārī]] [[Ismaili|Ismā'īlī]] missionary who converted a community in the late [[11th century]] in the heart of the [[Alborz]] Mountains of northern [[Iran]]. The place was called [[Alamut]] and was attributed to an ancient king of [[Daylam]]. He founded a group whose members are sometimes (originally derogatorily) referred to as the ''[[Hashshashin]]''. | + | Born in [[Venice]], Marco learned the mercantile trade from his father and his uncle, [[Niccolò and Maffeo Polo|Niccolò and Maffeo]], who travelled through Asia and met [[Kublai Khan]]. In 1269, they returned to Venice to meet Marco for the first time. The three of them embarked on an epic journey to Asia, exploring many places along the Silk Road until they reached [[Cathay]] (China). They were received by the royal court of Kublai Khan, who was impressed by Marco's intelligence and humility. Marco was appointed to serve as Khan's foreign emissary, and he was sent on many [[diplomatic mission]]s throughout the empire and Southeast Asia, such as in present-day [[Burma]], [[India]], [[Indonesia]], [[Sri Lanka]] and [[Vietnam]]. Around 1291, the Polos also offered to accompany the Mongol princess [[Kököchin]] to Persia; they arrived around 1293. After leaving the princess, they travelled overland to [[Constantinople]] and then to [[Venice]], returning home after 24 years. At this time, Venice was [[Venetian–Genoese Wars|at war with]] [[Republic of Genoa|Genoa]]; Marco was captured and imprisoned by the Genoans after joining the war effort and dictated his stories to [[Rustichello da Pisa]], a cellmate. He was released in 1299, became a wealthy [[merchant]], married, and had three children. He died in 1324 and was buried in the church of [[San Lorenzo, Venice|San Lorenzo in Venice]]. |
| - | ==Myths and Legends== | + | |
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| - | Not much is known about Hassan from first hand sources, but [[legend]]s abound as to the tactics used to induct members. They either stem from Sunni polemicists who were motivated to discredit the Nizari Isma'ili on political and religious grounds, and Crusaders returning to Europe, Marco Polo also claimed to have visited Alamut, although the timeframe he gives makes his assertion dubious at best. | + | |
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| - | According to polemical accounts which would evolve into legend; a future assassin was subjected to rites very similar to those of other [[mystery cult]]s in which the subject was made to believe that he was in imminent danger of death. But the twist of the assassins was that they drugged the person to simulate a "dying" to later have them awaken in a [[garden]] flowing with wine and served a sumptuous feast by [[virgin]]s. The supplicant was then convinced he was in [[Heaven]] and that Sabbah was a representative of the divinity and that all of his orders should be followed, even to death. This legend derives from [[Marco Polo]], who visited Alamut just after it fell to the [[Mongol]]s in the thirteenth century. | + | |
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| - | Other accounts of the indoctrination attest that the future assassins were brought to Alamut at a young age and, while they matured, inhabited the aforementioned paradisaical gardens and were kept drugged with hashish; as in the previous version, Hassan occupied this garden as a divine emissary. At a certain point (when their initiation could be said to have begun) the drug was withdrawn from them, and they were removed from the gardens and flung into a [[dungeon]]. There they were informed that, if they wished to return to the paradise they had so recently enjoyed it would be at Sabbah's discretion, and that they must therefore follow his directions exactly, up to and including murder and self-sacrifice. | + | |
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| - | Given the pillars of devoted adherence to the path of the faith, it is unlikely that the usually accepted "Assassin" postulate is accurate. Hassan had his son executed for drinking [[wine]] and another person was banished from Alamut for playing the [[flute]]. The theories of Hassan being associated with [[Hashish]] are, at best, debatable. Furthermore there have emerged traces that there was a name given to Alamut by the people with Nizarī leanings: ''al-Assas'' "the foundation". It was the base for all operations that Hassan wished to effect. Members of al-Assas were known as ''al-Assasīn''. | + | |
| + | Though he was not the first European to reach China (see [[Europeans in Medieval China]]), Marco Polo was the first to explore some parts of Asia and to leave a detailed chronicle of his experience. This account of the Orient provided the Europeans with a clear picture of the East's geography and ethnic customs and was the first Western record of porcelain, coal, gunpowder, paper money, and some Asian plants and exotic animals. His travel book inspired [[Christopher Columbus]] and many other travellers. There is substantial literature based on Polo's writings; he also influenced European [[cartography]], leading to the introduction of the [[Fra Mauro map]]. | ||
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"Sceptics have long wondered whether Marco Polo wrote his book based on hearsay, with some pointing to omissions about noteworthy practices and structures of China as well as the lack of details on some places in his book. While Polo describes paper money and the burning of coal, he fails to mention the Great Wall of China, tea, Chinese characters, chopsticks, or footbinding." |
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Marco Polo (September 15, 1254 - January 8, 1324) was a Venetian merchant, explorer, and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in The Travels of Marco Polo (also known as Book of the Marvels of the World and Il Milione, c. 1300), a book that described to Europeans the then mysterious culture and inner workings of the Eastern world, including the wealth and great size of the Mongol Empire and China in the Yuan Dynasty, giving their first comprehensive look into China, Persia, India, Japan and other Asian cities and countries.
Born in Venice, Marco learned the mercantile trade from his father and his uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, who travelled through Asia and met Kublai Khan. In 1269, they returned to Venice to meet Marco for the first time. The three of them embarked on an epic journey to Asia, exploring many places along the Silk Road until they reached Cathay (China). They were received by the royal court of Kublai Khan, who was impressed by Marco's intelligence and humility. Marco was appointed to serve as Khan's foreign emissary, and he was sent on many diplomatic missions throughout the empire and Southeast Asia, such as in present-day Burma, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Around 1291, the Polos also offered to accompany the Mongol princess Kököchin to Persia; they arrived around 1293. After leaving the princess, they travelled overland to Constantinople and then to Venice, returning home after 24 years. At this time, Venice was at war with Genoa; Marco was captured and imprisoned by the Genoans after joining the war effort and dictated his stories to Rustichello da Pisa, a cellmate. He was released in 1299, became a wealthy merchant, married, and had three children. He died in 1324 and was buried in the church of San Lorenzo in Venice.
Though he was not the first European to reach China (see Europeans in Medieval China), Marco Polo was the first to explore some parts of Asia and to leave a detailed chronicle of his experience. This account of the Orient provided the Europeans with a clear picture of the East's geography and ethnic customs and was the first Western record of porcelain, coal, gunpowder, paper money, and some Asian plants and exotic animals. His travel book inspired Christopher Columbus and many other travellers. There is substantial literature based on Polo's writings; he also influenced European cartography, leading to the introduction of the Fra Mauro map.
