best translation of the travels of marco polo best translation of the travels of marco polo

Stated First Modern Library Edition. Since the original versions are generally quite old, there may occasionally be certain imperfections within these reproductions. Voyages and travels. A few adventurous Europeans accomplished it. A heavily annotated copy of Polo's book was among the belongings of Columbus. The Travels of Marco Polo is a translated version of that book. Legends, - 1 Ratings 115 Want to read; 8 Currently reading; 8 Have read REVISED REVIEW: I've long owned the paperback version of the Signet Classics edition. What a bunch of superstitious people those Idolaters and Saracens are. New York: The Modern Library, 1931. The classic Marsden and Wright translation of The Travels has been revised and updated by Peter Harris, with new notes, a bibliography, and an introduction by award-winning travel writer Colin Thubron. Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library, More about Copyright and other Restrictions. Also of the Province of Casem, Of the Great River of Badashan; and Plain of Pamier, Of Chinghis, and How He Became the First Kaan of the Tartars, How Chinghis Mustered His People to March Against Prester John, How Prester John Marched to Meet Chinghis, The Battle Between Chinghis Kaan and Prester John. translation offers an illuminating insight into the world of the Arab geographers, and the medieval lands of the far north. The Polo party left Venice in 1271. Man makes journey, writes book, has mint named after him. At the end of the Stockholm manuscript is a mappa mundi, a medieval schematic zonal map of the world, which, however, may be a later addition. Mistakes can thus easily be attributed to faulty memory as well as the circumstances in which a professional weaver of romances, Rusticello of Pisa, recorded and embellished Marco's oral account while the two were in a Genoese prison. But they were such colourful and entertaining lies. He noted the Great Wall familiar to us today is a Ming structure built some two centuries after Marco Polo's travels. Fin XIII sicle, Venise est cit tat linfluence immense, qui stend jusqu la mer noire en passant par Constantinople. The Travels of Marco Polo: The Complete Yule-Cordier Edition : Including the Unabridged Third Edition (1903) of Henry Yule's Annotated Translation, as Revised by Henri Cordier, Together. The Travels of Marco Polo may be perhaps the most challenging travelogue ever put together. A sparkling new translation of the most famous travel book ever written, in a collectable clothbound edition Marco Polo's voyages began in 1271 with a visit to China, after which he served the Kublai Khan on numerous diplomatic missions in the far east. The Mongol rulers whom Polo served also controlled territories both north and south of today's wall, and would have no reasons to maintain any fortifications that may have remained there from the earlier dynasties. Mais bientt cette suprmatie sera en pril, cause des manuvres dune autre cit Etat de la pninsule italienne, savoir Gnes. An introduction to Marco Polo is Leonard Olschki, Marco Polo's Asia: An Introduction to His "Description of the World" Called "Il Milione", translated by John A. Scott (Berkeley: University of California) 1960; it had its origins in the celebrations of the seven hundredth anniversary of Marco Polo's birth. They Fought (Extracts And Substance. Book Three describes some of the coastal regions of the East: Japan, India, Sri Lanka, South-East Asia, and the east coast of Africa. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners. The book was translated into many European languages in Marco Polo's own lifetime, but the original manuscripts are now lost, and their reconstruction is a matter of textual criticism. While the Italian missionary Odoric of Pordenone who visited Yuan China mentioned footbinding (it is however unclear whether he was only relaying something he heard as his description is inaccurate),[49] no other foreign visitors to Yuan China mentioned the practice, perhaps an indication that the footbinding was not widespread or was not practiced in an extreme form at that time. Best known long-distance traveler of Mongol times. BEST ENGLISH VERSION EVER READ. A sparkling new translation of the most famous travel book ever written. $15.00 + $4.50 shipping. However, I just discovered it does indeed contain the Prologue. Marco Polo was supposedly born in Venice, then in the Venetian Republic and now in Italy. on the Internet. - It makes it very difficult to read and figure out which parts are the original book. His claim is confirmed by a Chinese text of the 14th century explaining how a Sogdian named Mar-Sargis from Samarkand founded six Nestorian Christian churches there in addition to one in Hangzhou during the second half of the 13th century. [19] Latham believed that many elements of the book, such as legends of the Middle East and mentions of exotic marvels, may have been the work of Rustichello who was giving what medieval European readers expected to find in a travel book. One of the true classics - longest book in continuous publication (over 800 years). The first English translation is the Elizabethan version by John Frampton published in 1579, The most noble and famous travels of Marco Polo, based on Santaella's Castilian translation of 1503 (the first version in that language). , .. . Bizlere o zamanlar anlatt iin ok kymetl bir kitap. Very Good. Sur Un quart de sicle, leur voyage va les mener travers les steppes de lEurasie, vers la Chine, en retournant sur la route du commerce de lOcan Indien. (Yule-Cordier translation) Volume 1, The Travels of Marco Polo. The book is Polo's account of his travels to China, which he calls Cathay (north China) and Manji (south China). Look through examples of The Travels of Marco Polo translation in sentences, listen to pronunciation and learn grammar. concerned to write about his travels in Asia, what he did or did not see, and how useful he is as a source on the East. Marco Polo is remembered thanks to a colorful and popular narrative about his eastward voyage, known simply as The Travels of Marco. Toctai, Of The Second Message That Toctai Sent To Nogai, How Toctai And Nogai Address Their People, And The Next Day Join Of Marco Polo's Book, So Far As They Are Known, Diagram Showing Filiation Of Chief Mss. Allegedly, Christopher Columbus set off across the Atlantic with a copy of Marco Polo's original book! Battle, The Valiant Feats And Victory Of King Nogai, Genealogy Of The House Of Chinghiz To The End Of The Thirteenth Century, Genealogy Of The Family Of Marco Polo The Traveller, Calendar Of Documents Relating To Marco Polo And His Family, Comparative Specimens Of The Different Recensions Of Polo's Text. The Travels of Marco Polo - Vincent Buranelli 1985-10-01 Marco Polo recounts his voyage to China where he served the emperor Kublai Khan for seventeen years before returning to Venice. It is just not listed in the Kindle table of contents like it is in the paperback. wars. Polo's writings included descriptions of cannibals and spice-growers. I find it interesting how Marco Polo's description of the Middle East of more than 700 years ago is pretty much a reflection of the way it is today. Please try again. ${cardName} not available for the seller you chose. Written in the 13th century, The Travels of Marco Polo details Italian explorer Marco Polo's movements through Asia between 1271 and 1295. Marco Polo was the most famous traveller of his time. According to the French philologist Philippe Mnard,[33] there are six main versions of the book: the version closest to the original, in Franco-Venetian; a version in Old French; a version in Tuscan; two versions in Venetian; two different versions in Latin. Book of the Marvels of the World ( Italian: Il Milione, lit. Several accounts of what transpired have survived. I recommend you read it if you like books that go into great detail about countries and their laws. Afterward, he served Kublai Khan on numerous diplomatic missions in the Far East. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021668052/. Book. This work is incomplete. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. Name: Marco Polo [mahr-koh] [poh-loh] Birth/Death: 1254 - 1324 Nationality: Italian Birthplace: Venice Marco Polo Mosaic of the explorer Marco Polo Introduction I am surprised at how much I enjoyed this. also features the classic and stylistically brilliant Marsden translation, revised and corrected, as well as Komroff's Introduction . [46][47], Historian Stephen G. Haw however argued that many of the "omissions" could be explained. I finally got around to reading this after enjoying the hell out of. Interesting for both it's accuracies and inaccuracies and the insight provided on the medieval point of view of foreign cultures. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Significant works of young scholars at times can have great impact on the scholarly community, but remain relatively unknown for a broader public. Following his travels, he dictated a report he called "A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling," known simply in Arabic as the Ri?la. Now in a handsome and newly revised hardcover edition: the extraordinary travelogue that has enthralled readers for more than seven centuries. . Not without interest, but too repetitive to sustain my own. Still as enjoyable and informative, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Pages can have notes/highlighting. None of them however reached China itself. 'The Million', deriving from Polo's nickname "Emilione"),[1] in English commonly called The Travels of Marco Polo, is a 13th-century travelogue written down by Rustichello da Pisa from stories told by Italian explorer Marco Polo. Original resource at: National Library of Sweden. Of Cublay Kaan, the Great Kaan Now Reigning, and of His Great Puissance, Concerning the Revolt of Nayan, Who Was Uncle to the Great Kaan Cublay, Of the Battle that the Great Kaan Fought with Nayan, How the Great Kaan Caused Nayan to be Put to Death, How the Great Kaan Went Back to the City of Cambaluc, How the Kaan Rewarded the Valour of his Captains, How the Great Kaan Maintains a Guard of Twelve Thousand Horse, Which Are Called Keshican, The Fashion of the Great Kaan's Table at his High Feasts, Concerning the Great Feast Held by the Grand Kaan Every Year on his Birthday, Of the Great Festival Which the Kaan Holds on New Year's Day, Concerning the Twelve Thousand Barons who Receive Robes of Cloth of Gold from the Emperor on the Great Festivals, Thirteen Changes A-piece, How the Great Kaan Enjoineth his People to Supply him With Game, Of the Lions and Leopards and Wolves that the Kaan Keeps for the Chase, Concerning the Two Brothers Who Have Charge of the Kaan's Hounds, How the Emperor Goes on a Hunting Expedition, How the Great Kaan, on Returning From his Hunting Expedition, Holds a Great Court and Entertainment, Concerning the City of Cambaluc, and its Great Traffic and Population, [Concerning the Oppressions of Achmath the Bailo, and the Plot that was Formed Against him, How the Great Kaan Causeth the Bark of Trees, Made Into Something Like Paper, to Pass for Money All Over his Country, Concerning the Twelve Barons Who Are Set Over All the Affairs of the Great Kaan, How the Kaan's Posts and Runners are Sped Through Many Lands and Provinces, How the Emperor Bestows Help on his People, When They Are Afflicted with Dearth or Murrain, How the Great Kaan Causes Trees to be Planted by the Highways, Concerning the Rice-Wine Drunk by the People of Cathay, Concerning the Black Stones that are Dug in Cathay, and Are Burnt for Fuel, How the Great Kaan Causes Stores of Corn to be Made, to Help his People Withal in Time of Dearth, Of the Charity of the Emperor to the Poor, [Concerning the Astrologers in the City of Cambaluc], [Concerning the Religion of the Cathayans; Their Views as to the Soul; and Their Customs], Here Begins the Description of the Interior of Cathay; and First of the River Pulisanghin, Concerning the Castle of Caichu. A few adventurous Europeans accomplished it. Confieso que, de haber ledo. [29] In the mid-fifteenth century the cartographer of Murano, Fra Mauro, meticulously included all of Polo's toponyms in his 1450 map of the world. Generally these books are created from careful scans of the original. This handwritten journal, compiled by Carl Johan Gethe, Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Idrisi (circa 1100--1166) was an Arab geographer and adviser to Norman king Roger II of Sicily. The Great Walls were built to keep out northern invaders, whereas the ruling dynasty during Marco Polo's visit were those very northern invaders. Even if Marco's account still challenges modern . About The Travels of Marco Polo. And for that reason he bethought himself that it would be a very great pity did he not cause to be put in writing all the great marvels that he had seen, or on sure information heard of, so that other people who had not these advantages might, by his Book, get such knowledge. could not possess as much faith as a tiny mustard seed and could not move a mountain under penalty of death from the Khan, through all that was holy the blind Shoemaker did move that mountain and the Khan remained a secret Christian always secretly wearing a cross until his death. - The personal appearance of the Great Kaan, Lord of Lords, whose name is Cublay, is such as I shall now tell you. Rustichello may have worked up his first Franco-Italian version from Marco's notes. Bu tip bir abartda hemen anlyorsunuz ki o durum yle deil. .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}ISBN4871873080. Other early important sources are the manuscript "R" (Ramusio's Italian translation first printed in 1559). Marco Polo soon was caught up in the war between Venice and Genoa, for which he equipped and commanded a galley in the Venetian navy. "Shelfmark: M 304"--Note extracted from World Digital Library. The book was translated into many European languages in Marco Polo's own lifetime, but the original manuscripts are now lost. They are always appealing to their astrologers and magicians when faced with issues to resolve. Its a good window into past worlds the world of late medieval Europe of Marco Polo and the areas he travelled to. Very good condition, moderate over all wear, dirt smudge to . I think it's accurate enough. Polo's journey would last over two decades, including 17 years in China in the employ of the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan. He allegedly travelled from Europe and throughout Asia from 1271 to 1295. This manuscript from about 1350 is one of the oldest extant copies of Les voyages de Marco Polo (The travels of Marco Polo), the account by the Venetian merchant Marco Polo (circa 1254-1324) of his adventures in Central Asia and the Far East during the latter part of the 13th century. ${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}. Well worth a read i only to understand more about the amazing life of people in the past. The Travels of Marco Polo Hardcover. The Travels of Marco Polo Komroff, Manuel, Polo, Marco Published by Liveright Publishing Corporation, 1982 ISBN 10: 0871401320 ISBN 13: 9780871401328 Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, U.S.A. Classics Crime Fiction Fantasy Fiction in Translation Historical Fiction Horror Manga Modern & Contemporary Fiction Poetry Science Fiction Short Stories Graphic Novels Romance. best translation of the travels of marco polo. IT KEEPS THE ORIGINAL FORMAT . The middle part of the book explains some of his journeys and events while he was visiting the Great Khan, and the latter parts explaining his trip back to Europe by sea. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. For one, it isn't the tale of his adventure. The language and construction of the sentences are a bit more formal and declarative than works one would more commonly read today, but it wasn't difficult to understand or comprehend. Free shipping. It seems unlikely that Marco took notes along the way. They left China in late 1290 or early 1291[15] and were back in Venice in 1295. I originally rated this Kindle edition 1-star because it appeared to be missing the Prologue written by Rustichello (Polo's scribe) that is contained in the paperback version. The three Venetians returned to their native city by sea in 1292--95. A groundbreaking translation of the epic work of one of the great minds of the nineteenth century . THE TRAVELS OF MARCO POLO: A MODERN TRANSLATION By Maria Bellonci - Hardcover VG. Marco Polo's travels have since inspired countless adventurers to set off and see the world. Generally these books are created from careful scans of the original. The journey took three years after which they arrived in Cathay as it was then called and met the grandson of Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan. For Ibn Battuta's work, see, Maria Bellonci, "Nota introduttiva", Il Milione di Marco Polo, Milano, Oscar Mondadori, 2003, p. XI [ITALIAN], The date usually given as 1292 was emended in a note by, Latham, Ronald "Introduction" pp. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Modern Library Classics Ser. Mulehet is a country in which the Old Man of the Mountain dwelt in former days; and the name means " Place of the Aram ." I will tell you his whole history as related by Messer Marco Polo, who heard it from several natives of that region. The two spent some time in prison together if I remember correctly. And Editions Of Marco Polo, Titles Of Sundry Books And Papers Treating Of Marco Polo And His Book, Titles Of Works Quoted By Abbreviated References In This Book. . The book went into great detail about these places and the people who lived there. The History of Sagamoni Borcan and the Beginning of Idolatry, Concerning the Great Province of Maabar, Which is Called India the Greater, and is on the Mainland, Continues to Speak of the Province of Maabar, Discoursing of the Place Where Lieth the Body of St. Thomas the Apostle; and of the Miracles Thereof, Concerning the Province of Lar Whence the Brahmans Come, Discourseth of the Two Islands Called Male and Female, and Why They Are So Called, Concerning the Island of Zanghibar. [27] In fact, a Mongol delegate was solemnly baptised at the Second Council of Lyon. The classic Marsden and Wright translation of The Travels has been revised and updated by . [48], It has also been pointed out that Polo's accounts are more accurate and detailed than other accounts of the periods. The text is perhaps most remarkable for its narrator's incuriousness. Marco Polo ( / mrko polo / ( listen), Venetian: [mako polo], Italian: [marko plo] ( listen); Venice c. 1254 - Venice 8 January 1324) [1] was a Venetian merchant, [2] [3] explorer and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. Spine may show signs of wear. Have one to sell? Marco Polo emerges as being curious and tolerant, and devoted to Kublai Khan and the dynasty that he served for two decades. I originally rated this Kindle edition REVISED REVIEW: I've long owned the paperback version of the Signet Classics edition. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. The most interesting parts were those so out there that the reader knows they're fake and the parts about things that other historical accounts have corroborated because I know they're more or less accurate, so this book just offers a different perspective on an accepted truth. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 11, 2017, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 13, 2020, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 2, 2020, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2013, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 5, 2019. Quantity: 1 Book of the Marvels of the World ( Italian: Il Milione, lit. ( ) " " . This is an interesting story of racism and prejudiced opinions with the acceptance of different peoples as long as they are a conquoring power. Debated and re-debated constantly. He is Agnese, Battista - Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy - Sforza DI Santa Fiora, Guido Ascanio, capture of the World Digital Library site. Muchas veces haba odo hablar del relato de sus grandiosos viajes y la curiosidad siempre me haba conducido a buscar tales relatos y tard en dar con ellos. Marco Polo In 1271, a young Venetian merchant named Marco Polo set out for Asia with his father and his uncle. This allows us to preserve the book accurately and present it in the way the author intended. . His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to China, after which he served Khubilai Khan on numerous diplomatic missions. His subsequent account of his travels offers a fascinating glimpse of what he encountered abroad: unfamiliar religions; new customs . And we shall set down things seen as seen, and things heard as heard only, so that no jot of falsehood may mar the truth of our Book, and that all who shall read it or hear it read may put full faith in the truth of all its contents. There was a problem loading your book clubs. They met Khubilai Khan and traveled throughout the mongol lands. The thirteenth-century Italian merchant and explorer recounts his adventures in China and tells how he served as an emissary for Kublai Khan, Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, [{"displayPrice":"$6.61","priceAmount":6.61,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"6","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"61","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"%2Fm5DpcKJHrvuYCWjtypwno%2BF07xEwEajcMjYAFJZjf%2FJ%2F94tIbV5m3DBvgtEkqkxorzqp4qh%2FmSF%2FIGwXEod2iKR7ymMZXiqxzYb8MbUC1eg1Eg2I4NGbKcpNE1DFEaXsVhxn2TNK2QT6suiLoq28bntRq%2FKKA%2Bz6CTlcnE%2BZDc9Q9KR%2FTEFyA%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED"}]. Polo, Marco, Author. The book describes the East in the 1500s and is an accurate account of what Marco Polo. A version written in Old French, titled Le Livre des merveilles (The Book of Marvels). Uploaded by Then you open the book and look into it a bit and realize that it might be boring against all odds. [50] Marco Polo himself noted (in the Toledo manuscript) the dainty walk of Chinese women who took very short steps. The map presented here is from the Miller Atlas in the collections of the National Library of France. [17] It is believed that Polo related his memoirs orally to Rustichello da Pisa while both were prisoners of the Genova Republic. It makes it very difficult to read and figure out which parts are the original book. It was fascinating to read his adventures. And dog-headed people?? Marco Polo travelled to China in 1271 and spent the next twenty years in the service of Kublai Khan. Fuerteventura Marco Polo Pocket Travel Guide - with pull out map (Marco Polo Guides) Marco Polo 241 Paperback 24 offers from 4.46 Bali Marco Polo Pocket Travel Guide - with pull out map (Marco Polo Guides) (Marco Polo Pocket Guides) Marco Polo 71 Paperback 13 offers from 3.72 Product details List Of Mss. "[12], The source of the title Il Milione is debated. Marco Polo's voyages began in 1271 with a visit to China. [46] Many have questioned whether or not he had visited the places he mentioned in his itinerary, or he had appropriated the accounts of his father and uncle or other travelers, or doubted that he even reached China and that, if he did, perhaps never went beyond Khanbaliq (Beijing). We know the richness of these regions from the writings of subsequent travelers and historians, but Polo makes them all seem strikingly similar. I have compared this edition with Cliff (Penguin), Latham (Penguin), Marsden and Yule translations and am able to say this edition is the best one (by now) for it is the most complete print and translation is scholarly accurate. (Book Jacket Status: Jacketed) . These kind of assumptions make a lot of his observations nearly useless, revealing more about the author than the subject. 5.0 out of 5 stars PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATION. You can see why some people in the authors time didnt believe him. This edition also includes footnotes, which the edition my teacher had didn't, correcting some of the mistakes and giving more context to the text. Now, being thereafter an inmate of the Prison at Genoa, he caused Messer Rusticiano of Pisa, who was in the said Prison likewise, to reduce the whole to writing; and this befell in the year 1298 from the birth of Jesus. Vater und Onkel, die ebenfalls Reisende waren, begrndeten wohl sein Faible frs Reisen. Nigel Cliff s new translation, based on the original medieval sources, is a fresh, authoritative rendering, with a lively introduction and notes. Polo, Marco, 1254-1324, - I was transfixed by these stories of travel and adventure when I was a child, and never questioned the veracity of the narrative. The early works of Carl Linne (1707-78), annotated journals From 1746 to 1749, the Swedish rigged brig Gotha Lejon sailed on a mercantile mission to Canton. Title devised, in English, by Library staff. Travels of Marco Polo: A Modern Translation Marco Polo, Maria Bellonci, Teresa Waugh (Translator) 3.58 6,459 ratings556 reviews This is a reproduction of the original artefact. Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2014. ), How Barca And His Army Advanced To Meet Alau, Of The Great Battle Between Alau And Barca, How Totamangu Was Lord Of The Tartars Of The Ponent; And After Him Anna Defuseh. Book Two describes China and the court of Kublai Khan. The 14th-century author John Mandeville wrote an account of journeys in the East, but this was probably based on second-hand information and contains much apocryphal information. Marco Polo, Sohn einer venezianischen Hndlerfamilie, ist ein Reisender in der Welt. This, on the other hand, is sufficiently descriptive, that we can imagine in our mind's eye life in the court of Khan. Illus. The Excursion of the One Who Yearns to Penetrate the Horizons, by al-Idrisi. (Mostly, though, it was because I got sidetracked by the extensive footnotes & subsequent internet research on various topics found in Polo's book.).