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Summary Of Polo By Charles Polo

384 Words2 Pages

Beginning in the early modern era, European nobility and merchant classes—now unlimbered by the feudal economy of the Medieval Era, set their sights away from sustainability and began to search for new routes of trade and capital. In order to do so, European exploration began to focus upon descriptive and social-scientific accounts of other cultures. These travel writings served as the foundation for the reasoning behind European expansionism and conquest beginning in the late 15th and early 16th century. Despite their often grandiose and even falsified accounts, historian Charles Parker notes that these writings “found a ready market among urban elites, aristocrats, and churchmen.” These early ethnographic and travel writing’s problematic …show more content…

The text, which was regarded as grandiose by most of Polo’s contemporaries, details a powerful and acceptably oriental kingdom. Polo’s report emphasizes a kingdom and leader that is potent in “forces and land and treasure.” He describes Khan as a powerful leader, who while not Christian, has enough providence and respect to overthrow the rebellious Nayan, despite the fact that Nayan “bore the cross on his banner.” Despite Polo’s admiration for Khan, he makes it clear that Khan is far more exotic than the average European. Polo describes the palace as overflowing with “treasures of gold, silver, gems” and “beautiful creatures.” In addition, he makes it a point to devote several pages discussing the selection process of Khan’s bed-servants. Polo does note, however, that Khan’s kingdom is also friendly towards Christians and that all “idolaters” were still allowed to practice their religions after Nayan’s betrayal. As a result, Polo indirectly notes that it is safe for Europeans to travel to Khan’s kingdom. While it is possible that Polo believed that these exotic, and erotic, descriptions of the kingdom were necessary for a traveler; it is far more likely, as argued by Parker, that they “[reflect] his awareness of the profit in a good story.” Because Khan’s kingdom is simultaneously foreign and familiar, it served to appeal to Europeans looking for either adventure or potential trading

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