Marco Polo In China Essay
Marco Polo in China: How One Man’s Adventure Changed the World
In 1271 Marco Polo set sail from Venice with his father and uncle, for China on an adventure that would last twenty-four years. Marco Polo arrived in China with his father and uncle in 1275 and returned to Venice in 1295. He brought back many riches from his travels to China, including silks, spices, jewels, and ideas, such as the concept of paper money, and the burning of coal for fuel. Marco Polo, his father, Niccolo and uncle, Maffeo were among the first Europeans to travel the Silk Road, the historic trade routes between Asia and Europe that connected China to the West. They traveled further along the Silk Road than any other European of their time, and were instrumental in
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With the publication of the book in 1298, Marco Polo’s notoriety and influence spread beyond Venice. The book was translated into multiple languages, and was widely read by scholars and aristocrats. Marco settled down into the life of a Venetian-based merchant, marrying a Venetian aristocrat, Donata Badoerand, with whom he had three daughters. He spent the rest of his life as both a merchant and advisor to scholars, geographers, and explorers. He died in 1324 at the age of 70, leaving behind a powerful record of his expeditions across Asia and one of the most popular books in Europe. His book changed the West’s understanding of navigation and geography, facilitated travel and trade between East and West, and sparked European interest in the exploration of previously unknown lands. Marco Polo’s adventures in China and his effectiveness as an unofficial ambassador also sparked an interest in China and Europe to look beyond their assumptions about other countries and cultures and to seek to establish political and cultural relationships as well. Although Marco Polo holds a prominent place in history for his contributions to the western civilization’s knowledge of the world beyond its borders, there have always been skeptics who call into question the veracity of Marco Polo’s accounts of
Zheng He Dbq
284 Words | 2 PagesThe 15th century was the start of many voyages and the popular use of ships for trade, traveling, and exploration. Columbus, de Gama, and Zheng He, were all leaders Zheng He was the first major ocean voyager in the 15th century. He led seven expeditions, through the Indian ocean using over 300 massive boats called “treasure ships”. Though, unlike many others in his time, he was not an explorer.
Zheng He Analysis
842 Words | 4 PagesUpon reflection, historians now acknowledge his expedition to Africa of particular distinction. Historians and scholars commonly agree that continuing around the Cape of Good Hope would have presumably led to discovering a direct trade route to Europe seventy-five years earlier than Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. Notwithstanding Zheng He’s preeminence over this era, inadvertent discoveries occasionally eclipsed intentional design nonetheless, drawing parallels to other famous explorers no different than Christopher Columbus’ unplanned discovery of America. On balance, world history indicates Zheng He’s achievements as nothing less than
Chapter 8 Learning Guide Commerce And Culture
1537 Words | 7 Pages“Chapter 8 Learning Guide – Commerce and Culture” “Main Idea 1 – Eurasia was home to one of the largest and extensive networks of trade throughout all of history. The most famous trade network was the Silk Road” 1. “Silk Road – Definition”: • An ancient system of roads and trade routes throughout regions of Eurasia that connected the East and the West and were important in spreading culture and ideas. 2. “Why did the Silk Road begin where it did?”
Long Distance Commerce Case Study
1328 Words | 6 PagesThis is which were controlled by many pastoral peoples, for the agricultural a products and manufactured goods a of the warmer, well-watered lands of outer Eurasia. Another reason behind the emergence of the Silk Road commerce was also the construction of classical civilizations and their imperial states. These classical civilizations invaded the territory of the pastoral peoples, thus leading to the securing sections of the Silk Road and providing security for merchants and travelers. The Silk Road was then kept going for several centuries by the constant support form later states saw that also benefited from the trade. There was also a need for hard-to-find luxury items desired by the elites across Eurasia that gave the Silk Road a sustained purpose.
How Did Silk Affect China
255 Words | 2 PagesSpread by the Silk road, silk had a great effect on the economy of different countries at the time. silk was a very valuable product in Central Asia at the time. This was because China was the only country capable of creating this rare product, and they very closely guarded the methods of its creation. At the time of its discovery, its use was specifically reserved for the emperor and his family. It soon became a form of currency, as farmers paid their taxes in grain and silk and others paid civil servants with it.
Comparing The Silk Road And The Columbian Exchange
398 Words | 2 PagesSilk cloth was the secret of the central and western Asia using Chinese thread. The Silk Road is one of the primary factors that has shaped the world of the past and created the world of today. Without it, many ideas would not have spread throughout Eurasia, and the Europeans would not have embarked on their Age of Discovery and Exploration that propelled them to their position of power.
How Did European Exploration Affect The World
828 Words | 4 PagesGo, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (NAB, MT 28:19). Many countries wanted to establish trade with India. Once they got to trade with them the countries wanted more. They wanted to colonize. With colonization came missionaries.
DBQ Essay: The Silk Road
607 Words | 3 PagesThe silk road was helpful to the people in china, central asia, Africa, and India/all the way to Rome and beyond because of the trade routes the silk road was able to have the right resources to make it successful and helpful to others who trade. Transition + Your own original Reason, Detail, or Fact For example, where the trade routes went across most of the whole entire world. For, trading horses, orange seeds, grape seeds, or anything popular or needed during their time made the trade routes easier so they wouldn’t have to travel all the way to go trade and get what they had needed. One supporting Example or Evidence from text or source document To explain, in the article “The Silk Road” it says, the silk road has been an important part of success domestication of the camel which was an animal that could carry heavy loads over
Compare And Contrast Christopher Columbus And Zheng He
576 Words | 3 PagesChristopher Columbus as we know is the historical person credited for the discovery of the New World. Zheng He was a Hui-Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat and fleet admiral, who commanded voyages to Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa. Each men and their fleets had two completely different reason for their travel. Christopher Columbus purpose was to find a new trade way to the Asian countries. Zheng He's purpose was to enlarge empires control of seaway trade.
Cultural Diffusion In The Ancient World
1020 Words | 5 PagesAlexander the Great expanded east and helped to lay the foundations of trans-Asian trade. In addition, during the fifth century B.C., the vast area known as the Persian Empire improved travel through western Asia. Zhang Qian, the Chinese leader, saw the positive effects of westward trade. One specific example of this is the trade of the Ferghana horse, which he believed would be a great asset to his military when traded for highly coveted silk fabrics. (Source: Perez).
How Did The Silk Roads Affect The Trans-Saharan Trade
498 Words | 2 PagesDuring the time period of 600 CE to 1450 CE, people on the Indian Ocean sea lanes and on the Eurasian Silk Roads traded luxury items and used their new technology to help trade prosper. Although they were both trade routes, the Indian Ocean sea lanes traded overseas and the Eurasian Silk Roads were land routes. Indian Ocean sea lanes connect Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and East Africa. The Eurasian Silk Roads connected East and West China to the Mediterranean. Trade was greatly increasing in these two trade routes around this time.
Zheng He's Controversy In The Historical World
1395 Words | 6 PagesDespite leading some of the largest voyages in size and length, Zheng He’s voyages are not universally well known. Zheng He’s voyages shouldn’t be celebrated due to the fact that he didn’t discover new places, he wasted Chinese resources, and his voyages lead to the enslavement and oppression of foreign people. Although Zheng He travel a total of 105,300 miles during his seven voyages, he made no new discoveries, making his voyages useless to the history of exploration and undeserving of celebration. Christopher Columbus discovered the “new world” for Spain on his first voyage in 1492 and used Chinese maritime technology whereas in seven voyages Zheng He didn’t discover any new lands for China, where some of this technology had been created. A vital part in the discovery of new land is when it is named.
The Silk Roads In Afro-Eurasia
209 Words | 1 PagesThe Silk Roads played an important role in connecting Afro-Eurasia, both culturally and economically. The term “Silk Roads” was first used by Baron Ferdinand von Richtofen, a German geographer from the 19th century. He created the phrase to describe the routes between India, China, and the Mediterranean, which were used to transport items such as silk, livestock, glass, and precious metals. Historians have speculated that the roads might have been used as early as 2000 B.C.E. In the last century B.C.E., the Silk Roads experienced a golden age.
Compare And Contrast Ibn Battuta And Marco Polo
793 Words | 4 PagesMarco Polo became Europe’s primary source of information about China until the 19th century, and even since then people did not completely believe his stories as he did not write it himself, they are of no value as sources of what he observed on his travels. Many doubt Polo going to China as his stories do not mention for example the Great Wall, and many other advances during his time there and even before he reached there. Although Polo’s credit of being in China is believed to have been due to one of the things he had brought back such as printing and explosive
The Pros And Cons Of The Silk Road
958 Words | 4 PagesIt ranged from China to Eastern Europe. It played an important role because it helped generate trade and commerce between various kingdoms and empires. The Silk Road also came close to a time where it could have been taken over by the Mongolian Empire, but it continued on. The Silk Roads became more popular and increasingly well-travelled over the course of the Middle Ages, and were still in use in the 19th century. The road lasted for over 2,000 years and left an impact on China’s economy, society, and political
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