The Mongols reportedly dried milk, and, while riding, would add water to the milk in a flask. There are 1000s of interesting and fun facts … His mother died when he was very young. Over the course of two decades, he travelled around 15,000 miles both on land along the Silk Road, and by sea, coming across parts of Asia and, if some highly controversial (and possibly forged) maps are to be believed, visited parts of the Alaskan coast hundreds of years before Vitus Bering. Marco Polo wasn’t yet a seasoned traveling merchant when he embarked on his great journey east. But in the 13th century, when a young Italian found himself exploring exotic lands and … After a sea skirmish in the late 13th century, Polo was captured by the Genoese and tossed in jail. In 1841, zoologist Edward Blyth named a species of sheep Ovis ammon polii after Marco Polo (the sheep are colloquially called Marco Polo sheep). Because of Marco Polo, the island of Madagascar got its name, although the merchant described the port city of Mogadishu, calling it “Madejaskar”. And while he may not have brought ice cream to Europe either, as some sources suggest, he does describe an early power shake. Marco Polo left home at age 17 and didn’t return to Venice for 24 years. MARCO POLO AND KUBLAI KHAN. His explorations were not primarily for trade or discovery but papal mandates. Marco Polo was a Venetian. While Polo’s historical significance isn’t up for debate, it’s unclear which of his tales stretched the truth. Copyright © 2020 LoveToKnow. He was born into a wealthy family, with both his uncle and father being jewelry merchants. Christopher Columbus himself brought a copy of Marco Polo’s book with him on his trip to the New World. It was likely the first time the young Polo had left home as well as the first time he’d met his father and uncle, who had been traveling the world since Marco’s birth. Marco Polo was born in 1254 in Venice, Republic of Venice, Europe. Fun Facts The Travels of Marco Polo was also called Il Milione or "The Million". During his lifetime, he spent roughly 24 years living abroad, interacting with the Mongol Empire, and traveling along what is … Word of the Polos journey had been relayed to Kublai Khan by Pony-Express-style messengers. Over 24 Years, Polo Traveled About 15,000 Miles When Polo left home at the age of 17, he did not return until he was... 2. Marco Polo is most well-known for his exploration of China in the 13th century. Photo: Leemage/UIG via Getty Images Quick Facts Name Marco Polo Birth Date c. 1254 Death Date January 8, 1324 Did You Know? The Polo's traveled home in a fleet of ships that also carried a princess who was to marry a prince in Iran. But as amazing as all that may sound, it only scratches the surface of the bizarre and exciting life of the traveling merchant. Marco Polo described the strange currency in his book, facetiously describing Kublai Khan as an alchemist who could transform mulberry trees into money, instead of base metals into gold. Although Physicians did the best they could, Marco Polo died on January 8, 1324. A common misconception about Marco Polo is that he was the first European to travel and explore... 2. In 1324, Marco Polo passed away. 15 Surprising Facts About Marco Polo. Going by Christian beliefs, Jesus who was the son of God and had lived on earth was crucified at a cross but rose again on the third day. Of these, the yak seemed to be Polo’s favorite: Impressed by the silky softness of their fur, he brought yak hair back to Venice with him, where he displayed it as a curiosity. Marco Polo married Donata Badoèr in 1300. All Rights Reserved. ... Marco Polo was a Venetian. Marco Polo - Marco Polo - Sojourn in China: For the next 16 or 17 years the Polos lived in the emperor’s dominions, which included, among other places, Cathay (now North China) and Mangi, or “Manzi” (now South China). Marco Polo was born in 1254 in Venice, capital of the Venetian Republic. ... Italy made the pasta dish popular with more than 200 different shapes of Italian Pasta it was most likely introduced by Marco Polo after his return from China. Some people debate over the location where he was born. Both his father Niccolo and his uncle Maffeo were wealthy jewel merchants. And in the 1960s, a group of travelers even decided to follow Marco Polo’s exact route, journeying from Italy to China in cars and trailers instead of on horseback. The Marco Polo sheep was named after him. Marco Polo Facts: Death and Legend In 1323 Polo was struck with an illness and was bedridden for most of that year. But in fact, there is no evidence for this. Born in 1254 to a merchant family, Marco Polo is best known for the book written about his travels on the Silk Road from 1271 to 1295. The Polos were some of the first Europeans who traveled to China and Mongolia. Long before Europe began printing its own bills, the Mongol empire was circulating paper money. … but another incredibly famous Italian explorer born 200 years after Marco Polo, Christopher Colombus, was from Genoa–the arch-rival of Venice. Did you that “The Travels of Marco Polo” was also called the ll Milione or “The Million” ? Niccolo and Maffeo returned to Europe where they picked up the young Marco Polo and somehow procured the oil, but not the 100 Christians, requested by the emperor, before journeying East again. Marco Polo wasn’t yet a seasoned traveling merchant when he embarked on his great journey east. Based on Polo’s description of the “unicorn,” historians now know he was actually describing the rhinoceros. Marco Polo, (born c. 1254, Venice [Italy]—died January 8, 1324, Venice), Venetian merchant and adventurer who traveled from Europe to Asia in 1271–95, remaining in China for 17 of those years, and whose Il milione (“The Million”), known in English as the Travels of Marco Polo, is a classic of travel literature. Marco Polo became ill and doctors tried to heal him, but they were not successful and he passed away. The burial was located in Venice at Church of San Lorenzo. Polo finally convinced Kublai Khan to let him go in return for helping the emperor’s great nephew on a sea voyage. Interesting Facts About Venice’s History + Culture Venice was an independent empire for 1100 years. Plus, I bet you didn’t know that Marco Polo’s journey served as an inspiration to Christopher Columbus. Unicorns, Polo informed his readers, primarily liked to roll around in the mud and dirt, and attack people with their prickly tongues. It took four years for Marco, his father and his uncle to reach China. The most famous person to travel on the Silk Road was Marco Polo. His father Niccolo and his uncle Maffeo went to China in 1266 to set up a trading business. Throughout his book, he not only describes first-hand experiences with magic, but repeats the myths and rumors he encounters as fact. In the influential work, The Travels of Marco Polo, he outlined the geography of Asia, described the customs of its people, and told tales of life at the court of legendary Mongol emperor Kublai Khan. At the court of Kublai Khan, Polo describes meeting astrologers who could control the weather from the palace rooftops, and magicians who made flagons of wine levitate at feasts. Read on to learn some interesting facts about Italy while we all wait to travel again. When Marco Polo finally decided it was time to end his adventures and return home, Kublai Khan had grown so attached to the Venetian merchant, he chose to deny his request. Facts about Marco Polo 5: death. 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