What did the Chinese call Marco Polo?

During his first 15 years in China (1583–1598) Matteo Ricci formed a strong suspicion that Marco Polo’s “Cathay” is simply the “Tatar” (i.e., Mongol) name for the country he was in, i.e. China.

Are there Chinese records of Marco Polo?

The book notes that Polo failed to mention the Great Wall, the use of chopsticks as eating utensils, tea, foot-binding, Chinese calligraphy or other significant features and that there are no Chinese records of Polo’s presence.

What country did Marco Polo represent?

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.

How did Marco Polo describe China?

Marco described the vast Asian trading network and, in particular, the thriving silk, iron, and salt industries. He also described the foreign concept of paper money as well as Chinese inventions such as porcelain pottery (China).

Did Marco Polo really meet Kublai Khan?

According to The Travels of Marco Polo, they passed through much of Asia, and met with Kublai Khan, a Mongol ruler and founder of the Yuan dynasty. Their decision to leave Constantinople proved timely.

What did Marco Polo bring back from China?

Marco Polo, the great Venetian explorer/merchant is said to have brought back with him from his fabled visits to China, noodles, which became the pasta that Italy is famed for today.

Where does the term Marco Polo come from?

One origin story claims that while traveling to China, Marco actually got separated from his family and responded with “Polo” as they called for him with “Marco!” Versions of the game date back to the 1700s, though it was originally land-locked and called Blind Man’s Bluff.

Which country is not visited by Marco Polo?

Frances Wood who claimed in her 1995 book Did Marco Polo Go to China? that at best Polo never went farther east than Persia (modern Iran), and that there is nothing in The Book of Marvels about China that could not be obtained via reading Persian books.

What did Marco Polo say about the Chinese people?

Through it all, Marco Polo marveled at China’s cultural customs, great wealth and complex social structure. He was impressed with the empire’s paper money, efficient communication system, coal burning, gunpowder and porcelain, and called Xanadu “the greatest palace that ever was.”

What is Marco Polo famous for?

Marco Polo was a Venetian explorer known for the book The Travels of Marco Polo, which describes his voyage to and experiences in Asia. Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from Europe to Asia from 1271 to 1295 and remaining in China for 17 of those years.