How Did Marco Polo Contribute To The Expansion Of Western Europe

Marco Polo was a renowned explorer in the medieval era and he wrote the work in which most of our past understanding of the regions is remembered today. He was born in 1252 in Venice and later deceased in Venice at the age of 70 in 1352. The reason he so is so famous and remembered today is because he reached the farthest on his 24 year journey down the silk road reaching extents of China and Mongolian empire. To begin with Marco Polo was born into a wealthy family who was known for their travels and spread of merchantability already and a young Marco Polo would begin his journey as early as 14-16 Years old. Though his date of birth is unknown and the exact location his family was a big name in the Venice community making it only seem fitting. This paper is going to correlate to the book found in the franciscan library at Saint Bonaventure, “Did Marco Polo Really Go to China” by Dr. Wood; she does a scholarly review questioning whether or not Mr. Polo really carried out the things he said to have done and has he actually visited the regions in which he said he's went too. Before we begin though we cannot fully disprove the veracity of the journey in which Mr. polo took because other explorers have also left out important historical happenings when discovering new regions and cultures. Born in 1254 in Venetian Republic, Marco Polo headed to Asia with his merchant father (weapons trader supposedly as we will later touch on) . He would spend the next 24 years exploring

He traveled along the Silk Road which led him to China. The Mongol ruler, Khubilai Khan, then took Polo into his court. Khubilai assigned one last task to Marco Polo before he could be free from his services at court, Marco was to escort a princess safely to her potential husband the Persian ruler Arghun. With the task at hand, they had to travel from Zaitun to Sumatra to Persia. When they arrived in Persia, they found out that Arghun was dead; so the princess was now appointed to marry Arghun’s son. Marco continued on his travels which led him to Greece, Constantinople, and Venice. Soon after arriving back in Venice, he was captured by the Genoans. During his imprisonment, Marco Polo met Rustichello and together they wrote “The Travels of Marco

The European expansion during the 15th and 16th centuries lead to major economic expansion throughout Europe and the newly established

European nations in the 15th century began exploring new lands with three motives: religion, wealth, and glory. It was made possible by advances in naval fleet building and navigation, first pioneered by the Portuguese. Europeans began to be involved in extensive exploration, coming in contact with Africa, Americas and their prime target Asia. The main targets of the pioneering Portugese and Spanish was to find and alternate trade route for the Indies trade and also promote Christianity to the new lands. As the century unfolded, the search for newer territories to colonize and shortern routes to the exotic land of spices and silk became the initial driving force for the intensive early exploration by the Europeans .

Going against modern day religious beliefs, in 1095AD the Christians went to war to claim the holy city of Jerusalem, massacring the Muslims in a bloody attempt to worship their God. Pope Urban II’s speech at Clermont inspired by claims made by the Byzantium Emperor encouraged the Christians to partake in the First Crusade in an attempt to liberate Jerusalem. The religious and economic factors were the most relevant to cause this crusade, with some influence from desired political gain and little from social factors unrelated to religion. The immediate consequences were positive for the Christians and negative for the Muslims, but the First Crusade launched an ongoing conflict between the Christians and Muslims which had positive and negative consequences for both sides. There are a number of relevant modern sources which examine the causes and consequences of the First Crusade, but, while there are many medieval sources, they do not explicitly discuss the causes and consequences of the war. In order to fully comprehend the First Crusade, it is necessary to analyse the religious, economic, and political factors, as well as the short-term, long-term, and modern consequences.

a) Marco Polo (Italian adventurer) returned to Europe in 1295, telling of his journey in China. His book with descriptions of goods made him an indirect discoverer of the New World.

Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant believed to have journeyed across Asia.He first left at age 17 with his dad and uncle.They were traveling upon the silk road.Marco Polo was born in 1254 in italy City-state. He traveled with his family. They journeyed to Europe to Asia 1271 to 1295.

In The middle of the Eleventh Century The tranquillity of the eastern Mediterranean seemed assured for many years to come, but little did the people know what was ahead . This, thus embark us on a journey back into the First Crusade. In this paper I will be discussing the events that lead up to the first in a long line of crusades. I will also be mentioning the lives of some of the crusaders through letters that they wrote. The crusades were a time of confusion for most people, yet today we look back at them as a turning point.

The first Economic exchange that Marco Polo found very interesting in this Asia Society is the trading between the Empire and other Asia

Many children, including myself, have once played the game Marco Polo. Although, I have always been curious, who exactly is Marco Polo? My fascination of Marco Polo warped into a fixation of his travels. Marco Polo was born in Venice in the year 1254. His father, Nicolo, and his uncle, Maffeo, were merchants who had seats in the great nobleman council of Venice (Polo IV). According to his records, he had traveled thousands of miles with his father and uncle.

The Emperor Alexius I of the Byzantine empire had to face for two decades the decline of his empire at the hands of seljuk muslim turks.(Stark 33) Taking from him Antioch one of the five holy cities of the Pentarchy. Now three of the five holy cities were in Muslim hands Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria. Leaving only Rome and Constantinople left and

Despite the fact that we can't hope to locate a definitive foundations for the European extension, we can familiarize ourselves with a portion of the conditions in which it started. In any case, the development is connected with a movement in European life from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic seaboard. Authority in European political and monetary life was coming increasingly under the control of Portugal, Spain, France, and England. These countries all had governments that were developing in quality, expanding their control over the different classes inside the state, and solidifying their hold over the regions subject to them. They all had Atlantic coastlines, and drove the path in looking for new exchange courses and new grounds. The Dutch joined in the race as their political freedom developed. These rising states looked for an approach to check the long-standing Italian especially Venetian imposing business model of the eastern exchange. European medieval information about Asia past the scope of the Byzantine Empire was sourced in halfway reports, regularly darkened by legends, going again from the season of the victories of Alexander the Great and his successors. Another source was the Radhanite Jewish exchange systems of shippers built up as go-betweens amongst Europe and the Muslim

Marco Polo was born in 1254 in Venice Italy to a wealthy Merchant family. Since his father traveled a lot and his mother died when he was very young much of Marco’s childhood he was parentless left to be raised by an extended family. Marco Polo’s father Niccolo Polo and Uncle Maffeo Polo were very successful Jewel Merchants with an interest in Constantinople and in Sudak, which was a Venetian colony off the coast of the Crimea. The Polo brother’s travels led them to Asia for most of Marco’s youth

He visited Karakorum and part of Siberia . Marco often visited Hangzhou another city close to Yanzhou .He studied in Kublai Khan's court for 17 years , getting great wealth in jewels and gold .In this time , Polo wanted to return to Venice because he was afraid of death out his country and not able to get a fortune out of the country , but Khan was not able to let them go .

The main entrance to the city of Mazara del Vallo?s eleventh century cathedral depicts the Norman prince Roger I on horseback with sword in hand, personally chasing the last of the Muslims away from Sicily.? This not-so-subtle warning was added during the sixteenth century to honor Roger, who reclaimed Sicily after 200 years of Muslim rule (Holzner).? Hundreds of years later, Muslims are crossing back into Italy?s borders not as conquerors of the past, but as peasants, merchants, and workers who intend to stay in Europe to escape the economic stagnation and overpopulation of their countries of origin.? For many Muslims, Mazara del Vallo is the first stop before venturing north to Italy?s larger cities.? Yet those who do go north are welcomed by another symbol in distinct opposition to Roger I; Europe?s newest and largest mosque speaks volumes of Islam?s permanence in Italy.