The Travels of Marco Polo

“The result was that the Great Khan, holding them in high esteem, frequently summoned them to talk with him.” 

The Polos impressed Kublai Khan with their knowledge of the world and their respect for other people and their customs. That the Khan found time to consult with them shows how valued the Polos’ counsel was. He would have also found them a curiosity, with experiences perhaps far removed from his own.

“By virtue of this, the bearer, together with his whole suite, are safely conveyed and escorted from station to station by the governors of all places within the imperial dominions, and are entitled, during the time of their stay in any city, castle, town, or village, to a supply of provisions and everything necessary for their accommodation.” 

This was a lucky charm for the Polos time and again, as having this tablet in the name of Kublai Khan himself enabled them to skip lengthy interrogations and save significant amounts of money on food and accommodations. They could travel in style, where others might have struggled. They also found out just how important that connection was when they had to forgo such protection after the Great Khan died.

“During the seventeen years that he continued in his service, he made himself so useful that he was employed on confidential missions to every part of the empire and its dependencies.” 

Marco Polo sprinted up the ladder of responsibility, earning the trust of Kublai Khan almost straight away. The Khan sent him on special missions, even making him governor of a province for a time. Polo relates how this relationship also created enmity with others who had advised the Khan for much longer.

“The Mahometan law is here regularly studied, as are also magic, physics, astronomy, geomancy, and physiognomy

During the Dark Ages, Muslim scientists had been keeping the advancements of science going during these times in many areas. As such, they were well advanced in several areas, as Polo would no doubt have discovered. As well, Polo encountered many Muslim religious leaders and practices that he would have described as magic, meaning, in this context, outside the normal realm of human possibility. It was also in this way that Christian teachings were sometimes described as magical.

“We also find here sheep that are equal to an ass in size, with long thick tails, weighing thirty pounds and upwards, which are fat and excellent to eat.”

This was one of many instances in which Polo remarked on finding animals, terrain, and customs different from what Europeans were used to seeing. Such descriptions would have been remarkable in their differences with what Europeans could experience back home.

“You are therefore obliged to carry with you every article which you may need on the road.” 

This is one of many instances in which Polo describes traveling through inhospitable lands, in which sustenance is scant, if it exists at all. Traveling the world was potentially always dangerous; in lands unknown, it was usually more so, primarily because the traveler had no idea what to expect and, as the quote suggests, had to prepare to meet all needs himself.

“Provisions for a month should be laid in, that time being required for crossing the desert even in the narrowest part.” 

This is one of many instructions to fellow travelers. Polo envisioned that others would follow in his footsteps and provided many of what he thought would be useful tips. It is also a measure of how large that desert really is, if a traveler has to provide for a month’s worth of sustenance. Such provisioning would normally have required one or more beasts of burden as well.

“They can gather them into one bundle and make them up as packages, which they carry along with them upon a sort of cart with four wheels.”

Polo goes into great detail describing the adaptability of the Mongols and the portability of their living spaces (in this case, their tents). Their portability of weapons was part of their vaunted fighting ability: the skill with which they fired arrows while riding full tilt on horseback was unmatched. They were very much a nomadic people for much of their existence, and their ability to be so adaptable contributed to their success.

“They are brave in battle, almost to desperation, setting little value upon their lives and exposing themselves without hesitation to all manner of danger.” 

This is the mindset that the Mongols have for much of their lives, so going to war is an extension of this. This is also why they are so feared as an enemy. Such desperation and determination would have seemed especially fierce to Europeans, who were perhaps used to more stratified forms of battle.

“The palace contains a number of separate chambers, all highly beautiful and so admirably located that it seems impossible to suggest any improvement in this respect.” 

The palace described here is one of those owned by Kublai Khan, all of which are described in the book in varying degrees of detail. Polo is awed by their size and opulence.

“The numerous persons who attend at the sideboard of his Majesty, and who serve him, are all obliged to cover their noses and mouths with elegant veils or cloths of silk in order that his food or wine may not be affected by their breath.” 

This serves to illustrate the relative distance between the Great Khan and his servants. Those who attend to him personally are restricted, yet Polo writes that these servants still nonetheless respect him.

“The tent of his Majesty, in which he gives his audiences, is so long and wide that under it ten thousand soldiers might be drawn up, with room for the superior officers and other persons of rank.” 

This serves as an illustration of the majesty of the emperor. The size of the tent is both a necessity because he is often surrounded by such a large number of soldiers and a metaphor for how much he is revered. Such a tent would have required a long time to pack and unpack and to carry around; this implies mastery of a great many people. Alternately, it may show Polo’s ability to exaggerate the greatness of someone who helped Polo considerably. 

“Wherever their business may call them, they can dispose of it in the purchase of any merchandise they may require, such as pearls, jewels, gold, or silver. With it, in short, every article may be procured.” 

A concept foreign to Europeans was the idea of paper money, yet many people in the Mongol Empire were used to the idea. Polo goes into great detail in describing how the paper money is made, how it is spent, and its various denominations. Not all lands beholden to the Great Khan used paper money as currency, but many did.

“Thereafter the Great Khan always used elephants in his armies.” 

The Khan’s enemy’s army used elephants, but the Khan’s army was victorious. The Khan learned from his enemy how to employ elephants in battle. This was just one example of how the Khan learned to adapt to stay ahead of his rivals, incorporating both military and cultural aspects of other societies into Mongol society. 

“So terrified were the inhabitants by this disaster, which to them seemed to be like a thunderbolt from heaven, that they immediately surrendered.” 

One of many instances in which the Great Khan used fear to impose order, this was the result of the suggestion of Niccolo and Maffeo Polo to build a catapult. This was also an example of how the Great Khan learned from others, adapting their strategy to Mongol ways. The use of the words “thunderbolt from heaven” also would have caused many who saw such a thing to infer divine intervention.

“The people in this part of the country are addicted to eating human flesh, esteeming it more delicate than any other, provided the person has not died from any disease.” 

This was a common practice in several of the cities, towns, and lands that Polo visited. It was not a common practice in Europe. Notable here is the distinction between diseased and non-diseased flesh. Notable also is Polo’s lack of moral judgment on such a practice, perhaps showing him as more pragmatist than idealist. 

“On this island there are large quantities of pearls, pink, round, and huge, and worth as much as, if not more than, the white kind.” 

This could have been one reason that the Great Khan wanted to invade Japan, which is the island referred to here. That he did not succeed in this invasion meant that he did not assume ownership of these “large quantities.” This also shows that Polo is up-to-date with market trends regarding pearls.

“No young woman can be given in marriage until she has been first tried by the king.” 

This quotes references the country of Ziamba specifically, but it is symptomatic of many such places that Polo visited. It illustrates how the people in these lands have values different from those in Europe. Many peoples whom Polo visited thought that sexual experience before marriage was a virtue, a sign of respect; this would have clashed with the beliefs of many in Europe.

“The island produces more beautiful and valuable rubies than are found in any other part of the world and likewise sapphires, topazes, amethyst, garnets, and many other precious stones.” 

The island of Zeitan is the one doing the producing. The Khan, naturally, has the world’s largest ruby, or, at the very least, it makes sense for Polo to say that the Khan does. That this island produces so many different kinds of precious stones suggests that it is very wealthy indeed.

“There is one hour in every day of the week which they regard as unlucky, and in these hours they do not make purchases.” 

The people of the province of Maabar follow such a custom. In some cities, fortune-telling is a big, powerful business. People in other cities follow other customs that others might find questionable, such as not leaving the house if they hear someone sneeze. Similarly, such societies would have viewed many European customs as out of the ordinary.

“They do not deprive any creature of life, not even a fly, a flea, or a louse, believing they have souls; and to feed upon any animals they would consider a heinous sin.” 

This was definitely not the kind of belief practiced in Europe or, indeed, in many other parts of the world. As well, extending a soul to animals would have seemed almost heretical to many Christians.

“There is no wine made from grapes; but they prepare a liquor from rice, sugar, and dates that is delicious.”

This was in the city of Escier specifically, but Polo visits several other cities in which people drink rice wine. This shows the ingenuity of the people to make food and drink with what would have been to Europeans unfamiliar ingredients.

“In an instant the air was filled with arrows like rain, and you might see many a man and many a horse struck down dead, and the shouting and the noise of the battle was so great that one could hardly have heard God’s thunder.” 

This is a vivid description of the Mongol specialty: archery. The waves of arrows would have been followed by very fierce hand-to-hand combat. It is also a suggestion of just how loud it would have been on a battlefield filled with soldiers wielding weapons and trying to kill other soldiers.