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Marco Polo

The Journey That Changed the World

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Marco Polo

By: John Man
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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About this listen

In 1271 a young Italian merchant named Marco Polo embarked on a groundbreaking expedition from Venice, through the Middle East and Central Asia to China. His extraordinary reports of his experiences introduced medieval Europe to an exotic new world of emperors and concubines, amazing cities, huge armies, unusual spices and cuisine, and imperial riches. Marco Polo also revealed the wonders of Xanadu, the summer capital of Mongol emperor Kublai Khan.

Almost 750 years later, acclaimed author John Man traveled in Marco Polo's footsteps to Xanadu and then on to Beijing and through modern China in search of the history behind the legend. In this enthralling chronicle, Man draws on his own journey, new archaeological findings, and deep archival study to paint a vivid picture of Marco Polo and the great court of Kublai Khan.

©2009 John Man (P)2015 Tantor Asia China Expeditions & Discoveries World Middle Ages Italy Ancient History

Critic reviews

"An enjoyable read." ( Library Journal)
All stars
Most relevant
this author has read the literature, the many variations on the source (original lost), compared with other sources from the time period across all the places Marco polo travelled. he visited them many times in person, he consulted the archaeology, history, text, geography, languages, the debates and stances of other academics on what's fact and whats fiction, and how these opinions have evolved over time. He's covered everything, to bring this historic adventure to life. Fabulous book, I highly recommend. Best I've found on a study of the subject.

has everything and more

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This book brings the whole adventure of Marco Polo alive.Well researched,and excellently read.
A brilliant overview,without getting too bogged down with details of footnotes.

Wonderful!

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