Travelers and Explorers, Part 2: Marco Polo (1254-1324) -- Opening the Door to the East

Travelers and Explorers, Part 2: Marco Polo (1254-1324) -- Opening the Door to the East

Marco Polo’s legacy is arguably the greatest of any medieval figure. While he was by no means the first European to reach China – his father and uncle did so a generation earlier, making the younger Polo's journey possible in the first place– his account, The Travels of Marco Polo, popularized knowledge of India and Asia across the continent. It was a massive bestseller in its first print run and defined ideas about China and the Orient for centuries to come; it has remained in print for centuries and a bestseller ever since. In it he discussed the fabulous wealth of China and the court of Kublai Khan.
While much of his account is filled with incredible exaggerations or outright fictions – mythological animals make numerous cameos in the work – it inspired a new generation of explorers to push past the extents of the known world. His book was incorporated into some important maps of the later Middle Ages, such as the Catalan World Map of 1375, which was read with great interest in the next century by Henry the Navigator and Columbus. The effects of his journey on European intellectual and cultural life were far-reaching. Accounts of the lands in the East stimulated renewed interest in discovery and helped launch the European Age of Exploration.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jaksot(1079)

When Did People Start Using Last Names?

When Did People Start Using Last Names?

Today's question comes from Melanie Padon: When did people start using last names and why? How did they come up with them? WANT ME TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT HISTORY?   Click here to learn more.   ...

26 Touko 20176min

Did Conquering Armies Really Salt the Earth of Their Enemies?

Did Conquering Armies Really Salt the Earth of Their Enemies?

Today's question comes to us from Peter Swanson. My question is what is the history of "salting the earth" after a military victory. How would an army in the ancient world have transported tons and to...

25 Touko 20177min

What if JFK Had Lost the 1960 Election?

What if JFK Had Lost the 1960 Election?

Today's question comes to us courtesy of Brandon. Here's his question: This is Brandon Wall, and I'm wondering what would have happened if Nixon beat JFK in the 1960 presidential election. How would t...

24 Touko 201713min

Justin from the Generation Why Podcast: What Assassination Had the Most Impact on History?

Justin from the Generation Why Podcast: What Assassination Had the Most Impact on History?

Today's question comes to us from Justin from the Generation Why Podcast. It's a true crime podcast that you should definitely check out. Here's his question: What murder or assassination through hist...

23 Touko 201718min

Why Your Favorite Presidents (Lincoln, Washington) Actually Screwed Up America—Brion McClanahan

Why Your Favorite Presidents (Lincoln, Washington) Actually Screwed Up America—Brion McClanahan

Quick – name your favorite president. You probably said Washington or Lincoln, right? C'mon. You can be more original than that. Well, Brion McClanahan is original. He gladly tells people that the gre...

19 Touko 201744min

How a Horse Became a Sergeant in the Korean War — Robin Hutton

How a Horse Became a Sergeant in the Korean War — Robin Hutton

The story of Reckless—a pack horse in the Korean War who was a beloved household name in the 1950s and the only animal in U.S. history to officially achieve the rank of Sergeant—is one of the stranges...

19 Touko 20171h 27min

When Camels Roamed the American Southwest—The U.S. Camel Corps (1856-1866)

When Camels Roamed the American Southwest—The U.S. Camel Corps (1856-1866)

Welcome to the first episode of the History Unplugged podcast. We are kicking things off by exploring the US Army’s failed experiment of using camels as the military’s main pack animal in the American...

11 Touko 201744min

Suosittua kategoriassa Yhteiskunta

i-dont-like-mondays
sita
kaksi-aitia
olipa-kerran-otsikko
hupiklubi
ihme-ja-kumma
siita-on-vaikea-puhua
uutiscast
poks
antin-palautepalvelu
gogin-ja-janin-maailmanhistoria
kolme-kaannekohtaa
rss-murhan-anatomia
mamma-mia
yopuolen-tarinoita-2
aikalisa
meidan-pitais-puhua
rss-palmujen-varjoissa
mystista
loukussa