Elisabeth Tan ( 7 )
Angelyn Long ( 20 )
Nurhanisa ( 24 )
Teo Yiyun ( 29 )
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Bibliography
- 1.http://www,goldkeys.com/vacation/china/chinaLog.htm
2. http://www1.ocdsb.edu.on.ca/henmweb/Grassroots%202001/china/c-history.htm
3. http://histclo.com/country/other/china/list/china-hist.htm
4. www.upf.edu/materials/huma/central/historia/eo/historia
5. http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/wcai/web/ChinHis.html
6. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0106/feature2/index.html.
7. http://www.planetpapers.com/Assets/20.php
8. http://www.thesalmon.org/lynn/chinahtml
9. http://wwwsilk-road.com/art1/srtravelmainshtml
10. http://www.silk-road.com/art1/marcopolo.shtml
11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MarcoPolo
12. http://www.antiessays:com/free-essays/765.html
13. http://www.atariarchives.org/bca/chapter01_MarcoPolo.php
14. http://www.yesnet.yk.caa/schools/projects/renaissance/marcopolo.html
15. The world book encyclopedia
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Friday, August 24, 2007
Adventures and Hazards Encountered & Whether They Were Successful In Achieving The Aim Of Their Journey
Marco Polo is one of the most well-known heroic travelers around the world.
When Marco first travelled with his father and uncle, they were accompanied by 2 friars who having heard accounts of warring tribes along the route feared their lives and after just a few days’ journey, turned back. However, he continued on the journey with his father and uncle.
The group travelled numerous countries and cultures, noting food, dress, and religion unique to each. They were also subject to hazards of travel – extreme cold, snow, floods, deserts, diseases and bandits. In particular, under the Khan’s protection the Polos were able to observe a large portion of the Islamic world at close range, as few if any European Christians had.
On the way to the Khan’s court, Marco had the opportunity to complete his education. He had received a unique education and had been initiated into manhood.
The journey took three and a half years by horseback through some of the world’s most rugged terrain, including the extreme cold and snowy mountain ranges, such as the Pamirs.
He also had to traverse thousands of miles on parching deserts such as the Lop and Gobi. The journey is invariably over either sandy plains and valleys, or over steep, barren mountain passes, exposed to extreme weathers, to wild animals and very uncivilized tribesmen. Marco also described “excessive troubles and dangers that must unavoidably be encountered” such as mirages, malevolent spirits, eerie noises, and the danger of losing the path. Despite the dangers encountered during the Lop and Gobi crossing, they managed to leave both deserts.
By the time, they reached the Khan’s court, Marco had become a hardened traveler. The Polos stayed on for 17 years in Khan’s court, yet 17 years is a long time to trade without returning home to family and friends. The Polos not only survived - itself an achievement amid the political hazards of the time – but also prospered.
Khan held them in high regard and he would not let them return home, but as the Khan aged the Polos began to fear what would happen after his death. Finally, an opportunity to leave presented itself when trusted emissaries were needed to accompany a Mongol princess to the local khan. The Polos sailed from Cathay with a fleet of 14 ships and a wedding party of 600 people not counting the sailors. Only a few members of the wedding entourage survived the journey of almost 2 years, the survival included the Polos and the princess. Fortunately, the Polos duly delivered the princess not to the old Khan of Persia, who had meanwhile died but to his son.
Marco did not give much clue as to what went wrong on the trip, but there are some theories. Some think they may have died from scurvy, cholera or by drowning; others suggest the losses were caused by the hostile natives and pirate attacks. This dreadful sea voyage passed through the South China Sea to Sumatra and the Indian Ocean, and finally docked at Hormuz.
In Persia, they learned of the death of Kublai Khan. However Khan’s protection outlived him, for it was only by showing his golden tablet of authority that they were able to travel safely through the bandit-ridden interior. Marco admitted that the passports of golden tablets were powerful.
From Persia, the Polos made their way back to Venice. They were robbed as soon as they got into Christian territory, but they still managed to reach home in 1294, with plenty of rich goods.
When Marco first travelled with his father and uncle, they were accompanied by 2 friars who having heard accounts of warring tribes along the route feared their lives and after just a few days’ journey, turned back. However, he continued on the journey with his father and uncle.
The group travelled numerous countries and cultures, noting food, dress, and religion unique to each. They were also subject to hazards of travel – extreme cold, snow, floods, deserts, diseases and bandits. In particular, under the Khan’s protection the Polos were able to observe a large portion of the Islamic world at close range, as few if any European Christians had.
On the way to the Khan’s court, Marco had the opportunity to complete his education. He had received a unique education and had been initiated into manhood.
The journey took three and a half years by horseback through some of the world’s most rugged terrain, including the extreme cold and snowy mountain ranges, such as the Pamirs.
He also had to traverse thousands of miles on parching deserts such as the Lop and Gobi. The journey is invariably over either sandy plains and valleys, or over steep, barren mountain passes, exposed to extreme weathers, to wild animals and very uncivilized tribesmen. Marco also described “excessive troubles and dangers that must unavoidably be encountered” such as mirages, malevolent spirits, eerie noises, and the danger of losing the path. Despite the dangers encountered during the Lop and Gobi crossing, they managed to leave both deserts.
By the time, they reached the Khan’s court, Marco had become a hardened traveler. The Polos stayed on for 17 years in Khan’s court, yet 17 years is a long time to trade without returning home to family and friends. The Polos not only survived - itself an achievement amid the political hazards of the time – but also prospered.
Khan held them in high regard and he would not let them return home, but as the Khan aged the Polos began to fear what would happen after his death. Finally, an opportunity to leave presented itself when trusted emissaries were needed to accompany a Mongol princess to the local khan. The Polos sailed from Cathay with a fleet of 14 ships and a wedding party of 600 people not counting the sailors. Only a few members of the wedding entourage survived the journey of almost 2 years, the survival included the Polos and the princess. Fortunately, the Polos duly delivered the princess not to the old Khan of Persia, who had meanwhile died but to his son.
Marco did not give much clue as to what went wrong on the trip, but there are some theories. Some think they may have died from scurvy, cholera or by drowning; others suggest the losses were caused by the hostile natives and pirate attacks. This dreadful sea voyage passed through the South China Sea to Sumatra and the Indian Ocean, and finally docked at Hormuz.
In Persia, they learned of the death of Kublai Khan. However Khan’s protection outlived him, for it was only by showing his golden tablet of authority that they were able to travel safely through the bandit-ridden interior. Marco admitted that the passports of golden tablets were powerful.
From Persia, the Polos made their way back to Venice. They were robbed as soon as they got into Christian territory, but they still managed to reach home in 1294, with plenty of rich goods.
China Experiencing The Golden Age
I, Marco Polo travelled a great deal in China. I was amazed with China’s enormous power, great wealth, and complex social structure. China is rich in gold, ivory, jade, jewels, porcelain and silk.
porcelain
Chinese Silk
A Chinese Jade Pendant
A Chinese Ivory Carving
China under the Yuan (The Mongol Empire) dynasty (1264 – 1368) was a huge empire whose internal economy dwarfed that of Europe. It’s reported that iron manufacture was around 125,000 tons a year (a level not reached in Europe before the 18th century) and salt production was on a prodigious scale: 30,000 tons a year in one province alone. A canal-based transportation system linked China’s huge cities and markets in a vast internal communication network in which paper money and credit facilities were highly developed. The citizens could purchase paperback books with paper money, eat rice from fine porcelain bowls and wear silk garments, lived in prosperous city that no European town could match. We lived in the empire, in the service of the Khan, used paper money, passports, and traveled on the Grand Canal in China, at a time when paper money, passports, and canals were unknown in Europe.
I was impressed with Kublai Khan’s prosperous, advanced empire in China. I marveled the summer palace in particular. It was the greatest palace that ever was. The walls were covered with gold and silver and the Hall was so large that it could easily dine 6,000 people. The palace was made of cane supported by 200 silk cords, which could be taken to pieces and transported easily when the Emperor moved. There too, the Khan kept a stud of 10,000 speckless white horses. The fine marble Palace, the rooms of which are all gilt and painted with figures of men and beasts…all executed with such exquisite art that you regard them with delight and astonishment.
There were some phenomena which were totally new to me. We noted the center of asbestos industry in Uighuristan, but the other three beggared my imagination, and they were paper currency, coal and the imperial post.
I was impressed with Kublai Khan’s prosperous, advanced empire in China. I marveled the summer palace in particular. It was the greatest palace that ever was. The walls were covered with gold and silver and the Hall was so large that it could easily dine 6,000 people. The palace was made of cane supported by 200 silk cords, which could be taken to pieces and transported easily when the Emperor moved. There too, the Khan kept a stud of 10,000 speckless white horses. The fine marble Palace, the rooms of which are all gilt and painted with figures of men and beasts…all executed with such exquisite art that you regard them with delight and astonishment.
There were some phenomena which were totally new to me. We noted the center of asbestos industry in Uighuristan, but the other three beggared my imagination, and they were paper currency, coal and the imperial post.
Chinese Paper Currency
Coal
The idea of paper substituting gold and silver was a total surprise even to us. I attributed the success of paper money to Kublai stature as a ruler. “With these pieces of paper they can buy anything and pay of anything.” I marveled at the Chinese use of paper money, which bore the seal of the emperor. At the same time, we, the Europeans were trading with heavy coins made of copper, gold, or lead.
It is true that the Chinese have plenty of firewood. But the population is so enormous and there are so many bath-houses and baths constantly being heated, that it would be impossible to supply enough firewood, since there is no one who does not visit a bath-house at least 3 times a week and take a bath – in winter every day, if he can manage it. Every man of rank or means has his own bathroom in his house… so these black stones (coal), being very plentiful and very cheap, effect a great saving of wood. The Chinese mine and use coal as fuel. Coal had not yet been used in Europe.
I was equally impressed with the efficient communication system in the Mongol world. There were three main grades of dispatch, which may be rendered in modern terms as ‘second class’, first class’, and ‘On His Imperial Majesty’s Service: Top Priority’. ‘Second class’ messages were carried by foot-runners, who had relay-stations three miles apart. Each messenger wore a special belt hung with small bells to announce his approach and ensure that his relief was out on the road and ready for a smooth takeover. This system enabled a message to cover the distance of a normal ten-day journey in 24 hours. At each three miles station a log was kept on the flow of messages and all the routes were patrolled by inspectors. ‘First class’ business was conveyed on horseback, with relay-stages of 25 miles. But the really important business of Kublai empire was carried by non-stop dispatch riders. Riders on horseback relayed messages from one station to another.
Printing had not yet been invented in Europe, and so scholars copied by hand. European interest in Asia had brought to Europe such Chinese inventions as the printing, papermaking and compass.
As in other periods of alien dynastic rule of China, a rich cultural diversity developed during the Yuan dynasty. The major cultural achievements were the development of drama and the novel and the increased use of the written vernacular. The Mongols’ extensive West Asian and European contacts produced a fair amount of cultural exchange. Western musical instruments were introduced to enrich the Chinese performing arts. Advances were realized in the fields to travel literature, cartography and geography, and scientific education. Certain key Chinese innovations, such as printing techniques, porcelain production, playing cards, and medical literature, were introduced in Europe, while the production of thin glass and cloisonné became popular in China.
It is true that the Chinese have plenty of firewood. But the population is so enormous and there are so many bath-houses and baths constantly being heated, that it would be impossible to supply enough firewood, since there is no one who does not visit a bath-house at least 3 times a week and take a bath – in winter every day, if he can manage it. Every man of rank or means has his own bathroom in his house… so these black stones (coal), being very plentiful and very cheap, effect a great saving of wood. The Chinese mine and use coal as fuel. Coal had not yet been used in Europe.
I was equally impressed with the efficient communication system in the Mongol world. There were three main grades of dispatch, which may be rendered in modern terms as ‘second class’, first class’, and ‘On His Imperial Majesty’s Service: Top Priority’. ‘Second class’ messages were carried by foot-runners, who had relay-stations three miles apart. Each messenger wore a special belt hung with small bells to announce his approach and ensure that his relief was out on the road and ready for a smooth takeover. This system enabled a message to cover the distance of a normal ten-day journey in 24 hours. At each three miles station a log was kept on the flow of messages and all the routes were patrolled by inspectors. ‘First class’ business was conveyed on horseback, with relay-stages of 25 miles. But the really important business of Kublai empire was carried by non-stop dispatch riders. Riders on horseback relayed messages from one station to another.
Printing had not yet been invented in Europe, and so scholars copied by hand. European interest in Asia had brought to Europe such Chinese inventions as the printing, papermaking and compass.
As in other periods of alien dynastic rule of China, a rich cultural diversity developed during the Yuan dynasty. The major cultural achievements were the development of drama and the novel and the increased use of the written vernacular. The Mongols’ extensive West Asian and European contacts produced a fair amount of cultural exchange. Western musical instruments were introduced to enrich the Chinese performing arts. Advances were realized in the fields to travel literature, cartography and geography, and scientific education. Certain key Chinese innovations, such as printing techniques, porcelain production, playing cards, and medical literature, were introduced in Europe, while the production of thin glass and cloisonné became popular in China.
The Mongols undertook extensive public works. Road and water communications were reorganized and improved. To provide against possible famines, granaries were ordered built throughout the empire. The city of Beijing was rebuilt with new palace grounds that included artificial lakes, hills and mountains, and parts. During the Yuan period, Beijing became the terminus of the Grand Canal, which was completely renovated. These commercially oriented improvements encouraged overland as well as maritime commerce throughout Asia and facilitated the first direct Chinese contacts with Europe. Chinese and Mongol travelers to the West were able to provide assistance in such areas as hydraulic engineering, while bringing back to the Middle Kingdom new scientific discoveries and architectural innovations. Contacts with the West also brought the introduction to China of a major new food crop – sorghum-along with other foreign food products and methods of preparation.
It was indeed a powerful and prosperous civilization under the leadership of Kublai Khan at a time of peace. He also supports learning and the arts, and there were indeed many cultural achievements.
Drama
Cloisonne
Diary Of Events
In 1271, I, Marco Polo then 17 years old and my father and uncle sailed from Venice to Acre (now Akko), a port of Palestine.
From there, we rode camels to the Persian port of Hormuz, which is now Iran.
We wanted to sail to China from Hormuz, but the ships available there did not seem seaworthy. We continued by camels across the bleak deserts and on foot over some rugged mountains of Asia. Continuing the mountains, we then descended and crossed the narrowest part of the Desert of Lop, which took a month. We continued eastward, veering off to the north before reaching Xian, the legendary eastern terminus of the Silk Road. We had to cross a portion of the Gobi Desert to reach Shangdu (also spelled Shang-tu). We did not dwell as long on the Gobi Desert as we did on the Lop.
In 1275, more than 3 years after leaving Venice we finally reached Kublai Khan’s summer palace in Shangdu near what is now Kalgan, subsequently his winter palace at his capital, Cambaluc (Beijing). Kublai Khan had set up his court at Beijing, which was not a Mongol encampment but an impressive city built by Kublai as his new capital after the Mongols took over China in 1264 and established Yuan dynasty. The Khan gave us, the Polos a hearty welcome.
Kublai Khan valued the experience and knowledge of his guests. Khan appointed me as an official of the Privy Council in 1277 and for 3 years I was a tax inspector in Yangzhou, a city on the Grand Canal, northeast of Nanking. I knew four languages, and the Khan sent me on many official tours/diplomatic missions of the kingdom. These tours took me to China’s southern and eastern provinces and as far south as Pagan (now Burma), and India, a great part of the journey would doubtless be by a boat. I also visited Karakorum – the capital of the Mongols and part of Siberia. I frequently visited Hangzhou, another city very near Yangzhou. I became the trusted agent of Khan and stayed in his court for 17 years.
As time passed, we, the Polos began to worry about returning home safely. Kublai Khan did not want us to leave China, but we believed that if Kublai Khan were to die before we left China, his enemies might capture us. Finally, in 1292, our chance came. The Khan’s great-nephew, the Mongol ruler of Persia, had sent representatives to China to bring back a bride whom the Khan had selected for him. The representatives asked the Polos to accompany them on their return to Persia. Kublai Khan reluctantly agreed. That same year, we and a fleet of 14 junks sailed from Zaitun (now Quanzhou, also spelled Chuan-chou), a port in Southern China.
The fleet sailed to what is now Singapore. From there, it travelled north of Sumatra and then to Persia, via Sri Lanka and around the southern tip of India. We crossed the Arabian Sea to Hormuz.
There we left the wedding party and traveled overland to the Turkish port of Trebizond (now Trabzon). From Trebizond on the Black Sea coast we went by sea, by way of Constantinople and from there to Venice, arriving home in the winter of 1295. Our journey to China and back probably totaled nearly 24,100 kilometers. We had been gone for 24 years.
camel -- the transport we used in the desert
From there, we rode camels to the Persian port of Hormuz, which is now Iran.
We wanted to sail to China from Hormuz, but the ships available there did not seem seaworthy. We continued by camels across the bleak deserts and on foot over some rugged mountains of Asia. Continuing the mountains, we then descended and crossed the narrowest part of the Desert of Lop, which took a month. We continued eastward, veering off to the north before reaching Xian, the legendary eastern terminus of the Silk Road. We had to cross a portion of the Gobi Desert to reach Shangdu (also spelled Shang-tu). We did not dwell as long on the Gobi Desert as we did on the Lop.
In 1275, more than 3 years after leaving Venice we finally reached Kublai Khan’s summer palace in Shangdu near what is now Kalgan, subsequently his winter palace at his capital, Cambaluc (Beijing). Kublai Khan had set up his court at Beijing, which was not a Mongol encampment but an impressive city built by Kublai as his new capital after the Mongols took over China in 1264 and established Yuan dynasty. The Khan gave us, the Polos a hearty welcome.
Kublai Khan valued the experience and knowledge of his guests. Khan appointed me as an official of the Privy Council in 1277 and for 3 years I was a tax inspector in Yangzhou, a city on the Grand Canal, northeast of Nanking. I knew four languages, and the Khan sent me on many official tours/diplomatic missions of the kingdom. These tours took me to China’s southern and eastern provinces and as far south as Pagan (now Burma), and India, a great part of the journey would doubtless be by a boat. I also visited Karakorum – the capital of the Mongols and part of Siberia. I frequently visited Hangzhou, another city very near Yangzhou. I became the trusted agent of Khan and stayed in his court for 17 years.
As time passed, we, the Polos began to worry about returning home safely. Kublai Khan did not want us to leave China, but we believed that if Kublai Khan were to die before we left China, his enemies might capture us. Finally, in 1292, our chance came. The Khan’s great-nephew, the Mongol ruler of Persia, had sent representatives to China to bring back a bride whom the Khan had selected for him. The representatives asked the Polos to accompany them on their return to Persia. Kublai Khan reluctantly agreed. That same year, we and a fleet of 14 junks sailed from Zaitun (now Quanzhou, also spelled Chuan-chou), a port in Southern China.
The fleet sailed to what is now Singapore. From there, it travelled north of Sumatra and then to Persia, via Sri Lanka and around the southern tip of India. We crossed the Arabian Sea to Hormuz.
There we left the wedding party and traveled overland to the Turkish port of Trebizond (now Trabzon). From Trebizond on the Black Sea coast we went by sea, by way of Constantinople and from there to Venice, arriving home in the winter of 1295. Our journey to China and back probably totaled nearly 24,100 kilometers. We had been gone for 24 years.
camel -- the transport we used in the desert
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