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| The Travels of Marco Polo and the Silk Road The European Countries were all in panic after the Mongolian Army marched westward and swept the Asian-European Continent. In 1245A.D. (the seventh year of Taizong’s reign, Yuan Dynasty), the head of European Churches Innocentius Ⅳ convened a meeting in Leon, France, warning all nations to make preparation for the invasion of Mongolian Army. At the time, it was rumored that there were catholic among Yuan aristocrats. So they attempted to rely on the religion to stop the Mongolian Army from going west. Many envoys had been sent to China, two of them, Giovannide Piano Garpini and Guillelmusde Rubruk had written books recording what they saw along part of the Silk Road to the Capital of Yuan Dynasty. During Yuan Dynasty, there was much communication between eastern and western people. Some traveled by sea, but most followed the Silk Road used by their ancestors. Foreign envoys, especially those of European and Asian countries, used to stay in Helin of Mongolia, which was the cultural and political center of the time. Among those who came to the east, had the longest stay, and were influenced deeply by China was Polos. Marco Polo was nominated an official in China for 17 years. After returning to Europe, he wrote The Travels of Marco Pole, describing his traveling experiences. The book had been an authoritative book for those who studied the history of China, especially the history of Yuan Dynasty. Marco Polo went east to the capital of Yuan Dynasty from Crimea along the Silk Road. In The Travel, Marco Polo recorded in detail what he saw in the Western Region and Persia, from custom and habit, dressing, languages, etiquette, character and script and how they were influenced by the oriental Empire. Marco Polo arrived at Dadu (the Capital of Yuan Dynasty) in 1275 AD, appromatily 30 years after the Mongolian army massacred Europe. Despite the attempt of Yuan Taizhu to turn the whole world into a grassland for tending the animals and despite the annihilation by Mongolian Army of many civilized races and their rules, Mongolian left nothing but dreadful memory to Europe. It seems conquer by armed force is not as effective as civilization, Marco Polo was surprised that even in Yuan Dynasty, the countries of Western Region should retain the ancient oriental civilization of several hundred years ago. Though Tang Dynasty had fallen for nearly 500 to 600 years, but its influence and prestige, through the Silk Road, on the West Asia, Mid-Asia and Europe still remained. At that time, many countries in the world intended to relate to the nobles of Yuan Dynasty through marriage, so as to make peace with the most powerful country of the world. In this book, Marco wrote, In early 1291, three members of Polos returned to native land by escorting princess of Shizhu of Yuan to marry King of Persia. Marco Polo not only recorded in his The Travel the geography, customs and civilization of the countries along this route, but also many important events of the days, and the book became an important reference book for us to study the history of Yuan Dynasty, such as the suppression of the revolt by Weiyan, revolt by Li Tan, the execution of treacherous court official Ahema, the battle of Yongchang, the seize of Xiangyang, the massacre of Changzhou, the fall of Southern Song, the Christian Church in Zhengjiang, the punitive expedition of Japan etc.
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