Few figures in history straddle the line between fact and legend as dramatically as Marco Polo. His book, The Travels of Marco Polo , written in a Genoese prison cell, was a medieval bestseller that opened Europe’s eyes to the wonders of the East. Yet, for all the ink spilled over his adventures in the court of Kublai Khan, a surprisingly simple question has sparked a bitter, centuries-old debate:
When Niccolò and Maffeo Polo finally returned to Venice in 1269, they found a 15-year-old Marco who had been educated in the "merchant subjects"—foreign currency, appraising cargo, and literacy. Only two years later, in 1271, the seventeen-year-old Marco would set off with them on the journey that would secure his place in history. The Legacy of 1254
The Birth and Early Life of Marco Polo Era: The High Middle Ages (13th Century) Significance: Understanding the origins of the man who would bridge the gap between Europe and Asia. marco polo was born
To understand the significance of when Marco Polo was born, one must look at the state of the world in the mid-13th century:
The Korčula theory points out a delicious irony: if Marco Polo was born on the island, the battle that led to his famous book would have occurred right in his own backyard. If he was Venetian, he was simply fighting a naval battle for his republic. Few figures in history straddle the line between
: His father, Niccolò, and uncle, Maffeo, were successful jewel traders who spent much of Marco's childhood exploring the Black Sea and central Asia.
The Mystery of the Merchant: Where and When Marco Polo Was Born Only two years later, in 1271, the seventeen-year-old
Venice was at the peak of its influence, developing sophisticated banking and accounting systems that would fund the age of exploration.
The circumstances of his birth led directly to his famous journey.
The most honest answer is: