History Extra podcast Exploring the medieval world with Marco Polo
45 snips
Jul 8, 2025 Sharon Kinoshita, a distinguished professor and author of "Marco Polo and His World," dives deep into the legendary travels of Marco Polo, the 13th-century Venetian merchant. The conversation highlights Polo's time at Kublai Khan's court and his transformative journeys along the Silk Road. Kinoshita uncovers the vibrant cultures and wealth of cities Polo encountered, contrasts his firsthand experiences with misconceptions during his time, and examines the lasting legacy of his adventures in promoting cross-cultural exchanges in the medieval world.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Limited Historical Records on Marco Polo
- We know very little about Marco Polo's personal life and writings outside his famous travel account.
- This gap has allowed novelists and filmmakers to create romanticized versions of his travels.
Marco Polo’s Book as Geographic Account
- Marco Polo's book is mostly a detailed description of kingdoms, cities, and commodities, not an adventure narrative.
- It follows the tradition of Arab-Islamic geography texts rather than Western European travelogues.
Mongol Empire Enabled Polo’s Travels
- The vast Mongol Empire facilitated Marco Polo's travels due to its size and administrative order.
- The Mongols' conquests unified a massive territory that connected East Asia to Europe.
