We reveal that despite the book suggesting he spent 20 years in the court of the Chinese emperor, there is no mention of Marco in Chinese records. Marco Polo’s last will and testament remains unsigned and even the inventory of his possessions made on his death has question marks hanging over it.
Our experts examine all the best evidence. Did Marco Polo, or any European, travel so far into China so long ago? Are the famous tales really based on Marco Polo’s travels? And did a man named Marco Polo even exist?
Dr Benjamin Colbert - Senior lecturer at Wolverhampton University
Currently a senior lecturer at Wolverhampton University, Benjamin contributes to the MA in Dr Benjamin Colbert
Currently a senior lecturer at Wolverhampton University, Benjamin contributes to the MA in English Studies with modules on Popular Romanticism and Research Methods. English Studies with modules on Popular Romanticism and Research Methods. He specialises in Romantic Period literature (1780-1840), with a special emphasis on travel writing, popular poetry (especially satire), and bibliography. Besides co-directing the Centre for Transnational and Transcultural Research, Benjamin also serves as Book Review Editor for European Romantic Review, published by Taylor and Francis, and is on the Steering Committee for the International Society of Travel Writing.
Frances Wood - Curator of Chinese Collections at the British Library
Frances Wood is curator of Chinese Collections at the British Library. She studied Chinese for four years at Cambridge, 1967-1971, got her PHD at the University of London, and a BA at the PEKING UNIVERSITY. She is also the author of, among other books, Did Marco Polo Go to China? Her current research interest is the history of the Chinese collections, Marco Polo, Treaty Port residents and Chinese historiography.
Prof. David Trotter - Professor of French and Head of the Department of European Languages at Aberystwyth University
David Trotter is Professor of French and Head of the Department of European Languages at Aberystwyth University. He is a Medievalist specialising in language and literature. Trotter was an invited participant in public debate and discussion at University College London: ‘Did Marco Polo go to China?’ in March 1996.
Trotter has also written and researched another Italian Medieval traveller, Ordic of Pordenone, and has written articles for Travel in Medieval Europe, Annual Colloquium of the London Medieval Society, Institute of Romance Studies, such as ‘The elusive Isle of Dondin: had Odoric of Pordenone read Marco Polo?’ He is currently researching Historical French linguistics; medieval French (especially non-literary texts); historical dialectology, especially eastern French; and Anglo-Norman Dictionary.
Marco Polo
Marco Polowas a Christian merchant from the Venetian Republic whose alleged travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China.
Rustichello
Rustichello was an Italian romance writer best known for cowriting Marco Polo's autobiography while they were in prison together in Genoa.
The existence of Marco Polo is widely debated and solid proof of his existence is yet to be found. Many believe that Marco Polo brought back the secret of ice cream and pasta however, the book fails to mention these vital details.
Marco Polo’s story is filled with inaccurate information such as the mythical tale of a land where humans have the bodies of men but the heads of dogs.
One of the major criticisms of Marco Polo is that he failed to mention the Great Wall of China and chopsticks!
During the 13th century there was plenty of trade with China. If not directly then via a chain of ancient trade routes linking right across the continent and into Europe debunking the myth that Marco was the first European to reach the far East.
The story of Marco Polo claims that he held a notable position within the Mogul court although no mention of the man can be found in ancient Chinese records.
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