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Could Marco Polo's travels have been exaggerated or fabricated for political gain?

Vollie Mewett

Hey there! Thanks for asking such an interesting question. It's a topic that has intrigued many historians and scholars for years, but the answer is not a straightforward one. Marco Polo's travels were documented in his book "The Travels of Marco Polo," which became a bestseller in Europe and influenced the Age of Exploration. However, there are several reasons why his travels could have been exaggerated or fabricated for political gain.

One of the reasons why Marco Polo's travels could have been exaggerated is that he was a merchant, not an explorer. His main goal was to trade goods, and he traveled to many cities in Asia to build trade relations. As a merchant, he had access to privileged information and knew many powerful people, including Kublai Khan, the emperor of China. Some historians argue that his connection to Kublai Khan might have given him political motivation to embellish or even fabricate his accounts of his travels.

Moreover, Marco Polo's book was not written during his travels but rather after he returned to Europe. He dictated his travelogue to a writer named Rustichello da Pisa, who wrote it down in French. The book was later translated into Italian and became a bestseller. Because Marco Polo did not write the book himself, it's possible that he might have added or removed details to make his travels seem more thrilling and exotic.

There are also discrepancies between Marco Polo's book and other records of the time. For example, some historians have pointed out that Marco Polo did not mention the Great Wall of China or foot binding, both of which were prominent in Chinese society at the time. Moreover, some of the places Marco Polo described in his book were not discovered until after his death. These inconsistencies have led some scholars to question the veracity of his book.

Finally, there is evidence that other European travelers to Asia also embellished their travel accounts for political gain. For example, Sir John Mandeville's book "The Travels of Sir John Mandeville" was published in the 14th century and became another bestseller in Europe. However, many of the details in his book were fabricated, and the author himself was likely fictional. The fact that other travelers at the time also exaggerated their accounts raises the possibility that Marco Polo might have done the same to gain popularity and influence.

In conclusion, while there is no concrete evidence that Marco Polo's travels were exaggerated or fabricated for political gain, there are several reasons why this is a possibility. As a merchant, he had connections to powerful people and had access to privileged information that might have motivated him to embellish his accounts. Additionally, his book was not written during his travels, and there are discrepancies between his accounts and other records of the time. Finally, there is evidence that other European travelers also exaggerated their accounts. Nonetheless, Marco Polo's book remains a fascinating account of his travels and a valuable source of information about the cultures and societies of Asia.