Click on cities or locations in the map below
to see Marco Polo's opinion of them:
Hormuz
Hormuz has an "excellent harbor" to which merchants deliver
spices, precious stones, silks, and other goods from India.
However, the city suffers from a "torrid" climate due to the
intense heat of the sun. Especially deadly is the "overpoweringly
hot" wind which is capable of stifling a man. Marco Polo is
also not impressed with the ships of these people, which are
stitched together with coconut thread rather than being fastened
by iron nails. Marco Polo is quite impressed, however, with
the effect of this city's date wine on the naive drinker: "When
it is drunk by men who are not used to it, it loosens the bowels
and makes a thorough purge; but after that it does them good
and makes them put on flesh" (Polo 66-68).
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Kinsai
Marco Polo remarks again that a city is the "finest and most
splendid city in the world" (213). On this visit, the city is
Kinsai. The city is approximately 100 miles in circumference,
and many lakes and rivers run throughout the city. There are
ten principal marketplaces in Kinsai, all of which are accessible
either by land or by stream. The people of Kinsai take cold
baths every day, as they believe the coldness to be conducive
to their health. Visitors, such as Marco Polo, could take a
hot water bath if that is what they would be accustomed. The
streets of Kinsai are crowded with people of all sorts, including
doctors, astrologers, artisans, and women of the street, all
of whom use paper money. These people are also idolaters, who
are "subject to the Great Khan" (220). The Great Khan takes
special interest in Kinsai because it is the capital of the
entire province of Manzi and a large repository of his treasures.
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Khan-Balik
Kahn Balik was the location of Kublai Kahn's residence during
his reign in the late thirteenth century. Marco Polo reached
Kublai Kahn's court in 1275 and was employed by the emperor
as a sort of spy throughout the emperor's kingdom. Kublai Kahn
and Marco Polo held a mutual admiration for each other, hence
Marco's hiring by the emperor and his acceptance of the position
in Kublai's court. The city itself was richly impressive, due
to its significance as the home of the emperor. Marco Polo recognized
this and noted its vast buildings and ornate architecture and
art in his book of travels. Additionally, Marco's description
of Kahn Balik was positive as a nod to his friend the emperor,
who did read the narrative once Marco had finished it.
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Fruehauf
This "splendid" city of Fruehauf is the capital of the kingdom
named Conch, one of the nine divisions of the province of Manzi
(233). It is a very important commercial center, whose merchant
and craftsmen inhabitants are all subject to the Great Khan.
Throughout this entire neighborhood, certain animals roam freely.
The most common are lions, extra large geese, and animals called
"alpines" which resemble foxes (234). Sugar, pearls, and other
precious stones are also abundantly produced in Fruehauf.
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Shang-tu
A large attraction in this city is the great palace which
Kublai Khan built of marble and many other ornamental stones.
This palace also encircles sixteen miles of park-land, diversified
with springs and sprawling lawns. Game animals of all sorts
also roam the park-land. The Great Khan resides at Shang-tu
for three months during the year, to escape the heat of June,
July, and August. On the 28th day of August, the Great Khan
vacates the city and takes with him his entourage of 10,000
snow-white mares.
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Maabar
According to Marco Polo, Maabar is the "best part of India"
(Polo, 260). This province, called Greater India, forms part
of the mainland. Five kings rule this "richest and most splendid
province in the world" (260). Groups of merchants form companies
or partnerships, for which they pay the king a tithe of their
takings. The people of Maabar go "stark naked" all the year
round and the king wears no more than the rest of the people,
except for certain additional ornaments (262). Polygamy is allowed,
as the king himself has 500 wives, or concubines. When a son
inherits his father's riches, he will never touch them for anything
in the world. Because of this reason, the accumulation of Maabar's
riches is immense. On the issue of worship, the people of Maabar
worship the ox, which they would never eat, and they feel that
the earth is honorable to sit upon because "we were made from
the earth and to the earth we must return" (265). These men
are not violent because they kill no beast or living thing,
but to those who do commit any crime, justice is very strictly
administered. The people of Maabar abstain from drinking wine,
but do not regard any form of sexual indulgences as a sin. The
final two points of interest concerning Maabar are the strict
following of the "unlucky hour" of choiach and the offering
of the maidens to the idols of Maabar's monasteries. During
the hour of choiach, which is determined by measuring the height
of a man's shadow in feet, people must do absolutely nothing
because of the chance that whatever is done will turn out badly
for them. These fair, and naked, maidens sing before the idols
in the monasteries with great joviality, until they take husbands
of their own.
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Motupalli
Upon Marco Polo's visit, Motupalli was ruled by a very wise
queen who governed her kingdom with a high standard of justice
and equity. Her people are idolaters who live on rice, flesh,
milk, fish, and fruit. The only items "worth mentioning" are
the kingdom's production of diamonds, delicate fabrics fit for
any royalty, and the great abundance of beasts, especially large
sheep (274).
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Khotan
Khotan, the capital of the province of Khotan, is also subject
to the Great Khan, although all of its inhabitants worship Mahomet.
This city, and the surrounding province, is well stocked with
all of the "means of life:" cotton, vineyards, and orchards
all grow in plenty (82). Khotan's people live by trade and industry
and are not at all people of war and violence.
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Baghdad
Baghdad is a very large city with a river that flows directly
through the midst. Many travelers voyage to the Indian Sea on
this river. Baghdad is also a center for the study of the "law
of Mahomet and of necromancy" (52). The Caliph of Baghdad owned
the "greatest treasure" of gold and silver and precious stones
that "ever belonged to any man" (52). After the wealthy Caliph
was killed in a battle, there has been no other Caliph in Baghdad.
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Kamul
Once a kingdom, the province of Kamul contained many towns
and villages; the chief town was called Kamul as well. The people
of this province are very gay and speak a language all their
own. They produce an excess of "foodstuffs and beverages" which
they sell to travelers who pass through the town (87). Travelers
through Kamul would receive very warm hospitality and the host
of the traveler would bid his wife to do all that the guest
wishes. These wives are beautiful and vivacious and "always
ready to oblige" (87). The guest may lie with the host's wife
in be just as if she were his own wife, and the men of the town
find no wrong with this.
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Vochan
The city of Vochan is the chief city in the province of Zar-dandan.
Its people are idolaters who are subject to the Great Khan.
These people have no idols or church, but instead, worship the
head of the house because "'From him we have our being'" (182).
When a woman of Vochan gives birth to a baby, she washes and
swaddles him and puts the baby in bed with his father for 40
days. Well-wishers come and greet the baby and his father, while
the mother of the child waits on her husband and new child,
in addition to all of the guests.
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Tun
Tun is located on the northern border of Persia. On this plain
is the "Solitary Tree;" Christians call this tree the "Dry Tree"
(69-70). It produces chestnut-like husks, but there is nothing
in them. There are no other trees nearby for more than 100 miles,
except for a few trees in one direction about 10 miles away.
Tun's climate is neither too hot nor too cold and the people
of Tun all worship Mahomet. These people are a good-looking
race, and the women "in particular are of outstanding beauty"
(70).
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Yazd
Yazd is a fine and splendid city which is also a center of
commerce. Yazdi, a silken fabric, is manufactured here in great
quantity. This fabric is exported profitably to many markets.
Yazd's inhabitants worship Mahomet.
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Yang-chau
Marco Polo governed this "large and splendid" city himself
for three years (206). Yang-chau is so great that its authority
spreads over 27 cities, all of which are large, prosperous,
and actively engaged in commerce. The people of Yang-chau are
again idolaters, but use paper money. These inhabitants live
by trade and industry in the city which is the seat of one of
the Great Khan's 12 barons.
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Zaiton
A large and wide river enters the port of Zaiton and flows
with a very strong current. This river splits into several different
branches at several points, so that the city of Zaiton is composed
of many bridges, one of which is fully three miles long. The
people of Zaiton are idolaters who are subject to the Great
Khan. These people have their own "distinctive speech," (239)
which is different from the current language of the province
of Manzi.
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Zanzibar
Zanzibar is a large island, some 2,000 miles in circumference.
The people have a king and a language of their own; they pay
tribute to none. These inhabitants have the appearance of "giants,"
as they are very stout and have extremely large limbs (301).
They are quite black and go entirely naked, except for a cover
over their private parts.
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Madagascar
Four sheikhs, or four elders, exercise authority over the
entire island of Madagascar. Once again, Marco Polo feels that
"this island is one of the biggest and best in the whole world"
(299). More elephants are bred here than in any province and
more elephant tusks are sold here than in the entire world.
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Persia
Within Persia, there are eight kingdoms because it is such
a large country. Many fine steeds live in these kingdoms, and
many are exported to India for sale. The people of these kingdoms
are brutal and bloodthirsty. They are always slaughtering each
other, and if "not for fear of the government," would continually
do great mischief to traveling merchants (61). The cities of
Persia also house merchants and craftsmen, living by trade or
industry.
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Region from Armenia to Shang-tu
Towns, fortified places and castles are numerous in this area.
It contains an abundance of resources to enable it to be self-sufficient
as well as to provide a comfortable lifestyle. The arable land
is abundant, as are pastures, however in the winter the snow
is impassably deep. The port city of Laiassus is very busy,
with merchants from Venice and Genoa who trade in spices, drugs,
silk and wool. There are significant areas within this geography
which are difficult to reach due to mountains, thus the advantage
of self-sufficiency. In the Greater Armenian city of Arzingan,
cotton and bombazine cloth are manufactured. There is a desert
area between Kierman and Kobiam which contains very bitter,
illness-inducing water.
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Eastern China
The city of Kahn-Balik lies next to a large river which runs
through Cathay. The whole area is thickly inhabited and the
Kahn holds court throughout the region so each of his subjects
will get the opportunity to see him. The area receives many
valuable imports, including jewels, drugs, spices, raw silk,
gold tissue and rich fabrics. From the central city there are
many roads leading to the outskirts of the area so as to facilitate
the movement of merchants and pack horses to and from the Kahn's
location. There are numerous lodges and guesthouses, all elegantly
appointed so as to serve any visiting dignitaries on their way
to visit the Kahn.
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Japan
Japan, called Zipangu, is a large island with civilized inhabitants.
The have an inexhaustible supply of gold and pearls at their
disposal and much of it remains in the country, as there are
very few merchants who visit for trading purposes. India is
a vast and rich country where taxes are paid to their king using
elephants as currency. There are many widely-spaced open towns
and indigenous villages on its vast plains. The islands in the
Indian Sea are rich in commodities such as pepper, nutmegs,
spikenard, galangal, cubebs and cloves. Additionally, there
are significant islands devoted to the production of brazil
wood and porcelain.
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Northern Asia
This area is ruled by the Tartars, who are a strong, violent
people. There are very few settled towns, because the Tartars
prefer to live nomadically in the plains or the vast forests
of which this area is full. The grow no food and subsist primarily
on meat and water, possessing many great herds of domestic animals
which they use for food. Their only primary commodity are furs
from the animals which they slaughter, however the trek which
merchants must pass in order to trade takes over fourteen days
over rough terrain. In addition, there is a small region to
the extreme north of this region where the sun rarely shines
and the inhabitants are pallid and stupid. This area is very
cold and inhospitable.
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