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Marco Polo
by John Man"I have read everything written on Marco Polo, and John Man's book is, by far, my favorite work on the subject. It's not only an over-due and important historical study, it's an entertaining ride every step of the way." -- John Fusco, Creator of the Netflix original series Marco PoloThe true history behind the Netflix original series Marco Polo, here is the remarkable story of the world's most famous traveler, retracing his legendary journey from Venice to China, the moment East first met West.In 1271, a young Italian merchant named Marco Polo embarked on a groundbreaking expedition from Venice, through the Middle East and Central Asia to China. His extraordinary reports of his experiences introduced medieval Europe to an exotic new world of emperors and concubines, amazing cities, huge armies, unusual spices and cuisine, and imperial riches. Marco Polo also revealed the wonders of Xanadu, the summer capital of Mongol emperor Kublai Khan.Almost 750 years later, acclaimed author John Man traveled in Marco Polo's footsteps to Xanadu then on to Beijing and through modern China in search of the history behind the legend. In this enthralling chronicle, Man draws on his own journey, new archaeological findings, and deep archival study to paint a vivid picture of Marco Polo and the great court of Kublai Khan.
Marco Polo (Fact Finders Biographies)
by Kathleen McFarrenProvides an introduction to the life of the thirteenth-century Venetian explorer Marco Polo who traveled along the Silk Road to the court of Kublai Khan in China.
Marco Polo for Kids: His Marvelous Journey to China, 21 Activities
by Janis HerbertThe Far East comes alive in this activity book centered on Marco Polo's journey to China from Venice along the 13th-century Silk Road. Kids will join Marco as he travels by caravan through vast deserts and over steep mountain ranges, stopping in exotic cities and humble villages, until at last he arrives at the palace of the Kublai Khan. Woven throughout the tale are 21 activities that highlight the diverse cultures Marco encountered along the way. Activities include making a mythical map, creating a mosaic, fun with Feng Shui, making paper, and putting on a wayang-kulit (shadow-puppet play). Just for fun, kids will learn a few words of Turkish, Persian, Mongol, Hindi, and Chinese. A complete resource section with magnificent museums and their Web sites invites kids to embark on their own expedition of discovery.
Marco Polo's China: A Venetian in the Realm of Khubilai Khan (Routledge Studies in the Early History of Asia #Vol. 3)
by Stephen G. HawMarco Polo’s famous book about his journey to China, written in 1298, continues to be a subject of considerable controversy. One recent work on the subject argues that Marco Polo never went to China at all, and other scholars have pointed out apparent mistakes and important omissions in Marco’s writings, including his failure to mention the Great Wall, and his apparently erroneous description of the course of the Yellow River. Haw re-examines Marco Polo’s writings. The main arguments against his credibility have been negative, concentrating on things that it is argued he should have seen and noted but did not. The most serious of these supposed omissions are generally said to be his failure to describe the Chinese writing system, tea, foot-binding and the Great Wall of China. Yet Haw argues that what he does mention is impressive and argues strongly for his veracity. This book clarifies Marco Polo’s itineraries in China and proposes several new identifications of places mentioned. Relying extensively on original Chinese sources and supplemented by Haw’s wide knowledge of China, Marco Polo’s China presents a convincing argument and concludes that his work is an accurate, important and useful source from an extraordinary period of Chinese history.
Marco Polo: 13th-Century Italian Trader
by John RiddleTrader Marco Polo was one of the first Europeans to travel to China, staying away from his homeland in Italy for 24 years before returning. After he came back to Italy, Marco wrote of his travels and adventures in East Asia in his book Il Milione, sharing his tales with other Europeans. Polo changed the way Europeans saw the world by opening their eyes to the wonderful culture and people of China. Learn the story of one of the world's most famous explorers and traders in Marco Polo: 13th-Century Italian Trader.
Marco Polo: Epic Traveler Throughout Asia (The Silk Road's Greatest Travelers)
by Jason PorterfieldUpon returning to his native Venice from a nearly 25-year journey through Asia, Marco Polo fueled the Western imagination with his tales about the splendors of the East. This lively biography follows Marco’s intrepid family as they navigate the spice stalls, caravansaries, and dangers that once populated the Silk Road and enter Kublai Khan’s Mongol court in China, where they served as advisors. Readers will learn about the Polos’ importance as cultural emissaries at a time of limited global exchange and how Marco’s account of their travels—whether fact or fiction—heralded the later golden age of exploration.
Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu
by Laurence BergreenBetween 1271 and 1275, Marco Polo, gentleman and merchant of Venice, accompanied his father Niccolo and uncle Maffeo on a journey east from Acre, Israel, into central Asia along the Silk Route, eventually reaching China and the court of the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, Kublai Khan. Entering the service of the Khan, he travelled extensively in the Mongol Empire. The three Venetians returned home by sea in 1292-5, calling at Sumatra and southern India before reaching Persia and making the last part of their journey to Venice overland.
Marco Polo: Journey to the End of the Earth
by Robin BrownThe incredible story of Marco Polo's journey to the ends of the earth has for the last seven hundred years been beset by doubts as to its authenticity. Did this intrepid Venetian really trek across Asia minor as a teenager, explore the length and breadth of China as the ambassador of the ruthless dictator, Kublai Khan, and make his escape from almost certain death at the hands of Kublai Khan's successors? Robin Brown's book aims to get to the truth of Marco Polo's claims. Covering his early life, his extraordinary twenty-four-year Asian epic and his reception in Italy on his return, 'Marco Polo' places the intrepid Venetian in context, historically and geographically. What emerges confirms the truth of Polo's account. Polo, scholars now agree, opened vistas to the medieval mind and stirred the interest in exploration that prompted the age of the European ocean voyages. All who now enjoy the fruits of Marco Polo's incredible journey through Asia - whether in the form of spectacles, fireworks, pasta or any of the many products of the Silk Road - will find in Robin Brown's book a fascinating portrait of a man who made history happen by bringing about the meeting of East and West.
Marco Polo: The Boy Who Traveled the Medieval World (National Geographic World History Biographies)
by Nick McCarty<p>In a life of ceaseless exploration, Marco Polo pushed out the borders of his narrow medieval world. <p>Born in Venice in 1254, the young Marco Polo first met his father at age 15, when the elder Polo returned from a trading expedition to the East. The father's tales of the court of the Kublai Khan in China ignited a lifelong passion for adventure in the son. <p>The Polos set out for China in 1271, traveling through the Middle East, across the Gobi Desert, to Khanbaliq in China. The journey took four years. Kublai Khan took a great liking to Marco Polo, employing him as a spy throughout his vast empire. Marco traveled and observed the cultures of Sumatra, Sri Lanka, and India in this capacity. His notes later became one of the world's great travel books, The Description of the World.</p>
Marco Polo’s Book
by John CritchleyMarco Polo and his book may seem to have been well served by scholars, yet the majority have been concerned to write about his travels in Asia, what he did or did not see, and how useful he is as a source on the East. John Critchley’s subject, on the other hand, is the text of Polo’s book itself and the political and ideological context - the crusades, the Mongol missions, the French presence in Italy - in which it was put together by its author(s), and read by its audience. The homogeneity of the ’original’ Franco-Italian text and the accepted relationship between this text and the Latin recensions is tested by computer analysis. An examination of vocabulary and other textual features draws out the different attitudes and contributions of Polo himself and his various editors and translators. Critchley’s book will be of interest not only to those concerned with the history of later medieval Europe but also to specialists in medieval Asia, who will find it useful to know about the background and composition of so famous and frequently cited a work. On pourrait penser que Marco Polo et son livre ont été amplement débattus par les spécialistes en la matière, cependant la majorité a surtout écrit à propos de ses voyages en Asie, ce qu’il avait ou n’avait pas vu et sur son utilité en tant que source de références sur l’Orient. Le sujet traité par John Critchley par contre, est le texte même du livre de Polo, ainsi que le contexte politique et ideologique - les croisades, les missions mongoles, la présence française en Italie - dans lequel il a été composé par son ou ses auteurs et dans lequel ses lecteurs ont pu le lire. L’homogeneïté du texte franco-italien d’origine et le rapport accepté entre celui-ci et les révisions latines ont été analysés par ordinateur. Un examen du vocabulaire et d’autres caractéristiques littéraires fait transparaître les différences d’attitudes et de contributions entre Polo
Marcus Agrippa: Right-Hand Man of Caesar Augustus
by Lindsay PowellThe authoritative biography of the ancient Roman general and loyal deputy to Emperor Augustus by the acclaimed historian and author of Augustus at War. When Gaius Octavius became the first emperor of Rome, Marcus Agrippa was by his side. As the emperor&’s loyal deputy, he waged wars, pacified provinces, beautified Rome, and played a crucial role in establishing the Pax Romana—but he always served knowing that he would never rule in his own name. Why he did so, and never grasped power for himself, has perplexed historians for centuries. In this authoritative biography, historian Lindsay Powell offers a penetrating new assessment of Agrippa&’s life and achievements. Following Caesar&’s assassination, Agrippa was instrumental in asserting the rights of his friend Gaius Octavius as the dictator&’s heir, seeing him crowned Emperor Augustus. Agrippa then established a reputation as a bold admiral, defeating Marcus Antonius and Queen Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium, and ending bloody rebellions in the Cimmerian Bosporus, Gaul, Hispania, and Illyricum. Agrippa was also an influential statesman and architect. He established the vital road network that turned Julius Caesar&’s conquests into viable provinces, overhauled Rome&’s drains and aqueducts, and built the original Pantheon. Marrying Augustus&’s daughter, Julia the Elder, Agrippa became co-ruler of the Roman Empire until his death in 12 BC. His bloodline lived on in the imperial family, through Agrippina the Elder, his grandson Caligula, and great-grandson Nero.
Marcus Aurelius (Philosophy in the Roman World)
by John SellarsIn this new study, John Sellars offers a fresh examination of Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations as a work of philosophy by placing it against the background of the tradition of Stoic philosophy to which Marcus was committed. The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius is a perennial bestseller, attracting countless readers drawn to its unique mix of philosophical reflection and practical advice. The emperor is usually placed alongside Seneca and Epictetus as one of three great Roman Stoic authors, but he wears his philosophy lightly, not feeling the need to state explicitly the ideas standing behind the reflections that he was writing for himself. As a consequence, his standing as a philosopher has often been questioned. Challenging claims that Marcus Aurelius was merely an eclectic thinker, that the Meditations do not fit the model of a work of philosophy, that there are no arguments in the work, and that it only contains superficial moral advice, Sellars shows that he was in constant dialogue with his Stoic predecessors, engaging with themes drawn from all three parts of Stoicism: logic, physics, and ethics. The image of Marcus Aurelius that emerges is of a committed Stoic, engaging with a wide range of philosophical topics, motivated by the desire to live a good life. This volume will be of interest to scholars and students of both Classics and Philosophy.
Marcus Aurelius: A Biography (Roman Imperial Biographies)
by Anthony R BirleyMarcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor who ruled the Roman Empire between AD 161 and 180, is one of the best recorded individuals from antiquity. Even his face became more than usually familiar: the imperial coinage displayed his portrait for over 40 years, from the clean-shaven young heir of Antonius to the war-weary, heavily bearded ruler who died at his post in his late fifties.His correspondence with his tutor Fronto, and even more the private notebook he kept for his last ten years, the Meditations, provides a unique series of vivid and revealing glimpses into the character and peoccupations of this emporer who spent many years in terrible wars against northern tribes.In this accessible and scholarly study, Professor Birley paints a portrait of an emporer who was human and just - an embodiment of the pagan virtues of Rome.
Marcus Aurelius: A Life
by Frank MclynnMarcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) is one of the great figures of antiquity whose life and words still speak to us today. His Meditations remains one of the most widely read books from the classical world, and his life represents the fulfillment of Plato’s famous dictum that mankind will prosper only when philosophers are rulers. Based on all available original sources, Marcus Aurelius is the definitive biography to date of this monumental historical figure.
Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor (Ancient Lives)
by Donald J. RobertsonExperience the world of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and the tremendous challenges he faced and overcame with the help of Stoic philosophy This novel biography brings Marcus Aurelius (121–180 CE) to life for a new generation of readers by exploring the emperor&’s fascinating psychological journey. Donald J. Robertson examines Marcus&’s relationships with key figures in his life, such as his mother, Domitia Lucilla, and the emperor Hadrian, as well as his Stoic tutors. He draws extensively on Marcus&’s own Meditations and correspondence, and he examines the emperor&’s actions as detailed in the Augustan History and other ancient texts. Marcus Aurelius struggled to reconcile his philosophy and moral values with the political pressures he faced as emperor at the height of Roman power. Robertson examines Marcus&’s attitude toward slavery and the moral dilemma posed by capturing enemies in warfare; his attitude toward women; the role of Stoicism in shaping his response to the threat of civil war; the treatment of Christians under his rule; and the naming of his notorious son Commodus as his successor. Throughout, the Meditations is used to shed light on the mind of the emperor—his character, values, and motives—as Robertson skillfully weaves together Marcus&’s inner journey as a philosopher with the outer events of his life as a Roman emperor.
Marcus Daly's Road to Montana
by Brenda WahlerThe Making of a Copper King!Born in 1841 to tenant farmers, Marcus Daly came from ruralIreland to New York as a boy. Having learned the big city&’s harsh lessons, he traveled west to the gold and silver mining camps ofCalifornia, Nevada, Utah and Montana. Then, a spectacular discovery in the Anaconda mine him one of Montana&’s famed Copper Kings. Yet, his early life remained shrouded in myth. Famed for his machinations in state politics and shaping Butte into the &“Richest Hill on Earth,&” his path from farm boy to mining king has been overlooked. For the first time, author Brenda Wahler brings his secretive and formative early years to life.
Marcus Furius Camillus: The Life of Rome's Second Founder
by Marc HydenThis is the only modern biography of Marcus Furius Camillus currently available in English. Camillus served as a censor, was elected to six consular tribuneships, appointed dictator five times, and enjoyed four triumphs. He toppled mighty Veii, ejected the Senones from Rome following its sacking, and helped orchestrate a grand compromise between the patricians and plebeians. The Romans even considered him Rome’s second founder – a proud appellation for any Roman – and revered him for being an exemplar of Roman virtue. Interestingly, he never held the consulship. Plutarch stated that Camillus had avoided it on purpose, and for good reason. The office was often at the heart of controversy, given that patricians dominated it for most of Camillus’ life. The appointment of a dictator was an emergency measure taken only in the direst of situations and the fact that Camillus was repeatedly appointed speaks of a period when the young Republic was surrounded by enemies and still fighting for survival. Without Camillus’ efforts the city may never have fulfilled its great destiny. Marc Hyden sifts the fragmentary and contradictory sources and, while acknowledging that much legend and exaggeration quickly accrued around Camillus’ name, presents the story of this remarkable life as the ancient Romans knew it.
Marcus Garvey Life and Lessons: A Centennial Companion to the Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers
by Marcus Garvey"I do not speak carelessly or recklessly but with a definite object of helping the people, especially those of my race, to know, to understand, and to realize themselves."—Marcus Garvey, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1937A popular companion to the scholarly edition of The Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers, this volume is a collection of autobiographical and philosophical works produced by Garvey in the period from his imprisonment in Atlanta to his death in London in 1940.
Marcus Hook
by Borough of Marcus Hook Patricia Ann MillerMarcus Hook is the northernmost city on the Delmarva Peninsula. Incorporated in 1892, Marcus Hook was originally named for a Native American chief and was once the haunt of English pirate Edward Teach (Blackbeard). It is now best known as the home of SunOil Refinery. Thanks to its location along the Delaware River, the town prospered as residents and businesses flocked to the area. Other large businesses located here include the former American Viscose and British Petroleum. Through vintage photographs, Marcus Hook commemorates the longstanding heritage of this small community and the growth of the Delaware River waterfront.
Marcus Wilding: Duke of Pleasure
by Carole MortimerIn this scintillating prequel novella to her Dangerous Dukes miniseries, USA TODAY bestselling historical author Carole Mortimer delivers a feast for the senses!England, 1815He's the most accomplished lover in England, and the finest tutor in pleasure that ever lived!Lady Julianna Armitage is on a mission:  - The goal: Discover passion and learn the true art of lovemaking, something she never experienced in her short, loveless marriage.  - The teacher: The devastatingly handsome Marcus Wilding, Duke of Worthing; the one man she could never have...until now.  - The outcome: Pure, decadent, indulgent satisfaction!Julianna is determined to maintain control, but as Marcus unleashes a sensual siege that awakens her every sense, it soon becomes clear that losing control can be the most delicious thing of all!Don't miss this shockingly seductive new series from legendary bestselling author Carole Mortimer:Dangerous DukesRakes about townZACHARY BLACK: DUKE OF DEBAUCHERYAvailable October 2014DARIAN HUNTER: DUKE OF DESIREAvailable November 2014
Marcy: Early Aviation History Of Oneida County, N. Y. (Images of America)
by Raymond F. BallMarcy is not a town but rather a township made up of several hamlets, Stittville being the largest. These hamlets originated with groups of various religions and nationalities, such as Welch, Methodist, and Baptist. The one thing they all had in common was their desire to survive and prosper. The answer was in farming and all the hard work that had to be done every day. In the late 1850s, everything changed when the railroad came to town. Travel outside the farm fences became easy and enjoyable. Residents could catch the train and, in only 20 minutes, be in Utica, a whole different world, with stores and merchandise unlike anything on the farm. Today the farming has all but gone, and Marcy is largely a bedroom community with a mixture of small shops, electricity and water distribution systems, and higher education institutions.
Mardi Gras (Holidays, Festivals, & Celebrations)
by Ann HeinrichsLet the good times roll! Colorful floats, shiny beads, and delicious king cakes herald the arrival of Mardi Gras. Kids discover the origins of Mardi Gras and learn about the food and activities associated with this famous festival.
Mardi Gras Beads (Louisiana True)
by Doug MacCashBeads are one of the great New Orleans symbols, as much a signifier of the city as a pot of scarlet crawfish or a jazzman’s trumpet. They are Louisiana’s version of the Hawaiian lei, strung around tourists’ and conventioneers’ necks to demonstrate enthusiasm for the city. The first in a new LSU Press series exploring facets of Louisiana’s iconic culture, Mardi Gras Beads delves into the history of this celebrated New Orleans artifact, explaining how Mardi Gras beads came to be in the first place and how they grew to have such an outsize presence in New Orleans celebrations.Beads are a big business based on valuelessness. Approximately 130 shipping containers, each filled with 40,000 pounds of Chinese-made beads and other baubles, arrive at New Orleans’s biggest Mardi Gras throw importer each Carnival season. Beads are an unnatural part of the natural landscape, persistently dangling from the trees along parade routes like Spanish moss. They clutter the doorknobs of the city, sway behind its rearview mirrors, test the load-bearing strength of its attic rafters, and clog its all-important rainwater removal system.Mardi Gras Beads traces the history of these parade trinkets from their origins before World War One through their ascent to the premier parade catchable by the Depression era. Veteran Mardi Gras reporter Doug MacCash explores the manufacture of Mardi Gras beads in places as far-flung as the Sudetenland, India, and Japan, and traces the shift away from glass beads to the modern, disposable plastic versions. Mardi Gras Beads concludes in the era of coronavirus, when parades (and therefore bead throwing) were temporarily suspended because of health concerns, and considers the future of biodegradable Mardi Gras beads in a city ever more threatened by the specter of climate change.
Mardi Gras Indians (Louisiana True)
by Nikesha WilliamsMardi Gras Indians explores how sacred and secular expressions of Carnival throughout the African diaspora came together in a gumbo-sized melting pot to birth one of the most unique traditions celebrating African culture, Indigenous peoples, and Black Americans. Williams ties together the fragments of the ancient traditions with the expressed experiences of the contemporary. From the sangamentos of the Kongolese and the calumets of the various tribes of the lower Mississippi River valley to one-on-one interviews with today’s Black masking tribe members, this book highlights the spirit of resistance and rebellion upon which this culture was built.
Mardi Gras in Kodachrome (Images of Modern America)
by Charles Cassady Jr. Mary Lynn Randall Ruth KetchamAmerica's greatest party and America's most colorful city, in all their shades, shimmer here in a never-before-published 1950-1960 collection of photographs taken at New Orleans's annual Mardi Gras. Photographer Ruth Ketcham chose the revolutionary Kodachrome slide film to capture Carnival, its walking and parading krewes, bystanders, and masquers. Kodachrome's fade-resistant images preserve a bygone 1950s era, not only of Mardi Gras but also of a bustling French Quarter, alive again with Regal Beer ("Red beans and rice / And Regal on ice"), Dixieland jazz clubs, the burlesque dancers and temptations of Bourbon Street, and the shopper's paradise that was Canal Street.