Cross-Cultural Interactions
Published on Feb 08, 2016
No Description
MORE DECKS TO EXPLORE
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
TRAVELING TO CATHAY
Towards the end of year 1271, the Polos set out from Venice on their journey to the east. The Polos, 17-year-old Marco Polo, and two friars began the journey together. However, the two friars retreated after reaching the war zone, but the Polo brothers carried on. They passed through Armenia, Persia, and Afghanistan, over the Pamirs, and all along the Silk Road to China.
Photo by efilpera
Then they traveled along the western shores of the Caspian Sea, reaching Tabriz and making their way south to Hormuz on the Persian Gulf. Then after they figured out the poor conditions of the Chinese port, they decided to go overland to Cathay and continued eastwards. From Homurz to Kerman, passing Herat, Balkh, they arrived Badakhshan, where Marco Polo caught a serious illness and was obligated stayed there for a year.
When the Polos arrived the Taklamakan desert, also known as the Taim Basin, they passed through Yarkand, Khotan, Cherchen, and Lop-Nor.
Photo by kakna's world
WHAT HE LEARNED
In his travels, Marco made a stop in Yarkand, where he was able to observe the locals. He found that people of Yarkand were prone to goiter, which Marco figured were caused by the local water source that most locals utilized.
Photo by Enez35
Marco also proved to be knowledgeable about the Mongols from his travels. He was able to record the rise and fall of their empire with extreme accuracy and even Great Khan's life and empire. He was able to log their customs. For example, there were human sacrifices to serve the emperor after their death, or the fact that their form of marriage was polygamy.
Photo by taylorandayumi
UNDER KHAN'S RULE
Through his long journey Marco was able to discover many different aspects of the Chinese civilization, especially the Mongols. He was able to record their customs, history, and way of life. From this, in May 1275, he was granted an opportunity to work for the Great Khan. Marco proved himself popular among the khans and was appointed to high posts in his administration. Also, he was a gifted linguist and spoke 4 languages fluently, which helped him in his position greatly.
Photo by Neil Melville-Kenney
COMING HOME
After 17 years of serving in Khan's court, in 1292, the Polos headed back to Venice as an escort for Mongol princess Kokachin to marry to a Persian prince, Arghun.
Photo by Emm Enn
BATTUTA'S TRAVELS
Ibn Battuta, at the age of 22 in 1325, left his birthplace, Tangier, with the intention of making the Pilgrimage to the Holy House at Mecca and the Tomb of the Prophet at Medina.
He traveled alone, leaving family and his home, and set out for the Holy House.
Photo by Changhua Coast Conservation Action
ALGIERS TO TUNIS
He faces many complications in his travels, like falling ill. However, he continued his travels, believing in god. Also, during this time, he was accompanied by merchants from Tunis. He witnessed tyranny in the agents of the Tunisian government, and even received his first alms when reaching Qusantinah.
ALEXANDRIA
On April 15, 1326, Battuta finally reached Alexandria. It was a well built city, fortified with four gates, and a magnificent fort. He saw this compared to Kawlam, Calicut in India, the port of the infidels at Sudaq in the land of the Turks, and the port of Zaytun in China.
Also at Alexandria, he paid a visit to a holy man in the country, Shaykh al-Murshidi, who granted the wish of many travelers.
Photo by Francisco Sánchez
REACHING HIS DESTINATION
After many complications of the 75,000 mile journey through most of the Eastern Hemisphere, he finally made it to Mecca. Ibn Battuta performed the rituals within Mecca, such as performing these tasks in simple white "ihram" cloth. He also described the "Standing at Arafat", which is an essential part of the Hajj, where they stood before the Mount of Mercy, where Adam prayed and where Muhammad gave his farewell sermon in 632.
Photo by janwillemsen
