Marco Polo - Silk Road Traveler and Explorer
By: No Author Indicated, Last updated on Aug. 07, 2025 by Gabby Li
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
THE TRAVELS OF MARCO POLO
Marco Polo - Silk Road Traveler and Explorer
Marco Polo, a traveler and explorer, visited China in the Yuan Dynasty. His book, T he Travels of Marco Polo , depicts Chinese politics, economy & culture in detail.
A well-known traveler and explorer, Marco Polo headed for China along the Silk Road in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). The Travels of Marco Polo, dictated by him, described Chinese politics, economy, and culture in detail, which greatly aroused the desire of westerner to go to China and had a great effect on the European navigation.
Marco Polo was born in a merchant family in Venice in 1254. His father and uncle often traded into the west coast of Mediterranean Sea. On one fortuitous occasion, they went to China and met with Kublai Khan, an emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. In 1269, they returned to Venice with a letter Kublai Khan had written to Pope Clement IV. In fact, Clement IV had died the year before, and a new pope had not yet been appointed.
Young Marco Polo was very interested in listening to the stories of their travels and made up his mind to go to China.
Long and Difficult Journey to China
In 1271, when he was 17 years old his dream came true. With a letter in reply from the new Pope Gregory X, and with valuable gifts, the Polos set out eastwards from Venice on their second trip to China. They crossed over the Mediterranean and Black Sea, passed through the land of Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, and reached the age-old city of Middle East - Baghdad. They headed south and eastwards to the prosperous seaport of Ormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. From there they journeyed towards north and then east, successively crossing the desolate Iran Plateau and the snow-covered Pamirs. Overcoming the trials of illness, hunger and thirst, escaping bandits and wild animals, they finally reached Xinjiang. Marco Polo was attracted by beautiful Kashgar and Hetian famed for its jade. Then they traversed Taklimakan Desert, arrived in Dunhuang and visited the Mogao Grottoes, noted for Buddhist sculptures and frescos. They continued on their journey along the Hexi Corridor and reached Shang-du in Inner Mongolia (the summer palace of Kublai Khan) in 1275 AD. Kublai Khan gave them a hospitable reception there and took them to Dadu (now Beijing).
17-years Service in Kublai Khan's Court
Clever Marco Polo quickly learned Mongolian, Chinese and became familiar with the Chinese customs. Soon he became a confidant of Kublai Khan. He was appointed to high posts in the court and was sent on many special diplomatic missions to many places in China, India and some kingdoms of Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam, Burma and Sumatra. Astonished at the wealth of China, luxurious imperial palace and prosperous cities, he assiduously investigated the customs, geography, people and culture of all places he visited. Then he reported to Kublai Khan in detail.
17 years passed quickly and Marco Polo missed his hometown more and more.
Return Home and the 'Travels of Marco Polo'
In 1292, Kublai Khan agreed to let Marco Polo, his father and uncle return home, after they convoyed a Mongolian princess Kokachin to marry a Persian king. In 1295, they finally reached Venice by sea via the Black Sea and Constantinople. The information about China and some Asian states they brought back, aroused great interest among the Venetians. In 1298 AD, Marco Polo joined in the war between Venice and Genoa. Unfortunately he was captured and put into a Genoese prison, where he met a writer, Rustichello da Pisa. The writer recorded the story of his travels, well-known as The Travels of Marco Polo. The book has detailed descriptions of the wealth of China, a Japan filled with gold, and the exotic custom of Central Asia, West Asia and Southeast Asia soon made it a bestseller.
Afterwards, the book became very popular in Europe and paved the way for the arrivals of countless westerners in the following centuries.
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Marco Polo spent 17 years in Xanadu with Kubla Khan - and I've spent almost 20 years here in this land of Xanadu.
Kubla Khan
Or, a vision in a dream. A Fragment.
Lyrics from the Rush song "Xanadu". I would post it but it is only on YouTube.
I was able to open your links, and I just watched a 2003 live performance by Rush of Xanadu on bilibili (a YouTube type of web site) - 3 minutes of wild instrumental before the singing started. Wow.
Excellent. Rush is my all-time favorite band. Largely because Neil Peart was my favorite Progressive Rock drummer (for decades).
Neil was also the lyricist for Rush. He was a very intelligent, well-read guy.
And they're proud Canadians! Here is Geddy Lee with Bob & Doug McKenzie (Rick Moranis & Dave Thomas) singing on their album:
Bob & Doug McKenzie with Geddy Lee - Take Off
Forgot you might not be able to see Youtube
Couldn't find it anywhere but Youtube, sorry)
The fact that Nell was well-read, i.e. familiar with great literature, is what made him an excellent lyriricist. HIs lyrics for Xanadu mimic Coleridge's poem.
Yup, that is what triggered me to post his lyrics (that and the fact that this is a Canadian band). Especially the "For I have dined on honey dew And drunk the milk of Paradise".
I got to see them several times before Neil passed. He was absolutely incredible, I would almost say a machine, but one with heart and nuance, on the drums. My older brother bought the "Fly by Night" album back in the mid-70's which I would listen to on headphones when he was out of the room. I was learning drums at the time, and I tried to play along to "By-Tor and the Snow Dog" but it just taught me just how monstrously impressive a drummer Neil Peart was. And then, of course, YYZ came out in the early '80's and just blew the drum world away.
By-Tor and the Snow Dog is one hell of a song to try to play along with when one is learning drums. YYZ is a bitch too. Of course other great songs are Spirit of the Radio, Trees, Tom Sawyer, Xanadu, La Villa Strangiato, 2112 Overture, etc.
A common practice session for me would include: Van Halen (Dreams, Jump), Genesis (2007 Concert Intro), Tool (Pneuma), Rush (Spirit, Trees, Overture, Tom Sawyer), Dave Matthews (Shake me like a Monkey), maybe some Zeppelin, Police, Journey, Jethro Tull ... but I always end with the long version of The Who's Won't be Fooled Again. That last song is a major workout for a drummer. And Keith Moon was one of the drummers who inspired Neil Peart.
That shouldn't be considered unusual. Many great musicians are or have been Canadians. Think of Celine Dion, Joni Mitchell, Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot, etc.
I never knew much about drummers, but I do know that there have been those who have been idolized.
Neil definitely earned his place as a drum legend.