Marco Polo Venice
Marco Polo, a thirteenth century Venetian explorer, documented his expeditions with the aid of a writer named Rustichello in the novel The Travels of Marco Polo. The novel provides insight about the many places he traveled to in the Middle East and Asia as well as Kubilai Khan, a leader of the Mongol Empire. Although Polo describes places that are different from Venice in many ways, his observation of cities and government under Kubilai Khan reveal inherently Venetian ideals.
Good governance is essential to a city’s quality and the foundation of a good government is its leader. Having spent so many years in service to Kubilai Khan, Marco Polo saw firsthand what he believed to be a strong leader and “the mightiest man” (Polo 113). Not forcing …show more content…
This is likely related to his process of creating paper money, of which the Khan had “such a quantity made that with it he could buy all the treasure in the world” (Polo 147). This money was used through every part of the Khan’s empire and unable to be forged, which would provide the empire’s economy with profit. Wealth was a very important quality for Venice, as shown by the emphasis Martino da Canale put on it in Les Estoires de Venise. For the Venetians, their display of wealth showed outsiders their ability to be a successful city. Through this Venetian perspective, perhaps Polo viewed the Khan’s wealth and economy as indications of his ability to successfully rule a …show more content…
Good governance comes from having a strong leader, like Kubilai Khan, and good governance is essential to keeping the people of a city content and cared for, which enables them to take advantage of the resources their land provides them with so they can trade. A city would not become wealthy without hardworking people living there and these people most likely would not be motivated to work to improve their city if they do not believe in their leader. Good governance and a good city are symbiotic; the factors of each must be present in order for a region to thrive. In the thirteenth century, Venice was thriving and Marco Polo knew Venice’s government and urban life were the root of its
Good governance is essential to a city’s quality and the foundation of a good government is its leader. Having spent so many years in service to Kubilai Khan, Marco Polo saw firsthand what he believed to be a strong leader and “the mightiest man” (Polo 113). Not forcing …show more content…
This is likely related to his process of creating paper money, of which the Khan had “such a quantity made that with it he could buy all the treasure in the world” (Polo 147). This money was used through every part of the Khan’s empire and unable to be forged, which would provide the empire’s economy with profit. Wealth was a very important quality for Venice, as shown by the emphasis Martino da Canale put on it in Les Estoires de Venise. For the Venetians, their display of wealth showed outsiders their ability to be a successful city. Through this Venetian perspective, perhaps Polo viewed the Khan’s wealth and economy as indications of his ability to successfully rule a …show more content…
Good governance comes from having a strong leader, like Kubilai Khan, and good governance is essential to keeping the people of a city content and cared for, which enables them to take advantage of the resources their land provides them with so they can trade. A city would not become wealthy without hardworking people living there and these people most likely would not be motivated to work to improve their city if they do not believe in their leader. Good governance and a good city are symbiotic; the factors of each must be present in order for a region to thrive. In the thirteenth century, Venice was thriving and Marco Polo knew Venice’s government and urban life were the root of its