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Did Marco Polo actually come to China?

Marco Polo (1254-1324).
Marco Polo (1254-1324).

Although most historians think that Marco Polo arrived in China, some have recently questioned it. For example, Frances Wood says it wasn't beyond Persia. The argument he uses for this is that the Venezuelan did not mention in his account some of China’s most striking elements. Specifically, the Great Wall of China and special Chinese writing.

Moreover, the Chinese documents of the time do not mention the name of Marco Polo, even though he claimed to have been sent by the great Kublai Khan in China.

Conversely, those who believe that the Venetian explorer arrived in China say that in some documents there is the name “Po-Lo”, the name that corresponds to the Italian merchant. In addition, Marco Polo told Japan Cipango, a name inspired by what the Chinese used.


You are interested in the channel: Historia
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