Kenzie Nix

Honors 210B: The Literature of Exploration

Professor Nicla Riverso
Polos Views of the World, Screened Through Christianity

Marco Polos The Travels gave the Western world its first real glance into the
mystery of the Eastern world. Descriptions of silk, printing, paper money, porcelain, and
gunpowder brought new ideas to Europe. Polos contributions to the world are
indescribable. Unfortunately, these contributions were not entirely objective in the eyes
of history. Polo was a very religious Christian man, not uncommon for Medieval Europe,
and his religious viewpoints influenced his writing. Polo was revolutionary at the time for
even including religions aside from Christianity. He was often viewed as incredibly openminded for describing every culture as it was. However, while describing each of the
customs of foreign peoples his personal view of Christian superiority made descriptions
of fellow Christians favorable, and those who did not share the belief in Christianity were
viewed poorly. Marco Polos Christian beliefs made his depictions of the Eastern world
greatly biased due to his religious standards. At the time The Travels was published
Polos religious affiliation was not in any manner unusual.
Medieval Europe was known for identifying first as a Christian, and then as a
European, a Spaniard, or an Englishmen1. Christianity was the identity of Europe as a
whole. This unifying force brought people together across borders and barriers of
language, culture, customs, and physical roadblocks. One way for Polo to identify with
his audience was to start off with the assumption that all of his readers were Christians.
His book then related to the entirety of Europe, allowing for more readers, and thus more
fame. Today as a diverse world reads the work the Polo the issue of religion becomes
very apparent. A large number of readers practice religions outside of Christianity,
including Islam and other religions that Polo does not view so positively. When speaking
in modern times, Polo introduces an undeniable bias regarding religion. Through analysis
1 Roberts, J. M. "Christendom." A History of Europe. Oxford: Helicon, 1997. 79. Print.
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of his depictions of the Muslims, Jews, Pagans and Christians %$%$% Polos real
thoughts become clear.
Polo did not view Islamic peoples in a positive manner and this opinion was apparent
through his descriptions. An example of this is when Polo introduces the city of Hormuz
and he says, The people here are black and worship Mahomet2. The importance of this
example is not that he describes worshippers of Mahomet as horrible people, but that he
states their religion and then moves on from it immediately. What stands out here is that
lack of interest in Islam. He is concerned with Christianity and does not view other
religions as valid. Since he is writing a very descriptive travel journal of everything he
says he seems to note other religions because he has to, but dismisses their importance.
Polo does also speak unfavorably upon Islamic people when he visits Turkey and says
the Turcomans themselves, who worship Mahomet and keep his law, are a primitive
people, speaking a barbarous language.3 He uses words with very negative connotations
to describe those who worship Mahomet. Primitive and barbarous both suggest lack
of intelligence and humanness, as well as suggesting cruelty and brutality. Polo has set
this group of people up to be viewed as savages by the European reader, cancelling out
any positive features that the group may possess. In Mosul, Polo says the Saracens who
worship Mahomet. They are lusty fighters and lawless men, very fond of robbing
merchants.4 The principle of using negative words carries on for more than just one
community. Universally, Polo bluntly states exactly what he sees in Muslim people.
There is no passive aggressiveness, or inadvertently condemning them, but rather upfront
and honest accusations. In this way Polo does not have a bias by the standards that his
2 Polo, Marco. The Travels of Marco Polo. London: Penguin, 1958. 67. Print.
3 Polo, Marco. The Travels of Marco Polo. 46.
4 Polo, Marco. The Travels of Marco Polo. 51.
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negative viewpoints are vague and unknown to the reader. He is clear, objective, and
observational when he makes claims. In short, Polo does view the Muslims as inferior to
the Christians, but he is not secretive about his thoughts. The Medieval reader, as well as
the modern reader can see Polos clear disdain for the Islamic peoples, through out the
world.
Marco Polos Christian background causes him to include stories and details of peoples
that would otherwise be left out. When introducing the land of Armenia, Polo mentions,
In the heart of Greater Armenia is a very high mountain shaped like a cube, on which
Noahs ark is said to have rested.5 This legend of Armenia has no validity other than the
word of mouth but Polo does not leave it out because it regards Christianity. Any detail
that is a religious reference to Christianity is viewed as important. Shortly after this Polo
tells of a lake that has no fish anytime of the year except during Lent, when fish are found
in plenty.6 Another religious miracle is noted to the reader, validating these people as
good and true since only Christian men can be so.
Polo uses God as evidence behind his statements. As the book starts and he is
trying to prove the honesty of the accounts he says that from the time God formed Adam
our first parent with His hands down [] there has been no man [] who has known or
explored so many of the various parts of the world as proof that The Travels is nothing
but the truth. 7

5 Polo, Marco. The Travels of Marco Polo. 48.

6 Polo, Marco. The Travels of Marco Polo. 49-50.
7 Polo, Marco. The Travels of Marco Polo. 33.

Works Cited
Marco Polo and His Travels." Silk Road Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
<http://www.silk-road.com/artl/marcopolo.shtml>.

Marco Polo's Religion Colored His Writing, but Only Sometimes." Place Studies. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. <http://www.placestudies.com/page/travel-classics/marco-polo>.

Religion, The Travels, and the Mongols." Hyperink. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
<http://www.hyperink.com/Religion-The-Travels-And-The-Mongols-b1058a15>.

"Research and Writing." Was Marco Polo an 'Islamophobe'?: A Study in Continuity. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. <http://www.meforum.org/2637/marco-polo-islamophobe>.