The Travels of Marco Polo

“Far from being a science, mapmaking was still an exercise of fancy, or religious devotion, or fear of the unknown.” 

Cartography was in its infancy at this time. The Renaissance was in its infancy as well, and so many maps at the time were done by religious men. So much of the world was unknown, which was something that people feared.

“The result was that the Great Khan, holding them in high esteem, frequently summoned them to talk with him.” 

The Polos impressed Kublai Khan with their knowledge of the world and their respect for other people and their customs. That the Khan found time to consult with them shows how valued the Polos’ counsel was. He would have also found them a curiosity, with experiences perhaps far removed from his own.

“By virtue of this, the bearer, together with his whole suite, are safely conveyed and escorted from station to station by the governors of all places within the imperial dominions, and are entitled, during the time of their stay in any city, castle, town, or village, to a supply of provisions and everything necessary for their accommodation.” 

This was a lucky charm for the Polos time and again, as having this tablet in the name of Kublai Khan himself enabled them to skip lengthy interrogations and save significant amounts of money on food and accommodations. They could travel in style, where others might have struggled. They also found out just how important that connection was when they had to forgo such protection after the Great Khan died.