Compare And Contrast Marco Polo And Zheng He

Once in awhile, there are few people who have the chance to explore the world, and only some have the chance to leave a tremendous impact and change the world.Explorers Marco Polo and Zheng He came from two different worlds with differences for the motivation for their explorations, but both created successful works of writings about their travels. Also, they had different forms of transportation;however they both became close with the king or emperor. Also, they both opened China up to the rest of the world, but there is a difference in their upbringing.

Explorers Marco Polo and Zheng He came from two different worlds with differences for the motivation for their explorations, but both created successful works of writing about

their travels. Marco Polo traveled on the Silk road on his three to four year journey where he took note and interest in chinese culture, he was impressed by their paper money, and communication system, and coal burning. Marco Polo chose China to create a relationship with China because they wanted to acquire the same successfulness as the chinese civilizations An example of their relationship is when Polo and his men decided to go back to venice Khan escorted a Mongol princess to a Persian prince. However, Polo’s main reason was their longing for riches and economic profit Zheng He’s motivation was clear curiosity of the unfamiliar places beyond their borders.Zheng He became the commander in chief of the new treasure fleet to discover new treasures because he wanted to prove his legitimacy to the Yongle emperor. Besides all these differences Marco Polo created “Book of the marvels of the world” a travelogue describing his travels through A sia and his experiences with the Kublai court, and Zheng he constructed sailing charts such as the Mao Kun map with sailing instructions. Marco Polo and Zheng He both had a reason for their explorations, however some reasons are more ethical than others both created works that show about their travels.

Also, they had different forms of transportation;however they both became close with the king or emperor.

Zheng transported and controlled fleets; the largest group of naval vessels under one commander, organized for specific tactical or other purposes, and Marco polo traveled by ship; however, Zheng He’s fleet was able to carry around 400 sailors due to shipbuilding industry be at it’s height during his exploration. That shows the stronger the industry the more money backing his explorations by the Yongle emperor. However, Marco Polo did achieve great success in his studies and travels; even though, his empire where he was from wasn’t as skilled as the Chinese. Zheng He and Marco had a close relationship with a king or emperor. First, Marco Polo and his brother traveled to the Mongol Empire and he served on Kublai Khan’s court. Marco and his brother remained loyal to Khan and served again and brought his son with him. His relationship with Kublai gave Marco paved the way and opened Chinese trade to the rest of the world, and paved the way for more modern explorers such as Christopher Columbus. Zheng He had a quite interesting relationship with the Yongle emperor. The yongle emperor appointed Zheng He to command the treasure fleet. Zheng He was close with The emperor because the new Yongle emperor’s family adopted Zheng he into their family before the new Yongle emperor took the throne. Zheng He established long lasting ties with the places within Asia and

beyond.

Also, they both opened China up to the rest of the world, but there is a difference in their upbringing. Zheng He opened up china through negotiated trade pacts and brought tributes back to China and became an emblem of Chinese diplomacy, and gave China the start to become one of the most powerful trade empires. Marco Polo opened China to the world because Marco at one time he advised Kublai Khan and created a relationship of trade from far across the world. The influence that Marco Polo had on Khan to start branching out instead of living in isolation made a name for China in the trading world. The life of Zheng He wasn’t always as great as his influence on the exploring. He was raised on Muslim beliefs and and became an orphan at a young age but later taken in by Zhu Di, the prince of Yan and served there and climbed his way up the totem pole to become one of the greatest explorers in history. However; not everyone started with such as gruesome beginnings as Zheng He’s, and Marco Polo is a prime example of that. He started and was born to a wealthy merchant family, and raised by his successful jewel merchant, uncle. Marco Polo took interest in Kublai Khan from the stories his brothers told him about the great emperor, and this sparked his long relationship with China and help pave his way as an explorer.

In conclusion, the chance to change the world is a rare opportunity and open the eyes of people to a new world. They may have different reasons to explore, or different humble beginnings, but they both opened China’s eyes from their long isolation.Also, their methods of traveling maybe different, but they both had the urge to tell the world of their travels and China’s treasure. Their close relationships with king executed how the first impression you make can lead to a lifetime of successful trade. These two men were pioneers in exploration and made their mark through many years and allowed China to expand in the world of trade.