DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7597#0082
CHAP. II.]
VENICE AND CHINA.
53
the most part Greek; and even their most magnificent buildings
were, in a great measure, the works of Greek artists.
In process of time, their credit became so firmly established at
Constantinople, that in 1189, a district of that city was given to them
by the Emperour.
After the tenth century, they acquired possessions and territory,
in Tyre, at Jerusalem, and elsewhere; insomuch, that, soon after
1200, the government gave directions to Marsilio Giorgio, that
he should compose a full and particular account of the places
under its dominion; which work, if we except, perhaps, some
books of travels, may be termed the earliest specimen of Venetian
literature. *
The east thus became to the Venetians an inexhaustible source of
wealth; for, by their skill and industry, they succeeded in extending
their commercial relations, even to the extreme parts of Asia. They
received into their magazines at Alexandria and Cairo, by sea, the
productions of Arabia, Persia, and the most remote parts of India;
and, thence, bringing them to Venice, distributed them to all parts of
Europe, as well by sea as by land carriage.
They succeeded, likewise, in establishing a direct traffic with Persia,
Tartary, China, and Japan; sending, for that purpose, several of their
most respectable citizens, and largely providing them with every
requisite, -f About 1250, though some accounts say earlier, Niccolo
and Maffeo (or Matteo) Polo, left Venice and proceeded to Constan-
tinople ; whence, crossing the Black Sea, they visited Persia, Tar-
tary, and China. They staid several years at the court of Kublay,
the Great Chan of Tartary, whose flattering and cordial reception
of the Venetian travellers is, I think, sufficient evidence of some
previous intercourse between the two countries. About 1269 they
returned to Venice; and in 1271, or the beginning of 1272, they set
out upon a second visit to Tartary and China, taking with them
Marco Polo, the son of Niccolo and the nephew of Maffeo : upon
* Bettinelli, torn. ii. p. 281.
f Bettinelli, torn ii. 282.
VENICE AND CHINA.
53
the most part Greek; and even their most magnificent buildings
were, in a great measure, the works of Greek artists.
In process of time, their credit became so firmly established at
Constantinople, that in 1189, a district of that city was given to them
by the Emperour.
After the tenth century, they acquired possessions and territory,
in Tyre, at Jerusalem, and elsewhere; insomuch, that, soon after
1200, the government gave directions to Marsilio Giorgio, that
he should compose a full and particular account of the places
under its dominion; which work, if we except, perhaps, some
books of travels, may be termed the earliest specimen of Venetian
literature. *
The east thus became to the Venetians an inexhaustible source of
wealth; for, by their skill and industry, they succeeded in extending
their commercial relations, even to the extreme parts of Asia. They
received into their magazines at Alexandria and Cairo, by sea, the
productions of Arabia, Persia, and the most remote parts of India;
and, thence, bringing them to Venice, distributed them to all parts of
Europe, as well by sea as by land carriage.
They succeeded, likewise, in establishing a direct traffic with Persia,
Tartary, China, and Japan; sending, for that purpose, several of their
most respectable citizens, and largely providing them with every
requisite, -f About 1250, though some accounts say earlier, Niccolo
and Maffeo (or Matteo) Polo, left Venice and proceeded to Constan-
tinople ; whence, crossing the Black Sea, they visited Persia, Tar-
tary, and China. They staid several years at the court of Kublay,
the Great Chan of Tartary, whose flattering and cordial reception
of the Venetian travellers is, I think, sufficient evidence of some
previous intercourse between the two countries. About 1269 they
returned to Venice; and in 1271, or the beginning of 1272, they set
out upon a second visit to Tartary and China, taking with them
Marco Polo, the son of Niccolo and the nephew of Maffeo : upon
* Bettinelli, torn. ii. p. 281.
f Bettinelli, torn ii. 282.