On the traces of Marco Polo's Asia

We all know Marco Polo, but what exactly do we know about his incredible journey across Asia?

Marking the 700th anniversary of the death of the Venetian merchant and traveller, this conference will shed light on certain aspects of his famous work, “The Description of the World”, an accountant of Asian civilisations.

Marco Polo’s Asia functions as a mirror, reflecting the limits of the Christian West — economic, technological, administrative - but also its fantasies. In offering a series of accounts of different Asian cultures (Mongolian, Chinese, Persian), Marco Polo shows a fascination for otherness that captivates us.

The Description of the World goes beyond the simple travelogue to become a key document on intercultural exchanges in the Middle Ages, while questioning the biases of the European gaze.

The lecture invites us to re-read Marco Polo as a bridge between two worlds, both a witness to and a product of his time.