Resource: William of Rubruck

Description

One of the Europeans who travelled deep into Asia before Marco Polo, was the Franciscan monk William of Rubruck. He travelled to the court of Möngke Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, at Karakorum in 1254. While at the Khan’s court, William met other Europeans, merchants and clergy, and recorded these and many other details in an extensive report of 40 chapters which he presented to King Louis IX of France on his return. It is thus clear that Marco Polo and his father and uncle were by no means the first Europeans to travel across Asia. This resource discusses the contribution of William of Rubruck to the European understanding of Asia.