The Mongols and Global History is a book by Morris Rossabi that describes the historical movements of the Mongols, their power over some territories, and their empire’s rise and fall. The two most famous chronicles of the narrative are dedicated to Marco Polo and Rashid al-Din. This paper aims to compare these individuals and define their relations with the figures of the Mongolian government and the circumstances under which their stories were recorded could affect their prospects.
Marco Polo was a Venetian traveler and the first European man to explore Inner Asia. His father, Niccolo and uncle Matteo, who were engaged in trade, accidentally arrived at the residence of the Mongol Khan Kublai, the son of Genghis Khan. There Polo diligently studied the Mongolian language and used this to collect information about countries and peoples. Marco Polo served for 17 years at the court of the Khan, and following his order, he traveled to almost all provinces of modern China and wrote a book about the country (Rossabi, 2011). Hence, his relation to the Mongol Khan gave him broader perspectives in writing books about the states and expanding his traveling opportunities.
Rashid al-Din was the other prominent figure in the history of the Mongols. He began his career presumably in the financial department under Abaka Khan. Later he moved forward as a court doctor; then, he was responsible for transformations aimed at streamlining the fiscal system and monetary circulation. (Rossabi, 2011) Decades after, al-Din was appointed the first person in the administration of the state (Rossabi, 2011). Even though he eventually lost his power, he compiled a historical work in the Persian Compendium of Chronicles, which is the most important historical source, especially on the history of the Mongol Empire. Thus, his relation to power and the circumstances which affected his story writing made him an increasingly influential figure.
In conclusion, despite the fact that Marco Polo and Rashid al-Din have different biographies and purposes in life, they both contributed to the development of literature. Additionally, they have contributed to the expansion of knowledge about various cultures and people. While Polo was responsible for describing traveling prospects, al-Din developed a historical sequence of the Mongols and Iranians, their cultural heritage, and military operations.
Reference
Rossabi, M. (2011). The Mongols and Global History. W.W. Norton.