Actual translated journals are great. Romancised versions are ok (aren't all writting to some extent?)
I'm getting a lot of conflicting information on the historicity of his travels. What can the historical record confirm for us?
When I think of pre-press books, my mind goes to monks and illuminated manuscripts. If I was purchasing a book in, say, late 13th century italy, what is the likelihood it was written by a monk? Who am I likely to be purchasing it from? What kind of worker becomes a book-copyist at this time? Does the concept of a "private publishing house" make much sense in this period?
The book was published c. 1300 - how did the kings, nobles or those who could read and could access a copy react to the description of Asia?
Is there anything noted down at all of the reception the book received?
I know it's a long stretch but as I looked for similar stories to Infinity train I struggled to find any, until I remembered that old story of Marco Polo describing fantastical cities.
Some of them include:
- Diomira ... has 60 silver domes, bronze statues of gods, and a golden rooster that crows from a tower.
- In Isidora, buildings have seashell-encrusted spiral staircases and people make telescopes and violins. If a man in Isidora is hesitating between two women, a third woman will inevitably appear.
- Itβs possible to describe Dorothea in two different ways. First, one could say that it has four aluminum towers, seven gates with drawbridges, and nine quarters separated by canals. In Dorothea, one can find bergamot, amethysts, and sturgeon roeβand with these facts, itβs possible to learn everything about Dorotheaβs past, present, and future....
- Zairaβs streets are stairs and roofs are covered in zinc, but thatβs not what Zaira is aboutβZaira consists of relationships between measurements and past events....
- In Tamara, a person doesnβt see things. Instead, they see pictures of things that mean other things, such as a picture of scales denoting the grocerβs.
- Nobody can forget Zora, but not because itβs unusual or memorable. Instead, Zora is arranged in patterns that canβt be altered.
- Isaura is the city of a thousand wells and supposedly exists over a deep, underground lake.
The themes of establishing the cities themselves do seem to offer different worldbuilding than the trains, but the abstract problems that occur and the theme of repetition/desire occurs in Infinity train as well. Thoughts? Does it seem like a stretch, or could Infinity Train be kind of like Marco Polo's "Invisible cities"?
In my history class today my professor mentioned that there is a theory where Marco never actually traveled. This being due to his descriptions and the difficulty and tracking his itinerary.
The movie Outcast got many intrigued by the topic. It depicts a crusader who, disenfranchised with the holy war, decides to travel east to China. It got me wondering if any Westerner had managed to travel along the Silk Road to China, or perhaps took a ship from Egypt to India. The thought a German warrior in a exotic land really butters my croissant.
Fun game. Be advised that Cardhaus free shipping starts at orders of $125, no ship it later option, and they don't appear to have flat rate shipping. Good place if you're stocking up, less so for individual purchases.
A little disclaimer: Women are equal to men. Not better, not worse; equal. I won't argue feminism here, or anything even remotely close to 21st century discussions. I want to talk about shows that (theoretically) happen during ancient times.
EDIT FOR CLARITY: This is only one of my many pet peeves with these shows, and a minor one at that. This is a view I want challenged; my other disagreements with these shows, I hold to myself as true, for whatever reasons. This topic, however, I want to discuss, because I'm not sure if my line of thought is correct. That's the objective of this sub, correct?
Preface: I've read all the books from George R.R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire". I'm talking mostly about the show, the books would be a deeper discussion.
So, I've just finished watching Viking's episode 10, season 4, and, looking back on the whole show so far, I have a few things to argue, that happen to apply to the other shows mentioned.
Vikings, for one, suddenly decides that Kwenthrith can simply be a man-hunting nymphomaniac, and no one will even question it (I know she's princess/queen during all her life, but still, it was the time the Church had the most power). From the wiki:
> She later shares King Ecbert's bed, though he is unfortunately finished (and quite exhausted) before the princess has had enough. The king sends in three of his guards (who are happy to oblige) in an attempt to satisfy her seemingly insatiable sexual appetite.
For the time they're in, that's simply not ok. She'd be deposed, witch-hunted, or at least made into a sad, sad nun, for the rest of her life. No one would stand by her. That's not a sexist remark, or even because I personally wanted it to happen - that's just what would've happened. Plain and simple. Sex was a giant taboo back then, and that's not new to anyone.
Then there's Judith, who cheats on her husband with a priest, and then not only she isn't condemned to death for high treason, the priest also isn't, and the King actually begins a relationship as equals with his son's wife, going so far as to send him walking to Rome so he could keep f#$%ing his son's wife? And everyone in the whole court knows her kid isn't Aethelwulf's (she got an ear cut off for it). How is that even remotely accurate with history, History Channel?
T
... keep reading on reddit β‘
This is the official discussion thread for the DW Twitch Stream that is happening over the next several weeks!
There's nothing showing today, but since the Twitch stream is missing some serials and many people are filling in the missed serials themselves alongside the official stream, we figured we'll give this thread a shot and see how it goes! Any feedback welcome.
If you want to see the Twitch schedule then it can be found here (if you scroll down you can get it in different time zones)
Finally, if you're unaware as to what the hell this is, here's the trailer!
Hi all, picked up The Voyages of Marco Polo today and as I was punching out all the cardboard bits after reading the rules I noticed a few contracts with iconography not mentioned anywhere else in the rules that I could find. Could any of you let me know if you have any idea of what it could be?
http://i.imgur.com/OFldJNS.jpg
In the link I included a comparison of the blue backed starter contracts with an example of what they look like face up to its right. Above that, there are 5 red backed contracts with a blue ribbon symbol in the corner of it (example of it to its right). I'm really curious what those little blue corner ribbons are supposed to mean. Please let me know if any of you have a clue. Thanks!
I think some are in western China, but I think also in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
If I remember correctly, there are ruins of entire cities and towns, not just isolated buildings here or there. I seem to recall reading that the dry, cold climate has preserved these old cities, even though they had long been abandoned even by Marco Polo's time.
I would love to visit at least one of them someday.
https://preview.redd.it/1gej432as4w31.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=1b128e21b0ce3f760d7a05f1a41b5fc0ace36c69
This is a historical map based off of the 'Eight Year's War of Resistance' mod in the Paradox Grand Strategy game Hearts of Iron 4. I used GIMP to create it. It took me roughly 10 hours to make.
I used the Pinyin romanisation of the Chinese names, which isn't historically accurate, but I find it much better than using Wade-Giles. The cities under Japanese control have been transcribed to a romanised Japanese. (Hence for example Taipei is called 'Taihoku'). Unfortunately, this font, which I really like, has no support for the [ Ε ]. I used a regular o instead. I also used some abbreviations which are listed in the description on the map itself.
I used google maps to fix some of the coastline, since HoI4 doesnt render it properly when zoomed out this far.
