《马可·波罗游记》
《马可·波罗游记》是欧洲第一部全面、深入介绍中国的文献，对后世产生巨大影响。马可·波罗（约1254年—1324年）是意大利的旅行家和商人，他在17岁时跟随父辈沿着丝绸之路去往东方，1275年抵达元上都。得到元世祖忽必烈信任，足迹遍及中国的大江南北。旅居中国的17年中，他深入了解了中国的政治、经济、文化、风俗，并被元朝的繁荣和强大所震撼。
马可·波罗口述他在中国和亚洲各国的游历见闻，由他人记录整理成《马可·波罗游记》。游记详细记述了中国的辽阔疆域、丰饶物产、繁华城市、先进技术和独特文化，并对元朝的宫廷生活、商业贸易、交通运输、多元信仰等方面都进行了生动的描写。这本书的出版在欧洲引起巨大轰动，它深刻塑造了欧洲对中国的认识，激发了欧洲人对东方的强烈好奇和向往，成为新航路开辟的重要动力之一，也为后人研究中世纪的东西方交流提供了宝贵资料。
The Travels of Marco Polo
The Travels of Marco Polo was the first European work to provide a thorough, in-depth account of China. It had a great influence on later research.
Marco Polo (c. 1254-1324) was a traveler and merchant from Italy. At the age of 17, he set out on a journey with his father eastward along the Silk Road until they came to Shangdu of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). He soon won the trust of Kublai Khan (1215-1294), the Yuan emperor, and settled down in China. He traveled extensively around the country, and during his 17-year stay, he acquired a comprehensive understanding of China's politics, economy, culture, and customs and was overwhelmed by the prosperity and power of this land in the East.
The Travels of Marco Polo was a record of his oral narration of his travels in China and other parts of Asia. The book documented in detail China's vast territory, abundant resources, bustling cities, advanced technologies, and unique culture. There were also descriptions of court life, commerce and trade, transportation, and diverse religions. Its publication created a sensation in Europe. While profoundly shaping the European understanding of China, it sparked curiosity about this Eastern country and became one of the drivers for the opening of new sea routes. It also provided valuable materials for the studies of the exchanges between the East and the West in the Middle Ages.
