Exploring Eurasia E
uropeans began recording their explorations of central and eastern Eurasia in the 13th century, the age of Mongol supremacy. Marco Polo’s 24-year journey to the court of Qubilai Khan in China resulted in what is perhaps the most famous book of travels ever written. Three decades prior to Polo’s journey, John of Plano de Carpini traveled to Mongolia on a diplomatic and reconnaissance mission at the behest of the Vatican. William of Rubruck was part of a missionary expedition to Mongolia under orders from King Louis IX of France. Both
journeys produced written accounts which, though not as popular as Polo’s Travels, added greatly to outsiders’ knowledge of the Eurasian grasslands and its peoples.
European exploration of the Eurasian landmass took a giant leap forward beginning in the 17th century due to the expansion of Muscovy into the continent-spanning Russian Empire. Between 1709 and 1722, Philipp
Map of Tartary; colored engraving; Abraham Ortelius, Theatrum orbis terrarum (facsimile of original Antwerp edition of 1584). Courtesy of Special Collections, King Library, Miami University
Map of Eurasia; engraving; Philipp Johann von Strahlenberg, An Historico-Geographical Description of the North and Eastern Parts of Europe and Asia (London, 1738). Private Collection