What was the role of Armenians in the medieval trading world? Marco Polo Exclusive

Marco Polo is considered one of the most famous travelers of the Middle Ages, because he gave Europeans detailed information about Asia. He spent many years in China and had the opportunity to get acquainted with the life of such countries and peoples, about which almost nothing was known in Europe. During his travels, he described cities, trade routes, governmental systems, and local customs.

 

Marco Polo’s testimonies contributed to the development of geographical knowledge and new journeys.  Apart from being an exceptional traveler from Europe to China, he was also unique in his travel writing. Marco Polo’s travels are also exceptional for us, because in the book we find information about medieval Armenia. On his way from Venice to China in 1271, Marco Polo also happens to be in Cilicia.

“Marco Polo’s journey to China passes through extremely interesting places, he comes by sea to Cilicia, where at that time there was an Armenian kingdom and Levon Lusinyan was the head of power. Marco Polo calls the territory of the Armenian kingdom of Cilicia “Little Armenia”. He further ascends to the North, the Armenian Plateau, i.e. “Greater Armenia”. Marco Polo speaks with great admiration about Yerznka and Erzrum in the Armenian highlands, as well as the cities of Archesh in the northern part of Lake Vana. He calls Erzurum Arziron and Archesh Arzizi. Marco Polo also speaks Armenian about the lush pastures of the plateau.” (K. Avetisyan, “Geographic travelers of the name”, Yerevan, 1951, p. 6).

Arriving in Cilicia, he gives a detailed account of the trading cities of Cilicia. He writes that Cilician Armenia was famous for its commercial raw materials in the world.

“In this province there is a great and good sea-coast city called Layas (Ayas), which is a bustling center of commerce, for know that all the spices and all the finery that come from the Euphrates are brought to this city, as well as other valuable goods. There is an abundance of cotton here. And all the merchants from Venice, Pisa, and Genoa, and from the depths of the land, come here to buy and sell, and here they also had their warehouses.” (Marco Polo “Description of the World: The Book of Miracles”, Yerevan, 2018, p. 45).

Speaking about Cilicia, Marco Polo also writes about medieval Armenia in his book. Like Cilicia, in addition to the description, the traveler also gives what Armenia was famous for in the world trade map.

“Greater Armenia is a very big state. The language is the same everywhere, different from other provinces, but in everything else it is similar to Little Armenia, not counting that it is larger both in terms of territory and the number of marzes. It originates from a city called Arsinga (Yerznka), where the best bokran (stiff canvas, expensive linen) in the world is produced, because its best craftsmen are there. There is the finest and most beautiful cotton, and there are many other crafts that we cannot list here. Other cities include Arziron (Kari), which is very large and where a large amount of silver is mined, and Arshishin (Archesh)” (Ibid., p. 48).

   

The traveler also describes other goods sent from Armenia to Europe, as well as foreigners trading in Cilicia.

“Many valuable goods were sent from Armenia to Europe, especially carpets, goat hair, forest material, dried fruits, etc. Taurus iron was also known. Armenia was also famous for its horses and mules. In Cilicia there were many Genoese merchants in particular, to whom King Leo the Second had granted a great privilege.” (Avetisyan K., “Geographic travelers of the name”, p. 7).

Marco Polo lived in China for 17 years and traveled for another 7 years. He brought gunpowder and the compass from China to Europe, and he also met and saw how coal was used. He is also exceptional for us, Armenians, because his travelogues show what kind of developed and internationally renowned country medieval Armenia was, which was at the crossroads of world trade routes. These historical facts and information emphasize that by advancing the national interest, Armenians were able to have their clear position and place in the economic and commercial world of the Middle Ages centuries ago.

Z. I hesitated

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