Marco Polo in Armenia: Art, Culture, Religion, and Commercial Relations.

This article explores the voyage of Marco Polo from the Cilician Armenia port of Ayas/Lajazzo to Tabriz. It first reconstructs the possible route he would have taken. Then, it looks at the physical landscape, political situation and the objects that the Venetian merchant would have seen on his way across Asia Minor and the Armenia Plateau. By looking at the text of the Devisement carefully I hypothesize that Marco Polo used Armenian guides for this section of his travels. This was a period of flourishing cultural and economic production in this part of the world and if he wished or had a chance, Marco Polo would have seen some of the finest manuscripts, pottery, porcelain objects and textiles, as well as splendid architectural structures while going through Armenian territories.