Diamonds, Gemstones, Bargains- From Marco Polo to Now

The ragged wretches who banged on the door of the Polo family manor had learned to behave as like lepers, to avoid contact over the thousands of miles as they saw was the requirement of the moment.

Bandits controlled central Asia then, and as today perhaps. Only those who seemed diseased and too ragged were bypassed, left untouched in fear of contact with the plague.

In the middle of 1200 to be a western trader going into the wilds of central Asia carried their trade packets east in hopes of returning alive with diamonds and gemstones and riches seemed a simple formula.

So forward went the Polo three in their trade mission and see what they would find, and answer each band of brigands, why were they there? To have some adventure and make some money. How will they achieve that? By working our way into the central heart of their system, show we have much to offer as well as receive, and work to any strong hand we sense as it arises.

They thought this, did not disclose this to the occasional brigands, who they simply clawed and begged to and tried to touch with their long fingernails and possibly disease filled body; get away. And so they traveled more thousands of miles east, and then west, and changed the west forever. Soon gunpowder, iron, fire works and silk, spices and riches for our furs.

They were warned to always avoid conflict. The mighty Khan who would as soon behead you as listen, if he senses he is in the presence of a fool. Make your first sentences simple and clear, show great homage to his might and your simple desire to serve.The mighty Khan received the Polo family well.

He admitted he knew of the Pope, and of the Jesus story who was the western Prince of Peace. The mighty Khan informed Marco and his father and uncle that he would welcome one hundred scholars of the Christian faith. Upon his return, Marco made a special trip to Rome and delivered this message to the new Pope.

The letter asked the Pope to teach Christian values and thoughts to his people of China, who chafed under a Mongol ruler. Please send one hundred scholars of Christ.It never happened.

So, instead of returning with a note that the pope took action on, Marco had to be satisfied that he had enriched himself with diamonds and gemstones, riches from the fabled Orient. He knew the great globe, the land mass from Europe through Asia, better other than any man. He would spread his beads and gemstones, gather his diamonds and return to Venice: rich but well known as mad. He was as mad as a Himalayan fox.

History has long admired Marco Polo: the horrors and terrors of the long walk, the vastness of the area to cover,the eerie majesty of the Court of mighty Khan. This missed offer to the West for 100 Christian scholars to teach his people about Jesus is one of the missed opportunities of history.

But China did accept one hundred scholars of Buddha, and have been happy with that, and the recent revival. Marco brought rags to China and returned with vast riches. It may be they think it is their turn now.