Rating: Not rated
Tags: History, Lang:en
Summary
Towards the end of the thirteenth century the Nestorian
monk, Raban Sauma, together with his disciple Mark, began a
journey from Mongol-controlled China to Jerusalem. Though they
never reached their destination, due to military unrest, they
did reach Baghdad, where Raban Sauma spent many years before
later becaming Ilkhanid ambassador to Europe. His disciple,
Mark, became the Nestorian Catholicus. Sauma's account of his
travels provides unique information on both the Ilkhans of
Persia and their dealings with the Mongol Christians as well as
the events that led to the downfall of the Nestorian church in
China. Sauma met with the Pope and with many of the European
monarchs and his account further provides a unique picture of
Medieval Europe through Asian eyes. Translated by Sir E. A.
Wallis Budge, who also included a substantial introduction, the
work is now rare. This edition contains a new introduction from
David Morgan, the leading scholar of the Mongol period. **