The Monks of Kublai Khan, Emperor of China

"The Monks of Kublai Khan, Emperor of China" is a fascinating historical account translated and edited by E. A. Wallis Budge, detailing the remarkable journey of two Nestorian monks, Rabban Bar Sauma and Markos, from 13th-century China to the West. This work provides a rare Eastern perspective on the Mongol Empire and the religious landscape of the Middle Ages. The narrative follows their pilgrimage from Pekin toward Jerusalem, documenting their encounters with the Il-Khans of Persia and their eventual diplomatic missions to the royal courts of Europe and the Papacy.

Through meticulous scholarship, Budge presents the Syriac text that captures the cultural and political complexities of the era. The book sheds light on the spread of the Nestorian Church across Asia and the interactions between the East and West during the reign of Kublai Khan. Readers will find a compelling blend of travelogue, biography, and ecclesiastical history, offering insight into the life of Mar Yahballaha III and the strategic alliances of the period. This volume remains an essential resource for those interested in the Silk Road, medieval diplomacy, and the global reach of early Christianity.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.