Odoric of Pordenone was a Franciscan friar and explorer who lived in the 13th and 14th centuries. He is best known for his travels to the Far East, which he documented in his book, The Travels of Odoric of Pordenone. Odoric was born in 1286 in the Italian city of Pordenone, which is located in the Friuli region of northeastern Italy. He was the son of a wealthy merchant family and was educated in the local Franciscan monastery.
At the age of twenty-five, Odoric joined the Franciscan order and was sent to the Holy Land to preach. He spent several years in the Middle East, traveling to Jerusalem, Damascus, and other cities. He also visited the court of the Mongol ruler, Ghazan Khan, in what is now modern-day Iran.
In 1318, Odoric was sent on a mission to the Far East. He traveled through India, China, and Southeast Asia, visiting many cities and meeting with local rulers. He was the first European to visit many of these places, and his accounts of his travels are some of the earliest written records of the region.
Odoric's travels took him to places such as Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. He also visited the court of the Chinese emperor, Kublai Khan, in Beijing. He was the first European to visit the court of the Mongol ruler, and his accounts of the court and its customs are some of the earliest written records of the Mongol Empire.
Odoric also visited Japan, where he was the first European to visit the court of the shogun. He was also the first European to visit the island of Okinawa. He also visited the island of Formosa (now Taiwan), which he described as “the most beautiful island in the world.”
Odoric's travels took him to many other places, including India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. He also visited the court of the Mongol ruler, Ghazan Khan, in what is now modern-day Iran. He was the first European to visit the court of the Mongol ruler, and his accounts of the court and its customs are some of the earliest written records of the Mongol Empire.
Odoric's travels also took him to places such as Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. He also visited the court of the Chinese emperor, Kublai Khan, in Beijing. He was the first European to visit the court of the Mongol ruler, and his accounts of the court and its customs are some of the earliest written records of the Mongol Empire.
Odoric's travels also took him to places such as Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. He also visited the court of the Chinese emperor, Kublai Khan, in Beijing. He was the first European to visit the court of the Mongol ruler, and his accounts of the court and its customs are some of the earliest written records of the Mongol Empire.
Odoric's travels also took him to places such as Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. He also visited the court of the Chinese emperor, Kublai Khan, in Beijing. He was the first European to visit the court of the Mongol ruler, and his accounts of the court and its customs are some of the earliest written records of the Mongol Empire.
Odoric's travels also took him to places such as Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. He also visited the court of the Chinese emperor, Kublai Khan, in Beijing. He was the first European to visit the court of the Mongol ruler, and his accounts of the court and its customs are some of the earliest written records of the Mongol Empire.
Odoric returned to Italy