Odoric of Pordenone — The Franciscan Traveler
The Relatio
A Franciscan friar whose extensive travels and detailed account influenced later European understanding of Asia, including Marco Polo's successors. His work, the "Relatio," is a key source for 14th-century Asian geography.
Indian Observations
He described the Malabar Coast, its Christian communities, and the pepper trade. He documented the practice of sati and Hindu funeral customs, noted the caste system and the dietary habits of different communities, and mentioned the practice of yoga and asceticism among Indian holy men.
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