15. Who was Giovanni da Pain del Carpine and what viewpoint did he have of the Mongol Empire?
Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, also known as John of Plano Carpini, was an Italian friar and medieval diplomat. He was a member of the Franciscan Order and was sent on a diplomatic mission by Pope Innocent IV to the Mongol Empire in the 13th century.
Giovanni da Pian del Carpine's mission was to gather information about the Mongols and establish diplomatic relations with them. He was accompanied by several other friars, and their journey took them through Eastern Europe, across the Caspian Sea, and finally to the Mongol court in Karakorum.
His account of the Mongol Empire, known as "The Journal of Friar William of Rubruck," provides valuable insights into the Mongols' way of life, political structure, and military tactics. Giovanni da Pian del Carpine was impressed by the power and vastness of the Mongol Empire, describing it as a well-organized and efficient state.
Despite his admiration for the Mongols' strength and military prowess, Giovanni da Pian del Carpine also expressed concern about their nomadic lifestyle, polygamy, and religious practices. He viewed them as a threat to Christendom and saw their potential conversion to Christianity as necessary for their salvation.
Overall, Giovanni da Pian del Carpine's viewpoint of the Mongol Empire was complex. While he acknowledged its power and achievements, he also saw the Mongols as a potential danger to European Christian civilization.