To Marco Polo the world wasn’t round – it wasn’t even flat. The world was a straight line. After a fifteen-day journey you arrive in one city, then after six days in a southeastern direction you arrive in another city. The world is a list of cities and their qualities, seperated by briefly mentioned camel rides, mountain passes, and stretches of desert.
“This island is situated so far to the north that the North Star appears to be behind you, and to have in part a southerly bearing.”
-Marco Polo Travels Book 1, Chapter 56 | Excerpts: 1, 2, 3