Greg Jenner

I'm writing this down. I did. We knew you were coming in. We thought we'd go fully nerd. Sharon, the postal system and paper money are two things that Polo is particularly intrigued by. These aren't brand new inventions, but these are things the Mongol dynasty are renowned for. So can you talk us through them?

I'm writing this down. I did. We knew you were coming in. We thought we'd go fully nerd. Sharon, the postal system and paper money are two things that Polo is particularly intrigued by. These aren't brand new inventions, but these are things the Mongol dynasty are renowned for. So can you talk us through them?

Yeah, so we've got something like 1,400 waystop stations and there'd be 50,000 horses in the network, we believe. And as you said, Sharon, they can deliver a message immediately In 36 hours, to the furthest extent of the Mongol Empire.

Yeah, so we've got something like 1,400 waystop stations and there'd be 50,000 horses in the network, we believe. And as you said, Sharon, they can deliver a message immediately In 36 hours, to the furthest extent of the Mongol Empire.

They were sealed, Sharon, if I remember rightly. There was a sort of security integrity system, wasn't there?

They were sealed, Sharon, if I remember rightly. There was a sort of security integrity system, wasn't there?

Tell us about paper money because Marco Polo is particularly fascinating because paper money is not in use in Europe, is it, at this time?

Tell us about paper money because Marco Polo is particularly fascinating because paper money is not in use in Europe, is it, at this time?

That's a nightmare, isn't it?

That's a nightmare, isn't it?

Amazing. Famously, Marco Polo tells us that the punishment for refusing the paper money was death.

Amazing. Famously, Marco Polo tells us that the punishment for refusing the paper money was death.

And I will be taking these kiwi fruits with me. Exactly that. Let's move on to something even shinier than paper money, which is jewels. Shiny, shiny jewels. Marco Polo listed three techniques for unearthing natural diamonds in India, interestingly enough, outside of China. Can you guess what these techniques might have been? I'll give you a clue, Ria. One of them involves eagles. What?

And I will be taking these kiwi fruits with me. Exactly that. Let's move on to something even shinier than paper money, which is jewels. Shiny, shiny jewels. Marco Polo listed three techniques for unearthing natural diamonds in India, interestingly enough, outside of China. Can you guess what these techniques might have been? I'll give you a clue, Ria. One of them involves eagles. What?

The big flappy birds.

The big flappy birds.

For finding diamonds.

For finding diamonds.

That's definitely a technique, sure.

That's definitely a technique, sure.