Franciscan missionary; born Villanova near Pordenone, Friuli, Italy, 1286; died Udine, Italy, 1331. On his way to China, 1318, as a missionary, he passed through Persia, Java, and Ceylon, and on his return was the first European to penetrate the capital of the Dalai-Lama. For a long time doubt was expressed regarding the veracity of his travels, for he accepted so many fabulous stories, but Mandeville's plagiarisms from them were extremely popular in the Middle Ages, and were used as a manual by the geographers of that period.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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