THE TRAVELS OF MARCO POLO

Global I Honors: Spiconardi

A Spiconardi Rant

Marco…..Polo! Marco…Polo! I HATE THIS STUPID GAME! IT IS THE

SECOND STUPIDEST GAME OF ALL-TIME!

What’s the first stupidest game of all-time you ask…

MarcoMarco!!

Polo!Polo!

A Spiconardi Rant

The Travels of Marco Polo

At 17-years-old, Marco travels with his father Niccolò and uncle Maffeo to Mongolia Stayed in Persia for a while before finally

making it to Kublai Khan in China “Of all the races in this world, it is the Persians

whose women are the most handsome.”

The Travels of Marco Polo

Once in China, Kublai Khan takes a liking to Marco Impressed by his grasp of

numerous languages Liked to hear Marco’s

stories Used to get drunk on

koumiss together Kublai Khan sent Marco

on diplomatic missions Marco was appointed

governor of the large trading city of Yangzhou

Legacy of Marco Polo

Upon his return to Europe, Marco, his father, & uncle tell tales of their journeys to the East

Unfortunately, Marco is imprisoned after a battle between Venice and Genoa (common in Italy)

While in prison Marco dictates his stories to a fellow prisoner Book is written in Old French and titled, Le

divisament dou monde Translated into other languages Books almost as popular as the Bible in Europe

Legacy of Marco Polo

His book increases European interest in the East Inspires Columbus; he had an annotated

copy of Polo’s book with him on his voyage to the “New World”

Exposes Europe to unknown areas and facts about China and the East, and goods/products/ideas…

Legacy of Marco Polo

Not new to many Europeans, but new to Marco; used for heating baths

Coal

Legacy of Marco Polo

Gunpowder was used for fireworks and later guns

Gunpowder

Legacy of Marco Polo

Precursor to Italian pasta

Noodles

Legacy of Marco Polo

Used a relay system. Messenger would ride a letter to a post, where a fresh horse and messenger would carry the letter to the next post

Postal System

Legacy of Marco Polo

Europeans found this idea so absurd they thought Marco Polo was lying

Paper Money

Legacy of Marco Polo

Quotes "One of these nuts is a meal for a man, both meat and drink“

I have only told the I have only told the half of what I saw.half of what I saw.

Controversy

Did Marco Polo make it to Kublai Khan & the Mongols? Many historians say “no” because

Marco Polo does not mention the following in his books

The Great Wall of China The beverage tea Foot binding

No Chinese records of Marco Polo

At the end of the day…

What is the most important idea to take away from this lesson? Why is Marco Polo important (regardless if he actually made it to China or not)? ____________________________________________

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