1. Marco Polo by Luke N. Brown A man in the right place at the right time A man in the right place at the right time

2. The setting: Venice largest trading port of Europe. largest trading port of Europe. Center of European trade Center of European trade markets had international goods markets had international goods

3. The Silk Road trade routes that connected china and Europe trade routes that connected china and Europe trade system functioned as a chain trade system functioned as a chain

4. China divided between Jin dynasty, Song dynasty, and nomadic peoples Genghis Khan came to power by uniting nomad tribes Genghis Khan came to power by uniting nomad tribes empire covered all of china and most of asia; largest contiguous empire empire covered all of china and most of asia; largest contiguous empire

5. Polo brothers 1253 left Venice extened trading Maffeo, uncle Nicolo, Marco’s father one year in Barka khan (Iraq) one year in Barka khan (Iraq) three years in Bukahra (Uzbekistan) three years in Bukahra (Uzbekistan) traveled for one year to reach Cambulac (Beijing) traveled for one year to reach Cambulac (Beijing) six year spent Constantinople six year spent Constantinople

6. met Mongol emperor Kublai Khan sent off with a letter to the pope spent two years in Cambulac Polo brothers in China talk with Kublai about christianity, european rulers, and conduct in warfare “ as many as a hundred wise men of learning in the Christian religion and doctrine, and who should know also the seven arts and be fitted to teach his people and who know well how to argue. ” - Kublai Khan in letter to pope “ as many as a hundred wise men of learning in the Christian religion and doctrine, and who should know also the seven arts and be fitted to teach his people and who know well how to argue. ” - Kublai Khan in letter to pope also received a golden paiza

7. took three years to return to Venice from China; arrived in 1269 Niccolo had a son who was 15 Niccolo had a son who was 15 Pope Clement IV was dead Pope Clement IV was dead Some Surprises in Venice

8. Marco’s journey begins went to Jerusalem to get the oil from the church of the Holy Sepulcher went to Jerusalem to get the oil from the church of the Holy Sepulcher the polo brothers Niccolo and Maffeo polo set out in 1271 this time with Marco the polo brothers Niccolo and Maffeo polo set out in 1271 this time with Marco In Acre the new pope Gregory X gave the Polo 2 priests to take with them In Acre the new pope Gregory X gave the Polo 2 priests to take with them

9. Onto Hormuz: The Plan that the Polos would cross Persia then sail to china from the port city of Hormuz The Plan that the Polos would cross Persia then sail to china from the port city of Hormuz What went wrong the Priests turned back due to the difficultly of traveling The ships in Hormuz were described by Marco as “wretched affairs” Polos viewed the ships as unseaworthy vessels and choose to travel via the overland routes What went wrong the Priests turned back due to the difficultly of traveling The ships in Hormuz were described by Marco as “wretched affairs” Polos viewed the ships as unseaworthy vessels and choose to travel via the overland routes Marco’s experience Familiar territory to many traders, but new to young and inexperienced Marco Sees new products and new centers of trade “Merchants come thither from India, with ships loaded with spice and precious stones, pearls, cloths of silk and gold, elephants’ teeth, and may other wares … In fact ‘tis a city of immense trade.” Marco Became exposed to other religions and races Marco’s experience Familiar territory to many traders, but new to young and inexperienced Marco Sees new products and new centers of trade “Merchants come thither from India, with ships loaded with spice and precious stones, pearls, cloths of silk and gold, elephants’ teeth, and may other wares … In fact ‘tis a city of immense trade.” Marco Became exposed to other religions and races

10. The Treacherous Journey Pamir Mountains - called roof of the world “ you still have forty days to travel in the same direction, over mountains and throught valleys, in perpetural succession. ” -Marco Polo 250 miles Every provision for man and animal must be carried with you Took the Polos nearly two months No bird sat that extreme height Fire does not give the same heat in this cold Pamir Mountains - called roof of the world “ you still have forty days to travel in the same direction, over mountains and throught valleys, in perpetural succession. ” -Marco Polo 250 miles Every provision for man and animal must be carried with you Took the Polos nearly two months No bird sat that extreme height Fire does not give the same heat in this cold Taklimakan desert - called “The sea of Death”  Almost the size of Germany  Took 1month  Fierce windstorms  Singing sands Taklimakan desert - called “The sea of Death” AA lmost the size of Germany TT ook 1month FF ierce windstorms SS inging sands

11. Arriving in China EE scorted to Kublai Khan’s summer home in Shangdu / Xanadu TT he palace and court were luxurious  took over 3 years  Traveled about 8,000 miles  Spring 1275  While still a distance away, Kublai Khan sent escorts to meet the Polo trio

12. Kublai Khan “the most powerful ruler, in subjects and in land and in treasure, that the world has ever known” -Marco Polo “the most powerful ruler, in subjects and in land and in treasure, that the world has ever known” -Marco Polo “Upon their arrival they were honourably and graciously received by the grand khan, in a full assembly of his principal officers.” -Marco Polo “Upon their arrival they were honourably and graciously received by the grand khan, in a full assembly of his principal officers.” -Marco Polo “This is your servant, and my son.” -Nicclo Polo “This is your servant, and my son.” -Nicclo Polo happy to see the Polos and there was much celebrating Marco is introduced to kublai as

13. Working under the Khan Marco went into service for Kublai Khan traveling and overseeing population counts and tax collecting Was very curious and good observer remembered information that Kublai was curious about Was held in great esteem by Kublai was provisional governor of Yang-cheu-fu / Yan-Gui/Yangzhou for 3 years

14. The Heavenly City Kin-sai / Hang-cheu / now Hangzhou “… the noble and magnificent city of Kin-sai, a name that signifies “the celestial city” and which it merits from its preeminence to all others in the world, in point of grandeur and beauty, as well as from its abundant delights, which might lead an inhabitant to imagine himself in paradise.” -Marco Polo Much bigger city than Venice, 10 times bigger Population of over 1 million Very detailed information about buildings, streets, bridges,lakes, celebrations, government etc Marco visited there many times Descriptions are a highlight of Marco’s book

15. Amazing Sights Mail system – Ordinary messages carried by foot runners three miles apart Could deliver a message in a day and a night compared to usual several days journey Coal – burns like logs and even longer Bathing – with cold water 3 times a week Kublai Khan’s tolerance of different religions Important messages carried by horse with new riders spaced about 25 miles apart Could deliver a message over 250 miles in just one day Khan was able to oversee entire large empire

16. Incredible Money used paper money throughout the empire Kublai had exchanged coin money for paper Much lighter and easier to carry seemed to defy common sense “you might say he hath the secret of alchemy in perfection, and you would be right !” “And the Khan causes every year to be made such a vast amount of this mone, which costs him nothing, that it must equal in amount all the treasure in the world.” -Marco Polo

17. Tall Tales Vokhan (Afghanistan) - sheep with unusual size and long curling horns used for carrying food and constructing fences actually are Ovis ammon sheep that do have the longest horns of any sheep in the world in Yunnan Province - giant “snakes and serpants” that crawled on short legs actually crocodiles

18. Kublai Khan didn’t want to let the Polo’s go Provide safe passage for a princess Choose to Hormuz in 14 boats provided by Kublai Got stuck in Sumatra Many people died only 18 survived out of 600 3 Years to get back weren’t recognized Return to Venice

19. Captured & Imprisoned Venice fighting Genoa Marco commanded a galley Captured by Genoese and sent to prison fellow-prisoner was Rustichello of Pisa Marco Polo dictated the story of his travels to Rustichello

20. A best seller also known as Il Milione, The Million Lies few believed that his stories were true most Europeans dismissed the book as mere fable The Description of the World or The Travels of Marco Polo wealth of Cathay (China) the might of the Mongol empire the exotic customs of India and Africa book a must read bestseller translated into several languages over 150 copies still remain

21. Later in Life released from prison in 1299 returned to Venice married Donata Badoer had three daughters remained in Venice for rest of his life died 1324, agd 70 On deathbed, priest asked if wanted to confess any lies he told and he responded "I have only told the half of what I saw!" Marco Polo his will mentions that he still owned some of the items mentioned in his book a quantity of cloths, brocades of silk and gold, other precious objects "golden tablet of command"

22. Did Marco Polo REALLY go to China? his book does not mention drinking tea calligraphy Chop sticks Feet binding The great wall his book does mention but incorrectly number of bridges in Kin-sai when the Mongols tried to invaded Japan

23. WORK CITED Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu By Laurence Bergreen Marco Polo: Marco Polo and the Silk Road to China By Michael Burgan Marco Polo’s Journey to China by Diana Childress Marco Polo by Bob Italia The Adventures of Marco Polo by Russell Freedman The World in the Time of Marco Polo by Fiona Macdonald In the Footsteps of Marco Polo http://www.wliw.org/marcopolo/ The book of Ser Marco Polo: the Venetian, Volume 1 By Marco Polo http://books.google.com/books?id=VxMEAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=marco +polo&lr=&as_brr=4&source=gbs_similarbooks_s&cad=1#v=onepage&q=alchemy&f =false The travels of Marco Polo: the Venetian By Marco Polo, Thomas Wright, William Marsden http://books.google.com/books?id=HBUIAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=marco +polo&lr=&as_brr=4#v=onepage&q=noodle&f=false http://www.lookandlearn.com/cgi-bin/if.cgi?search=kublai http://en.wikipedia.org/ http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/Marco/index.html http://www2.moneymuseum.com/frontend/library/pictures/tour.jsp?lang=en&id=46380 04&ix=0 http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/polo-kinsay.html http://rspas.anu.edu.au/eah/Marcopolo.html http://www.usnews.com/usnews/doubleissue/mysteries/marco.htm http://arts.cultural-china.com/en/143Arts4308.html http://www.ultimateitaly.com/culture-antropology/marco-polo.html

24. WORK CITED continued http://books.google.com/books?id=HBUIAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=marco+p olo&lr=&as_brr=4#v=onepage&q=noodle&f=false http://www.lookandlearn.com/cgi-bin/if.cgi?search=kublai http://en.wikipedia.org/ http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/Marco/index.html http://www2.moneymuseum.com/frontend/library/pictures/tour.jsp?lang=en&id=463800 4&ix=0 http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/polo-kinsay.html http://rspas.anu.edu.au/eah/Marcopolo.html http://www.usnews.com/usnews/doubleissue/mysteries/marco.htm http://arts.cultural-china.com/en/143Arts4308.html http://www.ultimateitaly.com/culture-antropology/marco-polo.html