The Renaissance The Travels of Marco Polo Lesson

The Renaissance The Travels of Marco Polo Lesson 12 -4 Horrible Histories –Marvelous Marco Polo 25 m Explorers of the World – Marco Polo – 25 m 1 1

• TN SPI – 6. 6. 2 Recognize the impact of individuals on world history – Marco Polo – 6. 6. 1 Identify examples of groups impacting world history – 6. 5. 13 Identify the impact of advances in technology on history (exploration during the 1400 s) – 6. 2. 2 Identify major trade routes – Silk Road 2

Marco – The Storyteller • He often told of adventures to faraway places such as China. • Marco had traveled to China and the Indies; the islands off the China coast. • He told stories about meeting Kublai Khan, China’s ruler, and seeing amazing things – white bears, black stones that burned, and a place where night lasted all winter and day lasted all summer. 3

“Marco Millions” • People in his hometown of Venice, Italy laughed and called him Marco Millions because he told so many tales. • Few Europeans had ever been to Asia, so they could not prove Marco was wrong. • They thought his stories could not be true but many were. 4

Marco’s Travels • Marco left his home in Venice, Italy in 1271 with his father Niccolo and his uncle Maffeo. • They were caravan traders who traveled the Silk Road and were interested in the riches of the east. • Four years after beginning their journey, the Polos reached China. 5

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Trade Routes to the East • Europeans carried on a busy trade with the people of Asia. • Europeans wanted: gold, jewels, silk, perfumes, furs, jade, ivory, and especially spices. (pepper, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg) • They used the spices to make their food taste better and to hide the bad taste of spoiled meat. 7

Silk Road • About 4, 000 miles long, the Silk Road was a series of trade routes connecting the east to the west. (Asia to Europe) • The trade route was traveled by caravan traders and bandits who made travel much more dangerous. • The Silk Road was physically difficult for travel. • Caravans needed their own defense forces so forts and walls were built along the Silk Road for protection. 8

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Genghis Khan • When Genghis Khan unified the region as the Mongolian Empire, the Silk Road became an important path for communication. • Travel across the Silk Road was safe for a time under Mongol control. • Cultural diffusion - The movement of customs and ideas from one culture to another. 10

Marco’s Adventures • Marco’s father introduced his son to China’s ruler, Kublai Khan. • Kublai Khan asked Marco to explore his kingdom. • Marco spent twenty-four years working for the Khan. • Marco Polo returned home with his pockets full of jewels. 11

Kublai Khan • Kublai Khan was China’s Mongol ruler. • Marco described his palace as having walls covered with gold and silver. • One hall was so big that “a meal might be served for more than 6, 000 men. ” 12

The Travels of Marco Polo • Upon returning to Venice, Marco became the captain of a Venetian ship. • Venice and Genoa, two Italian city-states, were involved in battle. • Marco was captured and thrown into prison. • While there his stories were written down. • Two hundred years later, The Travels of Marco Polo was published. 13

Trade Routes to the East • For most European traders travel to Asia and back was too hard and took too much time. • In 1453 trade with the Far East was stopped by Muslim Turks after they captured the city of Constantinople. • A new trade route to China would have to be found. 14

A New Trade Route? • Kingdoms in Europe began to explore the possibility of a water route to Asia. • They were not willing to give up the luxury goods they had become accustomed to. • Portugal was the first to search for a faster water route to China by sailing around Africa. 15

Reasons for Exploration • It was long before Spain, England, and Italy joined Portugal in the search of new lands. • Why? Claiming new lands would: – Increase their territory – establish colonies – Increase their wealth – trade goods – Spread their religion- Christianity 16

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