Marco Polo
Marco Polo is one of the greatest explores in history and is famously known for his book, “The Travels of Marco Polo.”
Marco Polo’s story really begins with his father and uncle. They were two merchant brothers from Venice. While on a merchant trip in the middle east, they blindly walked through a battle zone and were taken captive. But, the famous Chinese emperor, Kublai Khan’s men recued them because they knew the Khan had always wanted to meet men from Europe. In that time, no European man had been to China so, this was a big thing. When the brothers arrived in China, the were marveled at everything and the Khan treated them like royalty. But, the time came when the brothers had to leave for Venice. Before they left, Khan asked them a favor for, letters from the Pope, 100 holy men to teach his people and, oil to anoint himself. The two brothers did what he asked when they got back and, Marco’s father got to meet his son for the first time.
Marco Polo was born in 1254, probably in the city of Venice. When Marco was just seventeen, him, his father and, his uncle left for a journey back to China. It took them two hard years to get there but, they made it. The Khan had a huge welcome for them and let them have anything they wanted! He was also very fond of Marco. In fact, he liked him so much he made him his take part in his Rivy Council in 1277. While Marco was there, he toured much of China and explored the land while writing about it. He was amazed at the wonders. Then, after seventeen years later, after arriving, the Polo family saw how the Khan got old and weak. They realized that if a new Khan rises, they may not be able to go home so, they asked the Khan if they could leave. At first, the Khan didn’t let them. Who wouldn’t want his favorite subjects to go? But then, the Polos made a deal with the Khan. They would help escort a Mongol Princess on her way to marry a Persian Prince. After doing this, they started on there way home but, it was a very rough adventure and it took them two years to get back to Venice.
When Marco was in Venice, he got married and had children. Then, war broke out and Marco became a galley ship captain. While at war, he was captured by the enemy. While in prison, he told the stories of his adventures in China. There was one prisoner there who was greatly moved by these stories and wrote them down in a book. After the war was over he was released and went back to Venice and published his book.
“The Travels of Marco Polo” was not a big hit when it was published in fact, people call it “The Million Lies.” Nobody believed Marco Polo, they just thought he was making up a fairy tale.
Marco Polo never went back to China but, I’m sure the Khan never forgot him. It wasn’t until long after his death when people actually believed Marco Polo’s adventures for themselves when someone else actually went to China himself.
Marco Polo is still remembered today as one of the greatest explores today and he helped inspire the pathway of Christopher Columbus’s travels.
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