Who Was Marco Polo?
What country was Marco Polo from?
Italy but specifically venice
What was the Silk Road?
A group of trade routes connecting Asia and Europe
What country did Marco Polo spend many years in?
China
How did most people travel on the Silk Road?
On foot and by camel
What did Marco Polo bring back to Europe besides goods?
Stories and knowledge about Asia
Who did Marco travel with?
His father and his uncle
What was one good traded on the Silk Road?
Silk (also spices, gold, etc.)
What empire controlled much of the land he traveled through?
The Mongol Empire
About how long did Marco Polo’s entire journey take?
about 24 years
What is the name of the book about his travels?
The Travels of Marco Polo
About how old was Marco Polo when he left for Asia?
about 17
What two continents did the Silk Road mainly connect?
Asia and Europe
Who was the powerful ruler Marco Polo served?
Kublai Khan
Name one danger travelers faced on the Silk Road.
Bandits, sickness, deserts, or mountains
Who helped record Marco Polo’s stories into a book?
Rustichello (a writer)
What was Marco Polo’s job for Kublai Khan?
A messenger and government worker
Besides goods, what else spread along the Silk Road?
Ideas, culture, and technology
What large desert did Marco Polo cross on his journey?
The Gobi Desert
Why did traders usually travel in groups?
For safety and protection
Why did many Europeans find Marco Polo’s stories hard to believe?
The places and inventions he described were very different from Europe
Why do historians still talk about Marco Polo today?
Because his travels helped Europeans learn about Asia
Why was the Silk Road important to both China and Europe?
It allowed countries to trade and learn from each other
Why was China an important destination on the Silk Road?
It was a major producer of silk and other valuable goods
Why did Marco Polo stay in China for so many years instead of returning right away?
He worked for Kublai Khan and was trusted by him
How did Marco Polo’s book help change Europe?
It increased interest in Asia and encouraged future exploration