At the local swimming pool you hear “Marco” and then an answer of “Polo” across the pool….and thus goes the traditional hiding game, Marco Polo. There is now an app named after him that lets us send short video clips of our activities and locations to our friends and family. It left me wondering about this Marco Polo, the real person. As I asked around and most people didn’t know more about Marco Polo than that he was an explorer.
Upon further research, I found Marco was actually a trader’s son who got to go on a grand adventure, who found favor with a Chinese Khan, who traveled extensively within the Khan’s kingdom, and who was away from his home for more than 20 years. Marco Polo was likely the most traveled man in his age[1]. He had an ability to learn languages.[2] His adventures are intriguing and his details were outstanding. A dinner with him would be time to remember….
Let’s meet Marco Polo at dinner tonight!
For now, it will be fun to keep our guest a secret. I love to set the stage with a center piece that makes my kids wonder what I am up to. It will contain items that point to our mystery guest. (Possible centerpiece items: globe, silky material, coal, paper money, a toy lion, a boat, a camel, a toy dragon, pretend gold goblet, spices, pretend jewels.)
Marco Polo is from Italy. Let’s make it simple and have spaghetti and breadsticks for dinner! If you love Chinese food, that is a second dinner option since he spent many years in what is now China.
While eating dinner, discuss Marco Polo’s travels. It might be helpful to pull up a map of Marco’s travels from the internet.
Here is a summary of Marco Polo’s life:
Marco Polo was born in Venice, Italy in about 1254 AD![3] His dad, Niccolo, and his uncle, Maffeo, were traders and left when Marco and his brother were little. Their mother died and they moved in with another uncle.[4] Marco’s dad returned when Marco was about 15 years old[5].
Marco’s dad and uncle had been to the court of Kublai Khan in what is now China; they left Venice by sea but traveled mostly by land. The Khan liked the Polos, and they had returned to Venice at the order of the Khan to bring some Christian priests and some holy oil from Jerusalem[6]. There were some hold ups that kept the Polos at home longer than they intended.
The Adventure Begins:
Because of that wait, Marco grew to be old enough that his father let him go with him on the return trip. He was told to listen closely as they passed through various locations. The Khan loved stories and if Marco could learn the languages and get to know the stories there was a better chance that the Khan would like him.[7] The Khan had given the Polos a golden tablet that told the people of his empire to be kind and helpful to the Polos.[8] They had to travel through deserts, high mountains, and dangerous areas. Marco also got very sick on the way and they had to stay in an area for a whole year while he recovered.[9]
After three years, they finally entered the court of the Khan. He was happy to see the Polos again. He tested Marco by having his lion come out and approach Marco.[10] Marco passed the Khan’s tests. He also told the Khan interesting stories of their travels. Over time, Marco learned the language well and became one the Khan’s trusted helpers. He traveled all over the kingdom and brought news and stories back to the Khan. The Khan liked how detailed Marco’s stories were.
Marco was amazed when he got to eat on gold plates and drink out of gold cups.[11] He saw incredible things that didn’t exist in Italy like paper money, silk, unique spices, cloth of gold, precious stones, and ivory.[12] Coal also amazed Marco.[13]
The Polos spent 16 or 17 years[14] with the Khan, but the Khan was beginning to get old. The Polos were worried about what would happen to them when the Khan died. They also missed home. An opportunity arose for them to graciously leave the court. A princess had been promised to a king in another country. The Polos were to escort her. The Khan died during the time of the Polos’ trip home and the land route that they had taken on their way to the Khan was disrupted.
It was hundreds of years before anyone could travel that way again safely. Marco had to be a part of a war soon after his return to Italy and became a prisoner. While in prison he dictated his story to his fellow prisoner, Rustichello.[15] The book was a success, though a lot people assumed it was made up.
Stories are told of Marco on his deathbed being asked to say his stories were false. He replied that he only told half of what he saw.[16] Later many of the things he saw were proven to be true.
Possible questions to spark some dinner conversation:
How would you describe coal, if you saw it for your first time?
If you could go back in time and travel with Marco Polo, what would you like to see? Why?
Dinner time is such a great time to stretch minds. Discussions can be fun. Enjoy your evening with Marco Polo!
(Featured
image by: Image
by DarkWorkX from Pixabay)
[1] Junior World Explorers Marco Polo, Charles P. Graves, First Chelsea House edition 1991, p 73
[2] Junior World Explorers Marco Polo, Charles P. Graves, First Chelsea House edition 1991, p 57
[3] Encyclopædia Britannica, Edward Peters and Fosco Maraini, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., November 08, 2019, Retrieved at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marco-Polo
[4] Junior World Explorers Marco Polo, Charles P. Graves, First Chelsea House edition 1991, p 8
[5] Marco Polo, History.com Editors, HISTORY, A&E Television Networks, Original July 30 2012, Updated March 6 2019 Retrieved from: https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/marco-polo
[6] Marco Polo, History.com Editors, HISTORY, A&E Television Networks, Original July 30 2012, Updated March 6 2019 Retrieved from: https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/marco-polo
[7] Junior World Explorers Marco Polo, Charles P. Graves, First Chelsea House edition 1991, p 34
[8] Marco Polo and His Travels, The Silk Foundation, Retrieved at: http://www.silkroadfoundation.org/artl/marcopolo.shtml
[9] Encyclopædia Britannica, Edward Peters and Fosco Maraini, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., November 08, 2019, Retrieved at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marco-Polo
[10] Junior World Explorers Marco Polo, Charles P. Graves, First Chelsea House edition 1991, p 54
[11] Junior World Explorers Marco Polo, Charles P. Graves, First Chelsea House edition 1991, p 52
[12] Junior World Explorers Marco Polo, Charles P. Graves, First Chelsea House edition 1991, p 60
[13] Evan Andrews, 11 Things You May Not Know About Marco Polo, Mar. 12 2013 –Update Aug 31 2018 Retrieved from: https://www.history.com/news/11-things-you-may-not-know-about-marco-polo
[14] Encyclopædia Britannica, Edward Peters and Fosco Maraini, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., November 08, 2019, Retrieved at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marco-Polo
[15] Marco Polo, History.com Editors, HISTORY, A&E Television Networks, Original July 30 2012, Updated March 6 2019 Retrieved from: https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/marco-polo
[16] Jessie Szalay – Live Science Contributor, Marco Polo: Facts, Biography & Travels, August 30, 2017, Retrieved from: https://www.livescience.com/27513-marco-polo.html
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