Marco Polo Journey

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The young, Venetian merchant, Marco Polo is best known for his early travels across Asia as unveiled by his famous book, Travels of Marco Polo. As a young boy, Polo was raised primarily by extended family due to the death of his mother at a young age. Marco’s father, Niccolo and uncle, Maffeo Polo had been partaking in a long trading expedition across Asia during a majority of Marco’s childhood. Niccolo and Maffeo’s travels brought them to Asia, where they were introduced to Kublai Khan, a powerful Mongol leader.
Inspired by the realm of the Mongol empire and Khan’s interest in Christianity, the two Polo brothers set out on another journey, this time accompanied by the young Polo. This journey included visiting regions of the Middle East, Israel, Italy, and finally landing in Asia. Marco faced many hardships along his journey. While traveling across the Gobi desert Marco writes, “And at the narrowest point it takes a month to cross it. It consists entirely of mountains and sands and valleys. There is nothing at all to eat.” The Polo’s acquired holy oil and papal documents from the …show more content…

Polo was eventually sent out to the port of Hangzhou where he would carry out business on behalf of the Mongolian leader. Marco’s job titles while under Khan’s power included, governor of a Chinese city, official of Privy Council, and tax inspector. The Polo’s finally decided to end their journey after seventeen years in Kublai Khan’s court. The merchants ended their journey by escorting a young princess to marry her future husband Arghun, Mongol ruler of Persia. By the time the Polo’s arrived in Persia with the princess, Arghun was dead and the princess was mandated to marry Arghun’s brother. After traveling through Turkey, Constantinople, and Greece, the Polo’s made it home in 1295. Soon after Kublai Khan died and the Mongol Empire went into a major

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