Marco Polo

Main Characters:

Marco Polo, Nicolo Polo, Maffeo Polo, Duke of Venice, the Duke and Duchess of Genoa, Kublai Kahn

Overall Theme:

Marco Polo inspired many explorers through his book about his travels throughout India, China and many other exotic lands far from his native home of Italy.  In spite of the many doubters, Marco Polo teaches of a peace that comes with being honest.

Summary:

The time  is 1296 in Turkey. Marco Polo, his father and his uncle have just returned after a twenty five-year journey of the East. They tell the Duke of Venice about the riches they have found. The Duke of Venice  doubts the stories of riches from China.

Not long after he returned a war broke out  between the cities of Genoa and Venice.  Marco went to fight in a war. He met a sailor named Rusticello. Rusticello was also a writer.  Marco and his new friend are captured by the Duke and Duchess of Genoa. The Duchess was impressed with  Marco Polo’s stories and visits him in prison.

Marco tells the Duchess about his adventures in China and Kublai Kahn.  During this time, Rusticello continues to write about the adventures of Marco Polo.  After spending years in prison, the war is over and Marco is released. Rustincello shows him the book he has written about his adventures. Marco doubts that anyone would believe him and asks Rusticello to share his stories. The Travels of Marco Polo became one of the most influential books of the Middle Ages.

Background:

Marco was the son of a rich merchant named Nicolo. He was 17 years old when he left Venice and 42 years old when he returned from the East.  In 1492, inspired by Polo’s writings, Christopher Columbus set sail to  to find the East. In 1514 the Portuguese proved that Marco Polo had indeed told the truth.