Marco Polo Lesson Plan

Marco Polo is the 13th century Venetian explorer credited with discovering and exploring the land of the Kublai Khan, grandson of the marauding Genghis, and his Mongols, which is modern day Mongolia. Marco Polo's life, travels and writings are shrouded in a cloak of some confusion as to exact details. But we do know that a journey was made by Marco's father and uncle Niccolo and Maffeo Polo to the the mountainous and mysterious kingdom of the Khan. We know too that Marco returned with them as a teenager and chronicled the adventure in Il Milione or Travels of theWorld. We know to that on this journey, the explorers were welcomed, treated hospitably, shown the wonders of the oriental kingdom and eventually asked to remain as ambassadors and to provide information about the world outside the Khan's territory.

The Polo expedition brought back tales that amazed and intrigued medieval Europe. For the first time, westerners beheld silk the gossamer fabric woven by worms. Jade, the glowing green gemstone of the east was soon in great demand in the west. Polo returned with exotic spices like ginger root, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, peppercorns, mint and vanilla bean. They sampled spicy enchanting teas for the first time. Translucent delicate porcelain or 'bone china' replaced the clumsier eating utensils currently in use.

The Polo's described immense gray beasts of burden with tusks made from a luminous creamy white bone called ivory that could be carved into treasures that suddenly every westerner craved. All Europe was ablaze with passion for the treasures of the east. The Polo expedition became known as the 'Silk Road' and later included the 'spice road' as well. Countless Europeans coveting the wealth and splendour of the Khan's civilization followed the Polo's footsteps.