Marco Polo
Reading Passage: Marco Polo – The Cross-Cultural Explorer Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant and explorer born in 1254 in Venice, Italy. He is best known for his incredible journeys to Asia and his detailed accounts of the places he visited. His travels inspired generations of explorers and opened the door to greater understanding between East and West. At the age of 17, Marco Polo set out on his first journey with his father, Niccolò Polo, and his uncle, Maffeo Polo. The family traveled along the Silk Road, a series of trade routes that connected Europe to Asia. Their journey took them through many different cultures and landscapes, ultimately leading to China, where they arrived in the court of Kublai Khan, the Mongol emperor. Marco Polo spent nearly 25 years in Asia, exploring regions of China, India, and Southeast Asia. He learned about the traditions, customs, and technologies of the people he encountered. Polo became a trusted envoy for Kublai Khan and was sent on various diploma...