Meghan

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__MARCO POLO__

 Marco Polo was a strong, determined man from a wealthy family. He was born in Venice, Italy on September 15, 1254. His father was a merchant named Niccolo and his mother, Dona, died when Marco was four years old from a illness. When Marco Polo was six, his father and his uncle Maffeo set out to China. Marco was raised by his other uncle Niccilo while they were away. When Marco was fifteen, his father and uncle returned from China. They stayed in Venice until Marco was seventeen. Then they set out on another courageous trip to China, this time with young Marco.

 On Marco Polo’s first trip to China in 1272, they took the Silk Route which took over three years. They left from Italy by boat to the Mediterranean. In Jerusalem they met up with an assistant to the Pope, who gave them a letter for the Great Khan. They left that area and decided to travel by foot along with two camels to hold all their food and their bags. They passed through sandy deserts and the freezing cold mountains.

 In 1275, after three and a half years, the men finally reached the palace of the great Kublai Khan, the king of China. They traveled 5,600 miles from Venice to China. They met the great Khan at his summer palace. Kublai Khan was very impressed by Marcos skills. Marco knew four languages. He became a favorite of Khan and was appointed to high posts in his administration. In China, Marco learned a lot of new things. For example when he went to buy food they didn't accept his gold coins, they only took paper bills like what we use today. Also, he learned that the Kings’ palace could easily dine over 6,000 people at once. The last thing was that Khan owned 10,000 spotless white horses! Overall. Marco was amazed with China’s enourmous power, great wealth and beautiful structures.

Marco Polo, along with his father and uncle, left China (Cathay) after seventeen years there. Kublai Khna was sad to see them go, but the Polos wanted to go home with all of the wealth that they had accumulated. They left China and it took them over two years to get back to Venice.

In 1298, Venice and Genoa were at war. Marco Polo was a soldier fighting for Venice, when he was captured and sent to a jail in Genoa. He became jailed with a man named Rustichello, who also trying to get to Venice and got caught. Rustichello asked Marco all about his time in China. He liked his stories so much that he made a book out of it called __The Travels of Marco Polo.__  Some people did not believe what was written in this book, but many people did. Soon more and more people wanted to go and visit China. One person who believed in the book was Chistopher Columbus.

Even though Marco Polo had a great life, he died when he was only 70, which was very hardfor his wife. He died on January 8,1324 in Venice while he was asleep. Most people at Marco’ Polo’s age, were poor and died poor, but not Marco Polo. He died wealthy because he had silks, gold, spices and pottery from China.

I think that Marco Polo was a smart, determined man who wasn't afraid to travel long distances.. He was most known for opening up the Silk Route to the public.

Meghan .J S