Marco Polo Research Paper

Marco Polo is considered by most to be the most important link between Europe and

China in the 13th century. His accounts of the Eastern world had an immense impact on

Western thinking and life in Europe.

Marco Polo was born in 1254 to a noble family in Venice, which was at that time an

independent city-state in northern Italy. Marco had a typical education of a young man of his

time1. At age 15, he had already studied many of the classical authors and understood the Bible

and theology of the Church. He also had a good knowledge of French and Italian language.

From his later history we find out about his interest in natural resources, the ways of the people,

and many strange and interesting plants and animals. Because he came from a
The Chinese had a much higher sense of social unity and

concern for all members of a community than those of neighboring societies8.

They then arrived at the Court of the Great Kublai Khan in what is now the City of

Peking. Marco marvels at the beauty of the buildings, and gardens in the city. From the very

populous city ran roads out to the country. Every part of the country was carefully noted in the

official records, and the distance from Peking to every village in the empire was included in

these records. The Great Khan had a messenger service that used these roads to bring news to

him from all parts of the country. Along these roads were post houses where a change in horses

or riders was possible for the delivery of very urgent messages. There was also a small postal

service that consisted of horsemen and runners9.

Another important innovation to Chinese life was Khan 's use of paper money on a large

scale. These paper bills were made from very thick, strong bark. They were printed and then

brought to the palace for a special stamp of authenticity. These bills could be brought to the

palace and exchanged for gold at any time10.

Kublai Khan also had a well developed administrative system. Throughout the
By

reporting his experiences he gave Khan information that the emperor

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would have never otherwise been able to acquire. This background allowed Khan to develop

better political control of the far regions of his empire.

First, Marco made a trip to the West, where he encountered the Tibetans. He then

traveled to the south, into the area that is now known as Laos, and Vietnam. Then, he made his

way northeast, and back into China. As he passed through the heartland of China, the south, he

found that this was a very prosperous area. Here there were great manufacturing cities, centers

for shipping and trade, and a rich abundance of game for food. In the far south, was an area of

heavy rice and wheat production13.

When he arrived at the palace of the Great Khan, an opportunity to return home

presented itself to the three Venetians. Khan was eager to send a young Chinese princess to a

prince in Persia. Since there were wars in the neighboring lands, he decided to send the

princess to Persia by sea under the protection of the Polos14. After safely delivering the

princess, the Polos continued their journey home. After 24 years away, they finally returned