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Tuesday, November 28, 2023
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Marco Polo was born in Venice, Italy in the year
1254. He had an education of different skills in accounting, foreign
languages, and knowledge of the Christian Church. His background
in business and culture and his love for nature made Marco Polo
very observant of humans, animals, and plants.
His father, Nicolò (Niccolò), and his uncle, Matteo, were merchants who began
their first eastern journey in 1261. They visited Constantinople
and made their way to the domain of the |
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Great Kublai Khan, ruler
of China, where they remained for three years. The Emperor became interested in stories of the native land
of the merchants; thus, he sent the Polos
back to the Pope as his ambassadors with messages of peace and interest
in converting areas of China to Christianity.
In 1971 Niccolò and Matteo returned to China with young Marco. Marco
Polo lived for about twenty years at the court of the emporer, Kublai Khan,
as an ambassador. Upon his return to Italy, Marco Polo told of his findings of jade,
porcelain, silk, ivory, and other riches of Asia. He described the
festival of the Emperor's birthday in which everything from clothing
to ornaments were laced in gold. He also explained how he saw people
using black stones for fuel (later known as coal). Unfortunately, all
his stories and details of the unimaginable were rejected, and Marco
Polo became the "man of a million lies."
When he was near death, a priest entered his room and asked him if
he wanted to admit his stories were false. Instead, Marco Polo replied, "I
did not tell half of what I saw because no one would have believed me." He died
in 1324. (Source: campus.northpark.edu)
(In his book "Il Milione", Marco Polo gives an
account f his travels and experiences at the court of Kublai Khan) |
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The
opinions and interpretations in this publication are those of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada. |
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