Article: Thestepsofpolo.org
Some Interesting Facts Regarding Marco Polo That Kids Should Know Marco Polo accompanied his uncle and father in 1271 on a trek throughout Asia. It was an unbelievable journey of 24 years complete with numerous adventures and fascinating discoveries. He was among the first of the European travelers who chronicled his journeys for the later generations to read and wonder about. This is why Marco Polo education for little kids is extremely important. It fills them with information regarding the life and times of people living in an ancient and far-off land. In his memoirs, he has chronicled in detail the technology, cities, and the cultures of an era far gone. Just as the travelogue, the life of the traveler himself is no less fascinating. Here are some fun facts that the kids will love. He dictated his travelogue in prison It is interesting to note that this globetrotter was languishing in prison when he asked a fellow prisoner, a romance writer at that to pin down his memoirs. As Marco dictated, he used to write everything down. The name of this prisoner was Rustichello. The prison stay happened between the years 1298 and 1299. He was not the first European traveler to go there While no one has reached the status of Marco Polo, sadly, he was not the only one who visited Far East during that time. Giovanni Carpini, a Franciscan monk did it 20+ years prior to Polo's visit. Most early travelers were missionaries who went there to follow the myth related to Prester John, the legendary ruler of eastern Christian empire. Even Marco has described a fight between Genghis Khan and this king. He was not well acquainted with his fellow travelers Another of the fascinating Marco Polo facts for kids is that he was barely acquainted with his uncle and father when he got ready to accompany them. When he was born (1254), Niccolo, his father and Maffeo, his uncle left for Asia. When they returned, he was already 15 years old. This fact did not deter him to join them when they were ready to set out again. He mostly remained as envoy to Kublai Khan What began as a trading mission ultimately became something else for young Marco. Both he and his relatives became emissaries in the court of Kublai Khan, considered as the greatest among the Mongol emperors. Kublai started depending upon Marco so much that he sent them as his envoy to Southeast Asia and China. He was both a special messenger and tax collector. Protected and trusted completely, Marco and his family were able to move around the whole of Mongol Empire without any restrictions. This gave the imaginative and inquisitive young traveler a chance to look at life here from a close range.