Marco Polo Lesson Summary Notes and Explanation in English Class 8th

Introduction

Long ago people had to travel to other countries by ship or caravan. One such traveller who visited numerous nations in order to understand the people, their eating customs, and their cultures was Marco Polo. Both a merchant and an explorer, Marco Polo travelled to China from Veniceย with his father and uncle. Before returning to Venice, Marco Polo lived in China for seventeen years.

A Young Explorer

In 1254, Marco Polo was born in Venice. He embarked on his first journey at the age of 17 along with his father Niccolo and his uncle Maffeo. In order to learn more about China and its people, he wanted to travel there. It took him three years to reach China. He saw many sights, including the holy city of Jerusalem, and stopped in several magnificent places along the road. He also visited the Gobi Desert and the highlands of Persia and the Hindu Kush.ย 

He had several travels and met many different individuals. Marco Polo was awed by the riches and opulence of the Chinese cities. The splendour and magnificence of Kublai Khanโ€™s court captivated him. He had never encountered anything like that in Europe. The food, the people, and the animalsย were all novel and fascinating. Marco Polo spent a significant amount of time in China where he learned the localย language.ย 

He worked for the emperor as a messenger and spy. He travelled extensively throughout Southern Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. He visited various locations and encountered many things that no European had ever experienced. Marco returnedย to Venice with his father and uncle after 24 years of travel.

The Travels of Marco Polo

A few years after arriving home, Venice and Genoa engaged in battle. In 1299, Marco was freed after being imprisoned in a Genoese jail. He amassed money as a merchant, wed Donata Badoer, and had three kids together. He was buried in the San Lorenzo church in Venice on January 8, 1324, when he passed away at the age of 70.

Marco first encountered a renowned storyteller when he was imprisoned. Marco told the writer in-depth tales of his travels, and the writer compiled all of them into a book titled The Travels of Marco Polo. The novel gained a lot of popularity and was translated into other languages.ย It is believed that the book had a significantย influence on another explorer, Christopher Columbus. It is assumed that he took it with him when he travelled.

Conclusion

Marco Polo was an adventurous and curious soul. He was eager to explore the world and gain his answers, and thus today he is remembered greatly for his expeditions.