| Marco Polo- Born in 1254 | | | | When the princess got to her destination she found |
| Marco Polo was only six years old when his father | | | | the man she was supposed to marry had died, so |
| and uncle left to travel east to trade goods. When | | | | she married his son, instead. |
| he got back to Venice he discovered his wife had | | | | They also found out that the Khan had died. |
| died, leaving Marco who was fifteen to be taken | | | | When Marco, his father, and his uncle got back to |
| care of. | | | | Venice, they talked to everyone in the town about |
| In 1271, Marco, his father, and his uncle headed back | | | | their adventures. They would invite everyone over |
| east. | | | | to dinner and dress up in clothes from Asia, but none |
| He knew 4 languages. | | | | of their neighbors were really sure if they believed |
| We are used to paper money now, but Marco | | | | them. |
| couldn't believe it when he first saw it in the east. | | | | When Marco got back to Venice he joined the army. |
| Gold and silver coins were used in Marco's land, and | | | | He was captured by the Genoas and imprisoned. |
| the paper seemed so worthless. | | | | While he was in prison he told his life story to a man. |
| He was also amazed by coal, or stones that burn like | | | | This would become published as the Travels of |
| logs," as he described it in his book. | | | | Marco Polo. |
| Marco met the Great Khan, and the Khan liked him so | | | | Some experts believe that he never went to all of |
| much that he gave Marco different official jobs. | | | | the places he said he did, and that many of the |
| The Khan liked Marco so much that he wouldn't let | | | | things he said he did were really just stories he heard |
| him leave, but when the khan got to be 70, Marco | | | | from other people, but he did describe many of the |
| began to get nervous that he wouldn't get to take all | | | | cultures, religions, and traditions of the east. The |
| his money if he didn't leave before the khan died. | | | | book was very popular. |
| Marco had to ask the khan's permission several times | | | | Some people called the book, Il Milione, which means |
| before he was allowed to leave. | | | | "the million lies," because they didn't believe a word it |
| The khan said Marco could only leave if he would | | | | said. |
| bring the princess to her new home. She was | | | | When he was released from prison he married and |
| supposed to marry the Persian King. | | | | had three daughters. |
| They left by sea with about 600 people. It was a | | | | He died in 1324 at the age of 70. |
| very hard journey and almost everyone died. | | | | |