Marco Polo was born in 1254 in either the cities of Venice or Corzula, Venetian Dalmata which is modern-day Italy and Croatia.  When he was little, his father Niccolò and uncle Maffeo left on a long expedition that took them into the Far East.  It was said that no known Christians ever traveled to China.  Marco’s father and uncle returned after reaching the Crusades stronghold Acre in Palestine to find that Marco’s mother died.  In 1271 his father and uncle took him on their expedition back to China.  The journey took 3 ½ years to reach their destination and as they traveled around, Marco wrote about the new things he saw.  He started to write a book that was originally called “Descriptions of the World”, which described his adventures.  He returned to Venice 24 years after he left bringing back riches that showed from the clothes he was wearing.   Three years after his return to Venice, he was captured and imprisoned in a sea battle against Genoa.  While imprisoned in Genoa he finished his book and it is said that many people were inspired by him to travel such as Christopher Columbus.    

Marco Polo has been most remembered for a book that was a written by Polo discussing his travels in Asia.  He wanted to tell people about the interesting things that he learned.  He says that he was interested in everything about a country.  One of the leaders of China he met was named Kublai Khan.  Kublai Khan is the grandson of Gengis Khan and he and the Mongols took over China.  In his book he discusses things such as animals, plants, inventions, religions and many other characteristics of the different countries.  This book has been written in many languages and had inspired Christopher Columbus to sail to the Americas.  

1. What title would you give this person’s biography and why?
2. If a movie was being made about this person’s life who would star in it and why?

“Tales of a Polo named Marco” or “Marco Polo’s Voyage” are the names I’d give as titles for a biography of Marco Polo.  I would call the biography these titles because it explains of how important his travels are to people who discovered places such as the Americas.  I would choose Nicholas Cage to star if there was a film made of Marco Polo because he is Italian and it would show how the Italians have benefited the world.   I’d choose him over others because he is a very experienced actor and his personality fits Marco Polo’s character.   

Bibliography

"Polo, Marco." Encyclopedia Americana. 2009. Grolier Online. 24 Feb. 2009 <http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0317610-00>.

"Polo, Marco." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. 2009. Grolier Online. 1 Mar. 2009 <http://gme.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0231990-0>.

Seth B.