Travelling the Silk Road: Who Was Marco Polo
数百年前、マルコ・ポーロはヨーロッパとアジアを横断した旅を「東方見聞録(マルコ・ポーロの旅)」に記録しました。 彼は 1254 年頃にシルクロードの重要な都市であるヴェネツィアで生まれ、1271 年に父と叔父とともに中国への旅に同行し、モンゴル皇帝フビライ カーンに 17 年間仕えました。 ヴェネツィアに戻った後、マルコは投獄され、ルスティケロに自分の物語を語った。 彼の物語の信憑性については懐疑的であったにもかかわらず、マルコは 1324 年に亡くなるまでその真実を主張しました。(English) Hundreds of years ago, Marco Polo documented his travels across Europe and Asia in "The Travels of Marco Polo." Born in Venice around 1254, a pivotal Silk Road city, he joined his father and uncle on a journey to China in 1271, serving the Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan for 17 years. After returning to Venice, Marco was imprisoned and recounted his tales to Rustichello. Despite scepticism about the authenticity of his stories, Marco maintained their truth until he died in 1324.
Travelling the Silk Road: Who Was Marco Polo?
Many people share stories about their travels on social media, through travel blogs or YouTube videos.
But hundreds of years ago, long before the internet, a man named Marco Polo shared his journeys through Europe and Asia in a book called Il Milione in Italian — or The Travels of Marco Polo in English. He inspired many travellers who came after him.
Marco was believed to be born around 1254 in Venice, Italy, a big trading city. It was on what would later be known as the Silk Road, a group of trade routes connecting China with the Middle East and Europe.
Not long before Marco was born, his father, Niccolò, and uncle, Maffeo, left Venice and traded along the Silk Road. They met the Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan in China and reportedly became his ambassadors.
Niccolò and Maffeo returned to Venice in 1269, meeting teenage Marco for the first time. They left again in 1271, this time bringing 17-year-old Marco.
Stopping in different places along the Silk Roat took the Polos three or four years to get to China. They once again met Kublai, who made Marco a special envoy.
Marc and Niccolò, and Maffe, worked for Kublai for about 17 years, during which time he travelled around China and other countries.
Shortly after returning to Venice in 1295, he was captured by the Genoese, rivals of the Venetians. In prison, he told his travel stories to Rustichello, a writer from Pisa, who wrote them down.
Some have doubted whether everything in Il Milione is true. But Marco stood by his stories, even when asked on his deathbed in 1324 to renounce them. Instead, he reportedly said his last words: "I have not told the half of what I saw and did."
//Vocabulary//
ambassador: an official who represents their country
Before becoming president, George H. W. Bush served as US ambassador to the United Nations.
Envoy: a representative or messenger, especially one who works for a government
In 2014, actor Leonardo DiCaprio became a UN envoy for climate change awareness.
Capture: to catch or get possession of someone or something
Around 100 German troops were captured during the Battle of Cantigny in May 1918.
Rival: a person or thing competing for the same goal as another in business, sport, etc.
HBO Max and Disney+ are among Netflix's biggest rivals.
Stand by: to continue to support or believe in something that one has promised, stated, or decided.
Despite the criticism, the journalist stood by what she wrote in her article.
Renounce: to reject or abandon a claim, right, possession, etc.
In 2021, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, renounced their royal duties.
//Discussion//
1. What did you know about Marco Polo before reading the article?
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I knew he was an Italian who travelled the world and wrote a book called "The Travels of Marco Polo."
He introduced Japan as "Golden Country Zipangu".
2. Would you be interested in reading The Travels of Marco Polo?
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Yes, I am particularly interested in the part where I heard from a Chinese person about Japan, which I have never been to.
There is not much gold in Japan, but it was mined.
And there were golden buildings such as shrines, temples, and a former Japanese oval gold coin.
3. What do you think travel was like in the 13th century?
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I think it was very dangerous and life-threatening.
Ships and maps must have been very different from what they are today.
I don't think I knew if I would come back alive.
4. Did you study any explorers in school?
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I learned about many explorers, such as Marco Polo, Columbus and Naomi Uemura.
However, they learned only a few names and events and little about their lives, thoughts, and historical backgrounds.
I want to relearn the history and life of people I know, not just them.
Naomi Uemura
Born in 1941, he is a climber and adventurer from Hyogo Prefecture and is known as the world's first person to climb the highest peaks of the five continents.
He was also the first solo dog sledge to reach the North Pole and the first to cross Greenland.
5. Have you been to Italy? If so, when did you go? If not, would you be interested in visiting someday?
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Yes, I have been to Italy many times.
At first, I went on a bus tour with my parents to Rome, Milan and Florence.
After that, I went there several times with friends, including to other places in Italy.
That's because Italian food, tourist spots, and atmosphere are excellent, and the museums and scenery are impressive no matter how often I visit.
//Further Discussion//
6. What's the most extended trip you've been on?
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My trips are usually about a week long.
Vacations in childhood and adulthood are about the same length.
7. Which of your friends or family has visited most places?
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I think it's the father-in-law. He was a civilian pilot.
He drove planes with photographers to make maps in various places, domestically and internationally.
8. If you could travel a year, where would you go, and what would you do?
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I will visit Paris, museums and sightseeing spots, and have delicious meals and sweets.
And I would like to visit nearby European countries in a year.
Especially in the south of France, England, Spain and Italy.
9. Do you ever read travel blogs or watch travel vlogs?
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Yes, of course. Since the days of TV, travel shows have been my favourite.
I think quiz shows about foreign countries were popular, especially when I couldn't go on many overseas trips.
10. Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. — Unknown. What are your thoughts on this statement?
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Yes, travelling is a valuable experience that brings special memories.
This is because they are potent stimuli and will significantly impact the rest of your life.
However, reading and watching movies also have a specific effect.
Because we can't travel all the time.
Travelling the Silk Road: Who Was Marco Polo?
Marco Polo and his travels
https://www.silk-road.com/artl/marcopolo.shtml
"Golden Country Zipangu(Japan)" Tracing the history of Japan's gold mines
https://kinkaimasu.jp/gold/column/golden_country_zipangu/?PageSpeed=noscript#:~:text=%E3%80%8C%E9%BB%84%E9%87%91%E3%81%AE%E5%9B%BD%E3%82%B8%E3%83%91%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B0%E3%80%8D%E3%81%A8,%E3%81%82%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E3%81%AE%E3%81%A7%E3%81%97%E3%82%87%E3%81%86%E3%81%8B%E3%80%82
Marco Polo was an Italian trader. He lived in Venice, Italy, and when he was a boy, he was taken by his father and uncle to travel the East, that is, to Turkey, Mongolia, and China. I bought some items that I could sell and took them home. For the second time, he travelled east again as a young man. Marco Polo has been to Touhou twice, but he has never been to Japan. "Golden Country Zipangu(Japan)" is based on a story he heard from a Chinese person and was written with imagination. In "The Travels of Marco Polo", Marco Paul wrote, "Zipangu produces a large amount of gold, and buildings such as the palace are made of gold." It is said to be Chusonji Konjikidō, built-in 1124.