Period+4+Wushensky

=Name: Marco Polo= =Profile Picture:= ==

** - __Basic Information__**
o Current City: Venice, Italy o Hometown: Venice, Italy o Sex: Male o Birthday:1254 o Political Views: Liberal within Church Guides o Religious Views: Roman Catholic o My name is Marco Polo. I was born into a family of wealthy merchants in 1254 in the city of Venice. My father, Niccolò, and my uncle, Maffeo, were completely absent from my life from when I was six until I turned fifteen. My mother died when my father and uncle were journeying through distant lands, so I was raised by my aunt and her husband. My father returned to Venice with my uncle in 1269. They spoke of their travels to the lands in the east and the Lord which they now served, Kublai Khan. The Khan had sent my father and uncle home to collect from the pope one hundred learned men to teach western religions and ideas at his court. Two years later, my father and uncle set out for China once more with me in tow. The pope had sent only two friars, who turned back almost immediately. We journeyed by land, through Armenia, Persia, and Afghanistan, over the Pamirs, and all along the Silk Road to China. During the trip we passed through several war zones, and upon reaching Badakhshan I fell ill. My family and I stayed on here for an entire year before continuing on. In 1275, we at last reached the court of Kublai Khan. The Khan and I took a liking to each other, and he appointed me to a top government post. Through this position I was able to see much of the kingdom and its splendors, including coal, paper money, and a most efficient postal system. The glory began to fade, however, with the Khan himself. After seventeen years in China, the Khan was growing weak and my family feared we would not be able to make it back to Venice with the treasures we had gathered. We took a mission to escort the young Mongol princess Kokachin to the Persian prince, Arghun. For this trip we travelled by sea, which proved to be most fatal. Six hundred aboard the voyage died, and it was not until 1295 that my father, uncle and I returned to Venice. When we returned, Venice was at war with Genoa, so I commanded a galley to aid my home city. I was captured and spent a year in jail, where I met Rustichello of Pisa. He recorded my tales of my travelers, and later turned it into my novel, “Travels of Marco Polo.” o Favorite Quotations: " …there was never any man, neither Christian nor Saracen nor Tartar nor pagan, who has ever explored as much of the world as did Master Marco." - Myself

- **__Relationships__** o Mother: Dona Lisa Polo o Father: Niccolò Polo o Daughters: Fantina, Bellela and Moreta. o Sons: None o Brothers: None o Sisters: None Wife: Donata Badoer - **__Likes and Interest__** o Activities: Exploring o Interests: New places, world cultures o Music: Italian baroque o Books: __Travels of Marco Polo__ o Movies: Non existent o Television: Non existent - **__Education and Work__** o High School: Taught by aunt and uncle, usual teachings for a gentleman o College/University: None o Employers: Kublai Khan, myself

=**ALBUM 1: Home Town**=
 * __Photos__** ** (15 photos; 5 in each album) **



=**ALBUM 2: Court Life with the Khan**=









=**ALBUM 3: My Travels   **=



__Groups__ Click here to find a group to join! You must join 10 groups from this site and this site only!! GROUP 2: mlccc - This group wishes to spread the Chinese culture, and based on their superior culture, I feel that everyone should take an interest in the subject. GROUP 3: ItalyNW - As a patriotic member of my homeland, I feel it is important to emphasize Italian culture. GROUP 4: xplore2 - This group is focused on explorers, and maybe I can hear new tales from them of far off places I have yet to see. GROUP 5: Mongol Club - As a close friend of Kublai Khan, I feel I should learn more about his native homeland and culture. GROUP 6: coal-trading - My good friends at the court showed me this amazing stone that burns like wood, and I found a group with images of it! GROUP 7: City_Genoa - Genoa is a rival city to my homeland, and leaning about it could help prevent my capture in future conflicts. GROUP 8: guh_persia - My last mission from Kublai Khan sent me to Persia, so if I ever return I would like to know more about the culture. GROUP 9: shipping_trading - Trading is my family's business, and boats are essential to my travels and living in Venice. GROUP 10: Global Analyst - This group describes global activities pertaining to Eurasia, which is where I work, travel and live.
 * GROUP 1:** Asian Defense
 * - I worked for Kublai Khan personally, so understanding how to protect his territory would ultimately protect myself.

__Quizzes__ Click here to find a quiz to take! **You must take at least 5 quizzes from this site and this site only!! QUIZ 2:** What's your magic power - I have seen some fairly magical things in my life, and I wanted to see what magical attribute would suit me. Manipulating energy fits me as I adore nature as a professional traveler. In addition, I technically took sacred journeys as they were for the pope. QUIZ 3:** What time of day are you? - As an explorer, the time of the day is very important to me. I was curious as to what time most suited me. This result describes me perfectly. I do indeed like exotic things, like Kublai Khan's court, and I was told upon arriving home that I have quite the vivid imagination. QUIZ 4:** What type of doodle are you? QUIZ 5:** What's your inner element?
 * QUIZ 1:** What era are you from?
 * - 1950s:** You are daring and determined~!!
 * - I wanted to see which era fit my personality. Though I am uncertain what this "1950s" refers to, I find that I must agree with the description. I made it all the way to the court of Kublai Khan, and our learned men from the pope turned back after the first steps of the journey. Surely that qualifies as both daring and determined!
 * - Your power is Akasha! This is the source of all natural energy. You can manipulate energy, create energy fields, blast energy bolts etc. These powers are sacred and you should use them wisely.
 * - Midnight:** You are a bit mysterious in a way. You are a bit of a loner and you love to dream.You like unusual, exotic things and have quite a vivid imagination**.
 * - Animals:** You like to draw horses and butterflies and dogs. You are a very compassionate person and love animals and younger children. You like to care for things and make people smile.
 * - Given free time on the road, I will often find myself adding drawings to my notebook to later recall all the amazing things I've seen. I wondered, as a result, which doodle most matched my personality. The quiz results fit me quite nicely. Animals were certainly a large part of my travel, particularly horses.
 * - The calm of air:** The soft flow of air and wind flows through your inner self. Calm, serene, and incredibly free, you like to take risks, but only if they will be fun and worth it!
 * -** I wished to reveal a hidden part of my personality by taking this quiz. The wind is an essential part of me, especially because it played such a huge role in getting me back to Venice. I would certainly describe myself as "incredibly free" and as a risk taker, as evident by my lengthly travels from which few expected me to return.

-**Discussions:**
 * Ban Ki Moon: I feel Ban Ki Moon is the most similar to me of all the leaders because of our personalities. We each strive to understand cultures from across the world and bring them together peacefully. In addition, this man brings together world leaders to speak, and I provided an essential link between the leader of China and the leader of the European Christian world.
 * Miyamoto Musashi: I believe this samurai and myself are the most different. Musashi has a history of dueling, violence, and killing, whereas I have attempted to avoid conflict and please those around me peacefully. Musashi's sinlgularly focused dedication to his sword play is in opposition to my multiple linguistics, culture, financial, and governmental studies.

**Works Cited:**
Cafruny, Alan W. "Trade Route." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2010. Web. 10 June 2010. .

Koeller, David W, and Amber E Stiner. "Marco Polo travels in China." Then Again. Ed. Lydia E Han. WebChron, 2003. Web. 10 June 2010. .

"Kublai Khan." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 10 June 2010. .

"Marco Polo." NNDB. Soylent Communications, 2010. Web. 10 June 2010. .

"Marco Polo." Silk Road Foundation. Silk Road Foundation, 2000. Web. 10 June 2010. .

McNeese, Tim. "Marco Polo." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2010. Web. 10 June 2010. .

Stockdale, Nancy. "Marco Polo." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 10 June 2010. .