Lesson 4: A famous tourist

A Words, words, words

A1 Study the words.

B Reading and listening

B1 Read and listen to the text about Marco Polo.

MARCO POLO

Marco Polo was a merchant and an explorer from Venice, in Italy. He was born in 1254. Most historians say he was born in Venice, but some claim he was born on the island of Korcula, in what is now Croatia.

When he was 17, he left Venice and travelled to Asia. He spent most of the next 24 years in China, in the court of the Mongol emperor Kublai Khan. During his stay in Asia he explored many countries. On his way back, he also visited India. When he returned to Europe, he met a writer named Rustichello. They became friends, and Rustichello wrote a book based on Marco’s stories from the Far East. The Travels of Marco Polo soon became very popular all around Europe, since the Europeans knew very little about Asia. Many people believed that the stories were made up and that Marco had never been to Asia. Still, the book inspired many sea captains to go and explore the world. Two centuries later, Christopher Columbus had a copy of Polo’s book with him when he tried to find a new route to the Far East.

Marco Polo is probably the world’s most famous traveller and one of the first travel writers. While Marco was dying, many wanted him to say that the stories were lies, but Marco insisted: “I have not told half of what I saw.” Marco died at his home in Venice on 8 January 1324.

B2 Do the quiz about Marco Polo.

C Writing

C1 Sort out the given information about Marco Polo. Copy it in the correct chronological order in your notebook.

Lesson 4: A famous tourist

A Words, words, words

A1 Study the words.

B Reading and listening

B1 Read and listen to the text about Marco Polo.
B2 Do the quiz about Marco Polo.

C Writing

C1 Sort out the given information about Marco Polo. Copy it in the correct chronological order in your notebook.

D For curious minds

Explore the world of Marco Polo's travels.

Let's visit a museum!

Interactive map

Learn more about Marco Polo.

A history lesson