European explorers in Asia in the time of Mapungubwe

Question 1

Who was Marco Polo?

Answer 1

a boy from Venice, Italy who traveled to China with his uncle and father

Question 2

How do we know about Marco Polo’s travels in China?

Answer 2

When he returned to Italy he was imprisoned for a year as Venice and Genoa were at war. He dictated the story of his travels to his cellmate who was a writer. A book about his travels was published when he was released from prison.

Question 3

What influence did Marco Polo’s story have on Europe?

Answer 3

People began to draw the 1st maps of Asia and many explorers were inspired to go travelling

Question 4

True or False: Marco Polo went on to discover America

Answer 4

false - Christopher Columbus discovered America while searching for a route from Europe to the East

Question 5

Are Marco Polo’s stories true?

Answer 5

Historians disagree on this

Question 6

True or false: Marco Polo set off on his travels around 1360AD - at the time that Mapungubwe was powerful

Answer 6

False - Mapungubwe was abandoned about 1270AD. Marco Polo set off on his travels around 1260AD - when Mapungubwe was still powerful