Lesson Plan

Lesson 1: On the Road with Marco Polo: A Boy in 13th Century Venice

Photo caption

"Embarking for Home," from Marco Polo: His Travels and Adventures, published in 1880.

In the 13th century, a young Venetian named Marco Polo set out with his father and uncle on a great adventure. Following a series of trade routes, they traveled across the vast continent of Asia and became the first Europeans to visit the Chinese capital (modern Beijing). Marco so impressed the reigning emperor of China, Kublai Khan, that he was appointed to the imperial court. For the next 17 years, Marco was sent on missions to many parts of Kublai's sprawling empire. The Polos finally returned to Venice via the sea route. Marco later wrote a book about his experiences, which inspired new generations of explorers to travel to the exotic lands of the East.

Guiding Questions

What was Venice like in the 13th century?

What is significant about the location of Venice that it would make someone want to travel?

Learning Objectives

Examine topographic and political maps of 13th century Venice and the globe.

Analyze sources on 13th century trade routes and commerce to determine motives and outcomes of travel.

Evaluate the short and long-term impacts of trade in Venice on the region and points of contact.

Lesson Plan Details

Content Standards

NCSS.D2.His.1.6-8. Analyze connections among events and developments in broader historical contexts.

NCSS.D2.His.2.6-8. Classify series of historical events and developments as examples of change and/or continuity.

NCSS.D2.His.3.6-8. Use questions generated about individuals and groups to analyze why they, and the developments they shaped, are seen as historically significant.

NCSS.D2.His.4.6-8. Analyze multiple factors that influenced the perspectives of people during different historical eras.

NCSS.D2.His.5.6-8. Explain how and why perspectives of people have changed over time.

NCSS.D2.His.14.6-8. Explain multiple causes and effects of events and developments in the past.

NCSS.D2.His.15.6-8. Evaluate the relative influence of various causes of events and developments in the past.

NCSS.D2.His.16.6-8. Organize applicable evidence into a coherent argument about the past.

Lesson Activities

Activity 1. A Boy in 13th Century Venice

Begin this activity by telling your students that they will be learning about a young man, Marco Polo, who was one of the first Europeans to travel to China. Marco grew up in the 13th century in Venice, an important trading city in Italy.

Have the students locate Venice using the following links:

Europe available through EDSITEment reviewed resource SARAI. Find Italy, then find Venice.
Map of Italy also available through SARAI. Find Venice.
Map Machine available through EDSITEment-reviewed resource Xpeditions. Type Venice; then select Venice, Italy from the drop-down box and click on it.

Students should note that Venice is an archipelago (a group of islands) in a fairly shallow lagoon.

Access An interactive map of Venice available through EDSITEment-reviewed resource Internet Public Library. Zoom in on Venice.

Guiding Questions for Discussion:

What do you notice about the location of Venice that might make someone consider traveling to other places?
What information about Marco's family life suggests that he would want to travel?
What sights, sounds, and smells might have interested Marco while he worked in a spice shop overlooking Venice's harbor?

During the 13th century, Venice was an international center of trade. Its strategic location on the Mediterranean enabled the city to attract ships from trading ports in other parts of Europe was well as Africa and Asia. These ships carried a wide variety of products, such as ivory, precious stones, and spices, which were bought by Venetian merchants or exchanged for such local products as woven wool cloth and colored glass.

Marco's father was a merchant. He and his brother left for an extended business trip when Marco was five. The boy lived alone with his mother while he was growing up. At one point, he worked in a spice shop overlooking the harbor. Marco was fascinated by the tales he heard from merchants and mariners, and he often dreamed of the day when he, too, could travel to distant places.

To learn more about Venice's role as a trading hub, students can visit the following links:

Medieval Trade Routes available through EDSITEment-reviewed resource Labyrinth.
Rialto available through National Geographic. You might call upon a student to read aloud the description of the Venetian harbor.

Assessment

Have the students, working in pairs, fill out the chart and answer the questions about 13th-Century Venice available in PDF format. Once they have gathered this information, tell them to pretend that they are 13th-century travel agents. Still working in pairs, their task is to design travel brochures, advertising with words and pictures (drawings or images they have downloaded) the wonders of Venice.

Lesson Extensions