Marco Polo Seminar Questions
Directions: Answer all of the questions on a separate piece of paper.
Seminar 1: Excerpts from the Book of Sir Marco Polo: The Venetian: Concerning Kingdoms and Marvels of the East
Chapter X: Concerning The Palace of the Great Khan
1. What can be interpreted about the wealth of the Mongols, and how they gained that wealth from the first section?
2. Is the palace of the Khan what you would expect a nomadic king to live in? How does it differ from your expectations? Does this lead you to question the truth of Marco Polo’s account at all?
Chapter XXX: Concerning the Black Stones that are dug in Cathay, and are burnt for fuel
1. What does this passage suggest about the differences between Chinese and European culture during the Middle Ages?
2. Can Chinese society be compared to the earlier Roman civilization in its’ social behaviors?
3. How is China technology more advanced than Europe during this time period?
Chapter LXXV: Of the Noble city of Suju
1. Define Idolater.
2. What does Polo’s use of the term ‘Idolater’ to describe the Chinese people say about his view of them?
3. Why is paper money revolutionary enough for Marco Polo to make a mention of it?
4. Consider the ways that paper money could be better than metals, then consider its’ disadvantages, be prepared to discuss both sides.
5. What are the various trades found in the city?
6. What does this description say about the economy of the Chinese under the Yuan dynasty?
Chapter LXXVI: Description of the Great city of Kinsay, which is the capital of the whole country of Manzi.
1. What do you think Polo means when he says the city has 100 miles of compass?
2. Do the math, how many merchants houses are found in the city?
3. What do these numbers tell you about the economy of China at this point in history?
4. Why are these facts ironic in Chinese society?
5. How does Marco Polo show cultural bias in his writing?
General:
1. What does the passage say about the level of sophistication of the author and his home culture as compared to the sophistication and wealth of the land he describes?
2. What aspect of the Eastern Cultures does Polo seem most impressed with?
Seminar 2: The Tartars: from “Travels of Marco Polo”
Of the Wandering Life of the Tartars/ Of their Domestic Manners/ Their Food/ And the Virtue and Useful Qualities of Their Women
1. What does the title of this chapter tell you about conventional views of women around the year 1300?
2. In what ways does Polo show that the Tartars are technologically superior to Europeans during this time period?
3. Are Tartar women more or less equal to other women of this time period? How does this show itself in their culture?
4. Describe the diet of the nomads. Does it seem healthy to you?
5. What cultural factors would lead the nomads to accept so many wives for each man? What would the desired goal of these actions be?
6. How do you feel about the son being allowed to marry all of his father’s wives? Why would the nomads allow such a thing?
Of the God of the Tartars/ And of their Modes of Worship/ Of their Dress
1. How does nomadic religion compare to the ancient religions of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece?
2. What do nomads ask their gods to protect?
Concerning the Tartar Customs of War/ Of Their Arms and Obedience to Their Leaders
1. What are the factors that make the Tartars the most dangerous warriors in history up to this time?
2. How does the breakdown of the Tartar army resemble Roman armies.
3. Describe the diet of a soldier during a military campaign. How could this be an advantage militarily?
4. In his last lines, Marco Polo hints that the Tartars and Mongols may be becoming weaker. What does he say that might indicate this?
5. Why would the factors that Polo mentions make the nomads weak?