The Legend of Marco Polo

Name: ______Period: ______

Mapping the Trip According to Polo

After reading Polo’s story, fill in the blanks in the details about Polo’s trip east and home again.

The Trip East

  1. In 1271 they sailed from ______to ______in Palestine.
  2. They side-tripped to ______to get oil for the ______.
  3. They rode camels through ______.
  4. They traveled by ship to the ______(modern day Iran) port of ______.
  5. Then, deciding the ships weren’t safe, they continued riding ______across the ______in ______.
  6. After resting for ______in the ______when Marco got sick, they crossed the mountains of ______.
  7. Eventually they reached the ______and crossed it.
  8. They finally arrived at ______’s summer palace in ______.
  9. During his ______years with the Khan, Polo visited southern and eastern areas of China, ______, Indochina, ______, and ______.

The Trip Home

  1. The Khan allowed Polo to leave with a bridal party heading to ______in 1292.
  2. They sailed to ______, then ______and around the southern tip of ______.
  3. They continued across the ______and through the ______to ______where Polo had been many years before.
  4. Polo’s party traveled by land to the Turkish port of ______on the ______Sea.
  5. From there they sailed to ______(not yet renamed ______).
  6. Finally they arrived in ______in 1295.

Now, use the information on the front together with an atlas to show Polo’s trip on the map below.

1. Write the following places on the map to help locate parts of the story (You don’t have to draw their borders.):

  • Armenia
/
  • Persia (Iran)
/
  • Afghanistan
/
  • Tibet

  • Gobi Desert
/
  • Indonesia
/
  • Burma (Myanmar)
/
  • Malaysia

2. Use different colors to represent the trip east and the trip home and make a key to show which is which.

The Trial of Marco Polo

The Case: Marco Polo vs. the City-State of Venice

Accusation: Marco Polo lied about traveling to and living in China.

Juror’s Notes

Points Against Polo / Points for Polo

The Jury’s Verdict

If you were head of the jury, would you convict Marco Polo of lying or would acquit him as innocent? State your verdict and then defend your choice. Write a court verdict paper at least three paragraphs with one reason per paragraph explaining why you think Polo is innocent or guilty.


  1. In 1271 they sailed from Venice to Acre in Palestine.
  2. They side-tripped to Jerusalem to get oil for the Khan.
  3. They road camels through Armenia.
  4. They traveled by ship to the Persian (modern day Iran) port of Hormuz
  5. Then, deciding the ships weren’t safe, they continued riding camels across the deserts in Afghanistan.
  6. After resting for a year in the mountains when Marco got sick, they crossed the mountains of Tibet.
  7. Eventually they reached the Gobi Desert and crossed it.
  8. They finally arrived at the Kublai Khan’s summer palace in Shang-tu (Kalgan).
  9. During his 17 years with the Khan, Polo visited southern and eastern areas of China, Burma, Indochina, Indonesia, and Malaya.

The Trip Home

  1. The Khan allowed Polo to leave with a bridal party heading to Persia (Iran) in 1291.
  1. They sailed to Singapore, then Sumatra and around the southern tip of India.
  2. They continued across the Arabian Sea and through the Gulf of Oman to Hormuz where Polo had been many years before.
  3. Polo’s party then traveled by land to the Turkish port of Trebizond (Trabzon) on the Black Sea.
  4. From there they sailed to Constantinople (not yet renamed Istanbul).
  5. Finally they arrived in Venice in 1295.