Marco Polo Timeline (1254—1324)

1254        On September 15, Marco Polo was born in Venice.
1260        His wealthy father and uncle, Nicolo and Maffeo Polo, set sail from Constantinople to the Crimea on a trading journey.
1262       Nicolo and Maffeo Polo received an invitation to China to meet the Kublai Khan (忽必烈).
1269        Nicolo and Maffeo Polo returned to Venice.
1271        Marco Polo accompanied his father and uncle on a journey through the Holy Land, Persia and Tartary and to the Empire of China.
1274        The travellers reached China after a three-year journey. Marco Polo’s father and uncle renewed their friendly acquaintance with the Kublai Khan and presented him with papal (教皇的) letters. They were given important positions at his court in return. Marco Polo learned to speak the Chinese language.
1275        Marco Polo was appointed as an envoy (使节) for the Kublai Khan and traveled through China on his missions.
1280’s        Marco Polo traveled through Asia working for the Kublai Khan and was eventually appointed as a governor of one of his cities.
1292        A marriage was arranged for the daughter of Kublai Khan, the Princess Cocachin, and the Polos accompanied the wedding party, consisting of a fleet of fourteen ships, to Persia.
1293        The Polos stayed in Persia to celebrate the wedding and then headed towards the Black Sea to make their way back to Venice.
1295        Marco Polo arrived in Venice with the finest collection of jewels ever seen. Venice was at war with Genoa.
1298        Marco Polo was made a “gentleman commander” of a Venetian galley. His ship joined in the battle of Kurzola and he was taken as a prisoner of war by the Genoese. When he was in prison he met a writer called Rustichello da Pisa and dictated (口述) to him an account of his travels and experiences in China, Japan, and other Eastern countries.
1299        Marco Polo was released as a prisoner of war in Genoa.
【小题1】When did the Polos start their journey towards the Empire of China?

A．1262.

B．1269.

C．1271.

D．1274.

【小题2】Marco Polo’s father and uncle were given important positions in the court of the Kublai Khan. It was probably because ________.

A．they were very wealthy traders	B．they were successful adventurers
C．they brought to China papal letters	D．they learnt to speak the Chinese language

【小题3】According to the timeline, what was the last thing that Marco Polo did before returning to Venice?

A．He married the daughter of the Kublai Khan.

B．He accompanied Princess Cocachin to Persia.

C．He was made the commander of a fleet.

D．He dictated an account of his travels to the East.