Aim/Goal: How did Marco Polo’s visit to China influence their relationship with

Europe?Do Now: What factors would influence

your decision to travel to a place?What steps would you have to take to

prepare for that trip? Why would you stay/come home from

that place?Homework:

The Mongol Peace• The Mongols allowed conquered people to

continue their way of life as long as their paid their taxes.

• There was much prosperity and political stability during the Mongol rule. This is known as the Mongol Peace.

• Because the empire was peaceful it set the stage for cultural diffusion, new foods, tools and inventions.

A western Visitor• Marco Polo

– Italian merchant– He spent 17 years in China working for

Kublai Khan’s government.– He wrote of his experiences in China and

of their spectacular wealth.– These stories impressed the people of

medieval Europe.

Journeys of two great travelers

The Route of Marco Polo

Marco polo

There were other contacts between East and West

• The Pope sent priests to Beijing to convert the Chinese to Christianity

• Many Muslims set up their own communities in China.

• Due to the Silk Road and Mongolian Peace, many Chinese products moved toward Europe. Such as gunpowder, porcelain and playing cards.