Marco Polo Study: Israel

Jerusalem, Israel

from Google Maps

Question to Consider:
Why would the Polos go to Jerusalem when it wasn't on the route to Cathay (China)?

The Polo's promised Kublai Khan that they would make the trip to Jerusalem before returning to his realm. It was an opportunity for Marco to visit places that were considered very holy.

The site of Solomon's Temple-Temple Mount on Mount Zion

The Garden of Gethsemane

Rock of Golgotha and The Hill of the Skull

The traditional site of the tomb

(there is a debate whether it would be possible or not)

Play dreidel.

Each player begins with an equal number of game pieces (usually 10–15). The game pieces can be any object, such as chocolate gelt, pennies, or raisins.

At the beginning of each round, every participant puts one game piece into the center "pot". In addition, every time the pot is empty and sometimes if it has one game piece left, every player puts one in the pot.
Each player spins the dreidel once during their turn. Depending on which player side is facing up when it stops spinning, they give or take game pieces from the pot:
a) If נ (nun) is facing up, the player does nothing.
b) If ג (gimel) is facing up, the player gets everything in the pot.
c) If ה (hei) is facing up, the player gets half of the pieces in the pot. (If there is an odd number of pieces in the pot, the player takes the half the pot rounded up to the nearest whole number)
d) If ש (shin) or פ (pei) is facing up, the player adds a game piece to the pot.
If the player is out of pieces, they are either "out" or may ask another player for a "loan".

Photos and directions courtesy of wikipedia.
We read  Marco Polo: A Story of the Middle Ages Ch. 3.

See our References for more information.

I am working on a year long series on the Polo family travels and thought I'd share it with you. Enjoy and please post any additional information you have for us or corrections.

Previously: Venice      Next Up: Turkey

Wishing you homeschool blessings,
Bethany