Marco Polo Study: China

China

~photo courtesy of Google maps

Kublai Khan was in power in the regions of far off Cathay when Marco arrived on the scene. 

 

Kublai Khan was a Mongol. Mongols were fierce warriors. Ghengis Khan started invading and taking land. Kublai was his grandson. Kublai possessed an empire stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.

During the 13th century, silk, ceramics, carved jade, lacquerware, and tea were the major products. 

Jade: polished and unworked

China has a rich cultural heritage. Here are some of the highlights that Marco may have seen...

early bank note with printing plate and lacquerware...

 

 Chinese Rhubarb and the terracotta army (okay, he didn't see the army, but it is totally cool)...

jasper and silkworms .... 

Chinese characters and giant salamander... 

art and coal...   

storks and cheetahs...

fireworks  and tea (ancient tea urns)...

lanterns and early printing...

  

crocodiles and the great wall...

cloves and ginger...

elephants and yaks.

For our activities, we are going to make paper lanterns, make moon cakes, and play games (eagle and chicks and jug).  

And watch this video...

We read  Marco Polo: A Story of the Middle Ages Ch. 10-17.

Photos courtesy of wikipedia.org. 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: Mongolia  Next Up: Tibet 

Wishing you homeschool blessings,

Bethany