Marco Polo and the Silk Road

What did Marco Polo think about Quanzhou?

What effect might Marco Polo's writings have had on the Silk Road and other trade routes according to Noah and Emma's history project?

Analyzing: What pull factor did Maqdashaw (Mogadishu) have for Ibn Battuta and the rest of his expedition?

• Trade opportunities

• Religious significance

• Political alliances

• Cultural exchange

Comparing: What similarities do you see between Ibn Battuta’s and Marco Polo’s writings about their experiences?

Synthesizing: What were the dominant push and pull factors behind the journeys in these sources?

• Economic opportunities and political stability

• Natural disasters and economic opportunities

• Political instability and social conflicts

• Cultural exchange and educational opportunities

Analyzing Points of View: Based on Marco Polo’s and Ibn Battuta’s accounts, what do you think motivated them to spend their lives away from home?

(Be sure to provide a piece of evidence) It was in a government’s best interest to fund the journeys of traders and explorers because:

Evaluating Sources: Which type of sources are considered most reliable for academic research? How does this source help prove that?