Marco Polo and His Influence

Marco Polo, while imprisoned in Genoa, wrote about his adventures, which became a bestseller despite the absence of the printing press. His imprisonment was due to a conflict between Venice and Genoa, where he fought for his hometown, Venice. Many doubted his tales, but they later inspired Christopher Columbus, who grew up in Genoa, to explore the lands Polo described.

Why was Marco Polo imprisoned in Genoa?

• He was caught stealing.

• He was a spy for Genoa.

• He was captured during a war between Venice and Genoa.

• He refused to pay taxes.

What made Marco Polo's book remarkable for its time?

• It was the first book ever written.

• It was written in multiple languages.

• It was the longest book of its era.

• It became a bestseller before the printing press was invented.

How did people initially react to Marco Polo's stories?

• They were widely accepted as truth.

• They were considered pure fantasy by many.

• They were immediately proven true.

• They were ignored by everyone.

Which famous explorer was inspired by Marco Polo's book?

• Ferdinand Magellan

• Amerigo Vespucci

• Vasco da Gama

• Christopher Columbus

Where did Christopher Columbus grow up?

• Genoa

• Rome

• Florence

• Venice

What did Columbus decide to do after reading Marco Polo's book?

• He chose to explore the lands described by Marco Polo.

• He ignored the book entirely.

• He decided to write his own book.

• He became a merchant.