Kublai Khan & Marco Polo March 30th, 2017

Kublai Khan Kublai Khan was Genghis Khan’s grandson Eventually gained power over the vast empire his grandfather created He is known for respecting and embracing the customs of lands he conquered Admired Chinese culture

Kublai Khan establishes a new social system in China The Mongols and other foreigners did not have to pay taxes and enjoyed special privileges Those from northern or southern China had to do the most manual labor and pay the most taxes Mongols Other foreigners People from northern China People from Southern China

Never stopped wanting to expand the empire Went through many attempts to conquer more land during his reign Died at age 79 from obesity and gout

Marco Polo 1254-1324 Merchant from Venice, Italy, who traveled across the Silk Road Silk Road was an overland trade route that linked China to Europe Mongols revived the Silk Road, and were again able to trade goods and ideas across continents

Marco Polo travels along the route, and arrives in China in 1275- during Kublai Khan’s rule Marco and Kublai became close acquaintances Kublai made Marco a diplomat for the Mongols Marco stays in Mongol China for 17 years

After Marco returned to Europe he compiled what he experienced in China into a book Wrote about the beautiful cities and Kublai Khan’s court, as well as paper money His book was the first time Europeans really got an idea of what life in China was like

What did Marco Polo see in China?