World Travel and Trade Chapter 3 Lesson 1

Marco Polo Travels to China Marco Polo was a merchant. A merchant is someone who buys and sells goods to earn money. He is famous for traveling from Italy to China to buy and sell goods. The journey to China took 3 years

Marco Polo Marco Polo stayed in China for 16 years. He worked for China’s ruler, Kublai Khan. While in China, he saw many inventions (paper, printing, and gunpowder). When he returned to Italy, he told about what he had seen in a book. His stories about China and the journey on the silk road made people in Italy more interested in traveling to Asia.

Marco Polo Marco Polo’s book made Europeans want to travel to Asia. His stories fascinated people, especially his stories about the Silk Road.

Silk Road The Silk Road was not one road, but several trade routes connecting China to Europe. Merchants became rich as they traveled to China to buy silk, spices, and other goods. Wealthy Europeans were willing to pay high prices for silk.

Chinese Set Sail More than 100 years after MP visited China, the ruler of China sent Admiral Zheng He on a series of voyages. The ruler wanted to impress other countries with China’s power. He sailed all the way to Africa’s east coast. Some of his ships were longer than football fields and had 1000’s of sailors.

Travel Stops In 1434, a new ruler stopped Chinese exploration. He believed that China did not need to have contact with other countries. Zheng He’s amazing voyages were over.

African Trading Kingdoms Trade was becoming very important in several kingdoms in Africa just like it had been in China. A kingdom is a place ruled by a king or queen.

Trade in Africa Africa had plenty of gold but not enough salt. Salt was used to keep food from spoiling. Merchants traveled in large caravans across the dangerous desert to the city of Ghana to trade salt for gold. A caravan is a group of people and animals who travel together.

Mansa Musa He was Mali’s greatest king. He made Timbuktu one of the largest and most important cities in Africa. It became a center for learning and art.

Lesson Review Trade connected people in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Marco Polo, Zheng He, and Mansa Musa spread new ideas as well as goods. Their travels inspired others to explore even farther, seeking new trade routes and new knowledge. WHY DOES IT MATTER? Trade and travel brought the people of Asia, Europe, and Africa in contact with each other. Ideas and goods began to flow freely between them.