Niccolò and Maffeo Polo

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/niccol-and-maffeo-polo

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where was Niccolò and Maffeo Polo born?Venice, Republic of Venice
2. What is the established trading posts?Constantinople, Sudak (Crimea), and western regions of the Mongol Empire
3. What is the key diplomatic mission?Carried a message from Kublai Khan to Pope Gregory X
4. Who were Niccolò and Maffeo Polo?Niccolò and Maffeo Polo were brothers from Venice who became famous explorers and merchants. They traveled far into the Mongol Empire, showing Europe new lands and cultures.
5. What did they do before traveling to the Mongol Empire?Before heading to the Mongol Empire, they set up trading posts in Constantinople and in Sudak on the Crimean Peninsula. These posts helped trade between East and West.

Republic of Venice: A powerful maritime republic and commercial empire based in Venice from the 7th to 18th centuries.
Mongol Empire: The largest contiguous empire in history, founded by Genghis Khan and expanded by his successors, including Kublai Khan.
Trading Posts: Strategic locations established by merchants to facilitate trade, often involving warehousing and exchange of goods.
Kublai Khan: The fifth khagan of the Mongol Empire, who founded the Yuan dynasty in China.