THE ADVENTURES OF MARCO POLO
Marco Polo was one of the first world travelers. He was alive in the late-1200’s and early-1300’s. He was a European, but spent 24 years in Asia.
When he returned to Europe at the end of his life, he wrote a book called, “The Travels of Marco Polo.” In his book, he described the wonders of Asia to Europeans.
THE SILK ROAD
Marco Polo described the “Silk Road,” the road that traveled from Europe to Asia. It was originally formed because European traders needed a land route to China to trade for silk and other unique Chinese items.
In the mid-1400’s the Silk Road was blocked. Violence and fighting prevented Europeans from using the road and there was no longer a land route to Asia which meant no more trading.
PORTUGAL'S NAVIGATION SCHOOL
Portugal was the first country to establish a navigation school. This school produced explorers who found a new way to get to Asia by sailing around the southern tip of Africa. Portugal was the first European country to reach Asia by boat and they became rich because of it. Portugal created a large trading network. They also began stopping in Africa to trade with Africans. This led to the creation of the slave trade, when Portugal became the first European country to trade goods for enslaved African people.
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DISCOVERS A NEW WORLD
Spain was jealous of Portugal’s success and they began searching for their own water route to Asia. Spain hired Christopher Columbus who thought he knew a shortcut to Asia. He knew the world was round and he wanted to travel west to get to Asia. But when Columbus sailed west, he became the first European to discover North and South America. These continents became known as the “New World” to Europeans, while Europe, Africa, and Asia became the “Old World.”