The Age of Discovery: Marco Polo and the Silk Road
January 5-9, 2026
Marco Polo's journey along the Silk Road opened the eyes of Europeans to the wonders of the East. Write an essay exploring the significance of Marco Polo's travels. What did he discover? How did his journey impact trade and cultural exchange between East and West? What challenges did he face during his travels? Use at least two of the provided sources to support your arguments.
- Minimum 3 paragraphs
- Cite at least 2 sources
- Include an introduction, body paragraphs with evidence, and a conclusion
1. Marco Polo and his travels - Silk Road
Overview of Marco Polo's journey along the Silk Road and his impact on European understanding of Asia
https://silk-road.com/artl/marcopolo.shtml/MLA Citation Format:
"Marco Polo and his travels - Silk Road." Website Name, silk-road.com. Accessed [Date].
2. The Travels of Marco Polo | UNESCO Silk Roads Programme
UNESCO's educational resource on Marco Polo's famous journey to China
https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/publications/travels-marco-poloMLA Citation Format:
"The Travels of Marco Polo | UNESCO Silk Roads Programme." Website Name, en.unesco.org. Accessed [Date].
3. Marco Polo - Explorer, China, Silk Road | Britannica
Detailed account of Marco Polo's time in China and his experiences at Kublai Khan's court
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marco-Polo/Sojourn-in-ChinaMLA Citation Format:
"Marco Polo - Explorer, China, Silk Road | Britannica." Website Name, www.britannica.com. Accessed [Date].
4. The Silk Road - National Geographic Education
Educational overview of the Silk Road trade routes and Marco Polo's role in history
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/silk-road/MLA Citation Format:
"The Silk Road - National Geographic Education." Website Name, education.nationalgeographic.org. Accessed [Date].
5. Marco Polo - Students | Britannica Kids
Student-friendly article about Marco Polo's adventures and his famous book
https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Marco-Polo/276493MLA Citation Format:
"Marco Polo - Students | Britannica Kids." Website Name, kids.britannica.com. Accessed [Date].
MLA Citation Help
Use MLA format for all citations. Include in-text citations (Author) and a Works Cited page at the end of your essay.
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