Perspective

Marco Polo is a thirteenth century Venetian merchant commissioned by the Great Kubilai Khan to conduct trade missions throughout his empire and report back to him the results of his travel. The Great Khan's empire ranges from the Mideast and Levant east through all the lands and kingdom to the China Sea and islands in it, north to Russia and the polar region and south to the Indian Ocean and islands in it. Marco Polo spends twenty years traveling the empire. Rustichello is the narrator of Marco Polo's travels who proclaims this book will describe the "great wonders and curiosities" of many territories including Armenia, Persia, Tartars, India and other lands. Marco Polo describes these travels and tales to Rustichello that he claims to see with his own eyes. The narrator affirms Marco Polo is a wise, noble Venetian citizen who tells the truth. Marco wants a written...