My Interview With Marco Polo, Famous Explorer
By Melissa Rose—Red Class—2/1/12
Q: What was your
childhood like, and why did you decide to voyage eastward at such a young age?
A: I grew
up in Venice, Italy in 1254. My mother died at a young age, and my father
Niccolo and his brother Maffeo were big merchant-travelers, so I was mainly
raised by an aunt and uncle. In 1269, my father and uncle returned home and I
met them for the very first time. Almost at once, when I turned 17, they
offered for me to tag along on their venture to Asia. I gladly went with them
and met some amazing people along the way.
Q: What
was your very first impression of China under the Yuan rule?
A: It was
beyond amazing. I thought it had to have been the prettiest place on earth. After
travelling through the deserts and grasslands, we reached the capital of Dadu,
to present ourselves to the emperor. We were nervous out of our minds that he
wouldn’t like us and send us away, but as we knelt before him, I came to the
realization that he was, even with all his power, a warm, friendly man. He
liked us and allowed us to stay for as long as we wanted.
Q: Tell me
about your relationship with Emperor Kublai Khan.
A: Emperor
Khan is a great guy, and I definitely would consider him a good friend of mine.
He trusted me very much, and there was something about me that really stood out
to him. While I was very shocked when he offered me a position in the courts
for the government, I was also honored that he wanted me as such a high rank so
early in my stay. He sent me on many missions to Burma and India, and finally
appointed me governor of a small Chinese city. He’s a really nice person.
Q: Why is
it that you want to leave China? You’ve been here for 17 years.
A: I know, and I
love it here. I would never leave if I had the choice. But however, I have
agreed with both my dad and uncle that it is the best choice to go. Kublai Khan
is getting old, now he must be in his late seventies. I fear that if he dies
while we are here, we may not be able to leave the empire with all the riches
we have acquired! If the throne is taken back by the Chinese, and a new dynasty
forms, it may be virtually impossible to return home at all. When we proposed
this idea to the emperor, he was not pleased. I was a close, trusted friend and
official that he needed to help him rule. But in the kindness of his heart, he
agreed to see us go if I escorted Princess Kokachin from Mongolia to her
wedding with Prince Arghun of Persia. I, of course, gladly accepted the deal.
Q: Honestly, what kind of impact do you think you left on
China?
A: I could tell how cut off China was and is from the
outside world and how it lacked foreign influence. I hope by my stay, I taught
people that not all Europeans and Westerners in general are the stereotypical
uneducated, too rich idiots we are perceived to be. Hopefully now, I have been
able to spread enough new ideas around that China will grow and prosper with
the rest of the world, rather than still be living the same life in thousands of
years when the rest of the world are communicating with aliens or practicing
even more advanced sciences. While I know my presence was not enjoyed by all, I
like to think I really helped China make the next step towards new and greater
achievements.
