All around the world， people use compasses， coal， kites， paper money and noodles. Most people know these things came from China. But how did they reach the rest of the world？ The fascinating① tale of Marco Polo will tell us the answer.
Marco Polo was born in Venice， Italy， in 1254. He didn’t meet his father until the age of 15. For his father Niccolo and Uncle Maffeo left Italy before Marco’s birth. They had gone east to China and met the great ruler， Kublai Khan.
The Polo brothers finally returned to Venice in 1269. Almost immediately， they planned another trip to China. In 1271， they ventured east， taking Marco with them. For three years， they traveled by ship and camel. Their odyssey②finally ended when they reached the courts of Kublai Khan.
The Mongol emperor warmly greeted the weary travelers. Marco quickly became a court favorite. Khan never tired of hearing Marco’s stories of his homeland. Marco could speak four languages. This also endeared him to the Chinese ruler.
Soon after his arrival， Marco joined Khan’s service. He often traveled to distant parts of the vast Mongol empire. Unfortunately③， it is impossible to retrace④ his steps. Names of cities and places have changed. Once， he journeyed to southwestern China， maybe as far as Burma. Another trip took Marco to southeastern China. Later he worked as a government official in the city of Yang-chou.
The polos decided to return home around 1292. As Kublai Khan grew older， they feared for their safety. If Khan died， his enemies might harm them. This time they journeyed completely by sea. After spending 24 years in the East， they felt relieved⑤ to reach Venice.
When they arrived， they discovered Venice and Genoa were at war. The Genoese captured⑥ Marco. While in prison， Marco met Rustichello， a popular writer. To pass the time， Marco told him about his experiences in Asia. Rustichello wrote them down. They finished Description of the World in 1298. Later the title changed to The Travels. It became wildly popular.
Europeans read about Chinese inventions in Marco’s book. They desired to try them. Slowly their popularity spread around the world.
① fascinatev. 迷住，使神魂颠倒
② odysseyn. 长途漂泊；漫长探索过程
③ unfortunatelyadv. 不幸地，可惜地
④ retracev. 追溯；回顾
⑤ relievev. 使宽慰，放心；缓和，减轻
⑥ capturev. 捕获，俘虏
马可波罗游记
在世界各地，人们使用指南针、煤、风筝、纸钱，也吃面。大部分的人知道这些东西来自中国。但是它们是如何传到世界其他地方的呢？马可波罗这一引人入胜的故事将为我们揭晓答案。
马可波罗1254年出生于意大利的威尼斯。他一直到15岁才见到他父亲。因为他父亲尼可罗和他叔叔马费欧在马可出生之前就离开了意大利。他们东行至中国并且朝见元世祖忽必烈。
这对波罗兄弟终于在1269年返回威尼斯。随即他们又计划另一次旅程至中国。1271年他们带着马可一起到东方探险。有3年的时间，他们或搭船或骑骆驼旅行。这段长途冒险的旅程终于在他们到达忽必烈的皇宫时结束。
蒙古的皇帝热烈地欢迎这批疲乏的旅者。马可很快地成为宫廷里广受喜爱的人。可汗从不厌倦听马可家乡的故事。马可会说四种语言。这也使得他受中国皇帝的喜爱。
他到达后没多久，马可受雇于忽必烈。他常在广大的蒙古帝国旅行至遥远的地方。但可惜的是我们无法追溯他的脚踪。因为城市和地方的名称都已改变。有一次，他旅行至中国西南方，可能远至缅甸。另一次的旅程则是到中国东南方。之后，他在扬州任官。
这波罗一家决定于1292年返乡。由于忽必烈逐渐老迈，他们担心自己的安危。因为如果可汗死了，他的敌人可能会伤害他们。而此次返程他们完全经由海路。在东方待了24年后，他们安然地回到威尼斯。
当他们到达时，发现威尼斯和热那亚在打仗。热那亚人俘虏了马可。在牢里，马可结织了若斯提吉洛，他是位受欢迎的作家。为了打发时间，马可把他在亚洲所经历的告诉他。若斯提吉洛把它们写下来。他们于1298年完成《世界图志》。之后书名改为《马可波罗游记》。这本书广受欢迎。
欧洲人在马可的书中读到有关中国人的发明。因而他们想要试验这些发明。慢慢地，它们的名声广传至世界各地。