Many children, including me, have once played the Marco Polo game. Although I have always been curious, who exactly is Marco Polo? My fascination with Marco Polo turned into a fixation with his travels. Marco Polo was born in Venice in the year 1254. His father Nicolò and his uncle Maffeo were merchants who had seats on the council of the great nobles of Venice (Polo IV). According to his records, he had traveled thousands of miles with his father and uncle. Marco, Nicolò and Maffeo (known as the Polos) left Venice and did not return for twenty-six years. Upon their return they were not welcomed in Venice. For a long time it was thought that the Polos were dead. When they arrived in Venice their clothes were old and worn; the things they carried came from the east and their faces showed great difficulty (Cards 2). The travels of the Marcos and the Polos were so foreign, extravagant and impactful, that upon their return to Venice their own people could not even recognize them. The Polos returned from the east: “Returning from the deserts of Persia, returning from the high slopes of the Pamir, from the mysterious Tibet, from the dazzling court of Kublai Khan, from China, Mongolia, Burma, Siam, Sumatra, Java; returning from Ceylon, and returning from India, land of myths and wonders” (Polo lV). Marco was exposed to whole other cultures and things that had never been seen before by his own people. At the beginning of his journey, he must have known where he was going; hence the game that many children of my generation once played (Waugh llV). Marco encountered oil near the Caspian Sea, a foreign commodity to him at that time: “This oil is not good to eat [like olive oil]. People come from long distances to take it and put it to its many uses...... middle of paper...... [New ed. New York: Liveright;, 2003. Print. This source tells the reader tales of Marco Polo's travels, but also delves into the problems Marco Polo faced once he returned. This source tells the reader about the people, the critics, who questioned Marco's work. This source also tells the reader about the challenges the Polos faced, trying to return to Venice after being away for so long. Waugh, Teresa. The travels of Marco Polo. New York: Sidgwick and Jackson Limited, 1984. Print. This source tells the reader about the specific places that Marco Polo traveled and explored. Each chapter and division in this source delves into a different position; as well as providing images. This source contains much good information relating to Marco Polo's imprisonment and the scribe who recorded Marco's tales of his travels.