The ‘Age of Discovery’
Today’s world is a very small place, and we know a lot about it and it’s people.
However, this was not always the case. There was a time in history, when we
only knew of the European continent and very little beyond that. This lack of
knowledge was to change with the Age of Discovery. This Age of Discovery
began in 1400, and it was to take us around the world, discovering new and
exciting places.
Back in 1400, travel was very difficult and dangerous. Most people could not
read or write. There were few maps available to travellers and technology was
not very advanced. All these factors added to the difficulty of travelling, and as
a result people really only had knowledge of their own immediate area. However,
some people did still manage to explore despite these obstacles!
The Vikings went out to America and briefly lived there,
and some merchants from Venice had managed to travel
to China prior to 1400. Marco Polo, was a famous
merchant and explorer from Venice. In 1271, he set out
exploring the Chinese Empire with his father and uncle.
The Polos discovered many wonderful things on their
travels.
Whilst in Beijing, Marco Polo noticed many things he had never seen before. For
example the Chinese used printed paper notes as money. Marco Polo had always
used coins before this. Marco Polo was also impressed with the speed of the
Chinese postal service. It was run in a way
he had not seen in Europe.
Whilst on their way back home, the Polos
followed an ancient trading route where
rich jewels, spices and silks could be
found. In 1298, whilst a prisoner of war
in Genoa, Marco Polo recited his tales to
a fellow prisoner called Rusticello.
Rusticello was a writer, and turned Polo’s
stories into a book called The Travels of
Marco Polo. This book described travel, trade, people
and places in the east during the middle ages. It was something of a
best seller. People who read it learnt a great deal about land in the east.
Polo’s book was to catch the imagination of many other travellers and explorers.
Christopher Columbus was one such explorer who read the book and took careful
notes on it. He dreamt of the day he might find his way to the east.
Source A: is given by Marco Polo after he visited a place in China called Tenduc,
around 1275.
Before great discoverers sailed on their journeys exploring new parts of the world,
they listened to everything that other travellers could tell them. Often these tales
were frightening. Often these tales were untrue. But at the time, the traveller who
witnessed the event did not really know what he was witnessing.
Source B: On his way home to Italy, Marco Polo was told about a bird called a
gryphon that lived in Madagascar.
“Tenduc is part of the Chinese Empire, although there is a local king. The King and
his people are Christians. The area produces precious stones and good quality camel
hair. Most of the local people are farmers, although there are some craftsmen and
traders.
There are many towns and cities close to Tenduc. Travellers heading eastwards
towards Cathay from Tenduc come across many weavers and traders who make and
sell gold, silver and woollen cloths.” “The actual eyewitnesses report how they fly
down, pick up an elephant and take it into the sky. The gryphon then lets the
elephant go. It smashes into pulp and the gryphon eats the pieces.”
Source C: Here are some of the tales that were brought back to Europe by earlier
travellers.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
Far away there is a great sea of gravel and sand. It has not a drop of
water in it, but it has great waves.
There is a place where people get burned black by the sun.
There is a race of small hairy men who live in the trees.
The sea is full of great sea monsters which blow water at you.
There were giant men who had faces in their chests.
There is a hill from which flows a river of precious jewels.
If you sail too far, you will sail off the edge of the edge of the world.
You will reach a place where the sea is all covered in white crystals.
Tasks: These tasks together should take you two hours. Answer in full sentences.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Why was it difficult to explore before 1400?
Who is Marco Polo and what did he do?
Why did people decide to explore?
Why was Marco Polo’s book a success?
What impression did people have of the East?
Why do you think they had this impression? Think about where people got their
information from and if those people would have fully understood the culture that they
were seeing.
7) Design a cover for ‘The Travels of Marco Polo’. Include images of what people thought
the East was like. Write a blurb for the back.
Why do Americans Speak English?
Ever wondered why English is the most common language used in North
America? After all America is thousands of miles away from England, over the
Atlantic ocean- so why do most Americans speak English?
Tasks
1. Read the story board and write a
sentence about the following
words;
 Christopher Columbus
 Virginia
 Jamestown
 Puritans
 Pilgrim Fathers
 Mayflower
 Plymouth
 New Amsterdam
2. Why did people set sail to discover
other countries?
3. Why did England’s monarchs
encourage their sailors to
concentrate on North America?
4. Why do Americans celebrate
Thanksgiving?
5. What products did Britain get from
America?
Choose one of the following tasks:



Design a series of 3 stamps designed to commemorate the discovery of America and the setting up of the
settlement. EXTENSION: Explain why you have chosen the images to go on the stamps. What makes them more
important than other events?
Look into the lost colony of Roanoke. What happened there and what explanations have been given. You can
present your answer as a newspaper article or a storyboard. Do not copy and paste. EXTENSION: How accurate
is the information about what occurred?
Research into why Americans celebrate Independence Day. These links might help.
http://www.kidskonnect.com/subjectindex/16-educational/history/251-american-revolution.html
http://www.kidzworld.com/article/1000-independence-day-the-fourth-of-july
Present your answers as either a poster or a fact file. You could write a detailed answer to the question ‘Why do
Americans Celebrate Independence Day?’ but do not copy and paste the information .
Your project must include the following;




Questions based on Marco Polo and his voyages.
A book cover for ‘The Travels of Marco Polo’.
Questions on the discovery of America.
One of the three tasks above.
Make sure you hand in all parts of the project. Make sure you spend
four hours on your project!