Marco Polo

Venetian to Cathay

Marco Polo is a pool game where one player closes their eyes and calls out "Marco" while others respond "Polo," using sound to locate and tag them.

Named after the medieval Venetian explorer, the game playfully evokes blind navigation through unknown territory: We played Marco Polo until the sun went down.

medieval

Mongol Empire

Medieval Asian continental dominion

Pax MongolicaSteppe empire's enforced stability
VeniceLagoon city, northeastern Italy
manuscriptOriginal text before publication

Kublai Khan · courtier · diplomacy · 13th century · trade routes · Eurasia · primary source · historiography · medieval · merchant

explorer

Venice

Lagoon city, northeastern Italy

Silk RoadHistoric transcontinental trade network
travelerOne who journeys
adventurerOne pursuing exciting exploits

Kublai Khan · expedition · journey · Cathay · caravan · discoveries · pioneering · navigation · ethnography · cartography

orient

Cathay

Literary term for China

XanaduLegendary pleasure palace
BeijingChina's seat of government
AsiaLargest continental landmass

China · Kublai Khan · East · exoticism · Far East · wonders · foreign lands · court · palace · empire

trade

silk

Fine woven insect fiber

spicesAromatic food flavorings
porcelainTranslucent fired clay
teaSteeped leaf beverage

caravan · bazaar · commerce · Silk Road · goods · luxuries · merchant · gemstones · trading post · import

game

swimming pool

Basin for aquatic recreation

blindfoldSight-blocking eye cover
tagIdentifier or classifier
childrenYoung human beings

playground · shout · echo · locate · search · chase · seeker · recess · splashing · call-and-response

Marco Polo

Mongol Empire

Venice

Cathay

silk

swimming pool

Marco Polo

Opposites

Categories

Family