Communism And The Anti Communist Rhetoric - 1401 Words

When one considers the definitions of its roots, communism seems like an odd word to inspire as much fear as it has and does. â€Å"Commun,† meaning â€Å"together† and â€Å"ism,† meaning â€Å"belief in,† combine to form a word for which the connotation far outweighs the denotation. Rather than bring people together, communism in the United States caused divides, even between people on the same sides. Although the exact definition of communism differed for Communists and Anti-Communists, the definitions held commonality in the way that they labeled members of the group as â€Å"other†. To Anti-Communists, communism was a force that they could not comprehend, not because it was over their heads, but because they either chose to put no effort into understanding it or were not allowed the resources needed to do so. All that was required was that one understood the end goal of communism as the anti-communist rhetoric described it: to complete the â €Å"ultimate seizure of power,† eliminating the government of the United States. Rather than take the time to learn the actual end goals of the majority of people who identified as communist, more prestigious anti-communists such as James F. O’Neil chose to put their effort into discrediting people who identified as communist. He asked his followers to contact the media and â€Å"call their attention to their ‘mistakes,’† such as â€Å"neglect[ing] to mention†2 that certain people or organizations that they were citing or conversing with were communists. People likeShow MoreRelatedAnti Communist Rhetoric And American Patriotism1605 Words   |  7 Pagesdepicted communist, to feed the hatred for communism. The illustrators did this to catch the public’s attention by exploiting their irrational fear of communism to entice them to buy the comic book. Just prior to the release of the Comic Codes, Fighting American #3 was already showing acceptance of the codes, with Fighting American being depicted as the perfect athletic American with his American boy side kick ready to save the day from the communists of domestic America. The anti-communist rhetoricRead More Ronald Reagan Administration Essay1308 Words   |  6 Pagesgovernment regulations that had prevented mergers while supervising the banking industry. At the same time, he appointed conservatives who would carry out his vision of smaller government to agencies like the EPA, his cabinet, and the courts. Anti-Communism was the cornerstone of the Reagan administrations foreign policy. The Reagan Doctrine had a turbulent relationship with the Soviet Union and Central America, more so than with other nations. President Reagan pushed for a space-based missile systemRead MoreThe Battle Of The Cold War1526 Words   |  7 PagesBoth nations held dramatically different worldviews, nurtured by their domestic values. The Soviet Union envisioned a world-wide global revolution leading to a Communist utopia. The United States believed in democracy and private enterprise. As their World War II coalition melted away in the face of growing political disagreements, the rhetoric of both nations turned shriller and argumentative, making faith in negotiations and treaties virtually non-existent. The Space Race became a symbol of the broadRead MoreThe Age Of Mccarthyism By Joseph Mccarthy1151 Words   |  5 Pagesconsisting of convoluted accusations and fabrication of a sensitive topic regarding communist infiltration within America. Joe McCarthy’s unfounded allegations naming supposed ‘communist subversives’ instilled fear and anxiety among Americans. This was exacerbated by the anxiety associated with the concerns of an escalating Cold War. McCarthy was motivated by his political ambition and thus used the anti-communist crusade as a scapegoat, to benefit his political career. It became increasingly apparentRead MoreJulius And Ethel Rosenberg Was Spies For The Soviet Union Essay1333 Words   |  6 Pagesoffset the spread of communism within the government, Truman created a loyalty security program for the federal government to inquire into possible communist sympathizing employees. Other government agencies tried to halt the alleged threat of communism as well. The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) was created to investigate claims of communism within the United States government. Truman also created a media machine that would perpetuate pro-western rhetoric throughout the Cold WarRead MoreThe Cold War Between The United States Of America And The Soviet Union1501 Words   |  7 Pageswas one use of media that perpetuated the negative effects of Soviet Union political influence while promoting the righteousness of the United States. The visual rhetoric presented in â€Å"The Red Iceberg† propaganda, and others alike, instigated an emotional and fearful mindset among most Americans contributing to its nation wide anti-communist attitude and glorification of United States values and governmental policies. Through use of the media and other cultural aspects during the Cold War, the UnitedRead MoreCommunism : A Great Evil1011 Words   |  5 PagesCommunism is a lot like a bad relationship. It looked good on pap er. In regards to the world’s most feared form of government, two things have been historically recurring. First, communism falls when those in power fall victim to the vice of greed. And second, most important to the US-centric concerns of The West, the United States shows a consistent opposition to the ideals of communism. The most notable example of America’s great fear of the perceived evils of communism can be seen during the 1950sRead MoreThe Cold War Between East And West From The End Of The Ussr Essay1596 Words   |  7 Pages From 1948 to 1991 countless anti-communist films were made, dominating the stage of transnational politics and geostrategic affairs between East and West from the beginning to the end of the USSR. The Cold War would impose an atmosphere bursting with tension on the world film production arena. The main tense issues that prevailed included but were not limited to: Communist expansionism, American Imperialism, an arms race including a nuclear menace, the subjugation of space, and the infamous intelligenceRead MoreThe Literary And Pop Culture Vampire Of The 1950s1448 Words   |  6 Pagesinterpreted as anti-communism propaganda. The film is a composite of western and horror film, although it does not directly state, the vampire is casted as the communist disease. The disease metaphor relates the vampire to the spread of Communism infecting the America way of life. In a testimony in front of the HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee), FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover used a disease metaphor to discuss the communist threat. This metaphor became part of cold war rhetoric. Hoover statesRead MoreThe Political Climate In The United States Has Been Forever1624 Words   |  7 PagesVietnam because of the Cold War and the Cold War started fundamentally because of the ideological differences that the U.S. had with the Soviets (Communism vs Democracy). Although it’s somewhat unfair to say that the U.S. is a little like the USSR, in a way the two nations are similar. While it s true that the U.S. argued against the spread of Communism, the nation itself was trying to increase its sphere of influence around the world believing that America’s capitalistic system and form of democracy

Clouds Socrates Unjust Speech Essay - 2141 Words

The Carnage of Just Speech William Myers Section Eschenburg Thursday 9:00am Topic B Aristophanes Pericles In Aristophanes’ play, â€Å"clouds†, there is a battle between the â€Å"old† and â€Å"new† way of going out about life. This can be seen through the â€Å"just† and â€Å"unjust† speech, whose argumentative outcomes dictate the way in which society should go about educating its citizens. The â€Å"unjust speech†, which is a heavy logical and manipulative approach to thinking about life (â€Å"new†), seems to subvert the â€Å"just speech†, which appears to rely on moral and mythical justification (â€Å"old†). Pericles, a prominent and influential Politian in Athens, has argued that democracy is the best form of government because it†¦show more content†¦The people who make the laws usually do so in a way beneficial to them â€Å"in public affairs†(West). Unjust speech has the power to diminish the collective wisdom the Athenians have built up by pointing out small contradictions and using manipulative reasoning that just speech can’t defend through logic. Just speech can only be defended through the centuries it has successfully survived and through the strong bond each citizen shares with each other (West). Therefore, Aristophanes argues through â€Å"clouds† that unjust speech has the ability to break down collective wisdoms, win arguments, create unequal powers, and ultimately dismantle democracy (West). For example, unjust speech states, â€Å"I quite deny that Justice even exists†(West 902) to which just speech replies â€Å"It does with the gods† (West 904), then unjust speech ask the question â€Å"then why didn’t Zeus perish when he bound his father?†(West 906) to which just speech replies â€Å"give me a basin: to vomit in†(West 907), basically stating if just does exist withi n the gods then it makes no sense because the gods are not just themselves. In this case unjust found a logical approach to dismiss the presences of just speech. This small contradiction discredits just speech as a whole, aids to the confusion of just speech, and gives power to unjust speech. This result causes just speechShow MoreRelatedPoli Sci Midterm1155 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ What did Socrates Stand for? 1. What are the needs of the political community? What must all political communities do to insure their survival? What about Philosophy? What does philosophy seek? How does it go about this process? Before we get into what are the needs of a political community, lets define politics. What comes to your mind when you think of politics? For the purpose of this class, politics is the identification, maintenance, and transfer of the communities’ core values that areRead MoreAristophanes’ Clouds a Satyr Play Written in 419 BCE1161 Words   |  5 PagesAristophanes’ Clouds, if read hastily, can be interpreted as a mindless satyr play written in 419 BCE. Yet the chorus warns the reader not to expect the play to have farcical ploys like â€Å"a hanging phallus stitched on† the actors to evoke a laugh, but to take note of underlying seriousness as â€Å"she [the play] comes in trusting only her words† (Clouds 538-44). Even if the play does use some low devices, the play’s message is sophisticated and can be read as a warning to Socrates. Aristophanes isRead MoreAristophanes Clouds Is A Social Commentary On The Nature Of Justice853 Words   |  4 PagesAristophanes’ Clouds is a social commentary on the nature of justice as it pertains to the philosophic life within the city- disguised as a crude theatrical comedy. The protagonist Strepsiades is overcome by debt due to his son Pheidippides’ obsession with horsemanship, and Strepsiades seeks the help of local philosopher Socrates in order to learn the art of deceptive speaking so that he may trick his creditors and not â€Å"give anyone back even an obol of those debts† (120). Although the play is filledRead MoreSocrates’ Speech in Apology975 Words   |  4 PagesAristophanes’ Clouds, if read hastily, can be interpreted as a mindless satyr play written in 419 BCE. Yet the chorus warns the reader not to expect the play to have farcical ploys like â€Å"a hanging phallus stitched on† the actors to evoke a laugh, but has underlying seriousness as â€Å"she [the play] comes in trusting only her words† (Clouds 538-44). Even if the play does use some low devices, the play’s message is sophisticated and can be read as a warning to Socrates. Aristophanes is a â€Å"friendlyRead MoreSocrates : The Worst Of Villains938 Words   |  4 PagesSocrates: The Worst of Villains The Athenian way of life is based on Homeric values. Up to this point in Greek history all of Greek culture has culminated in the form of democratic government. The culmination of Greek history reaches its peak during this time: from the values outlined by Homer in the Iliad and Odyssey to the life of Socrates during which the epitome of Greek culture has been met in the form of a democratic government. But Socrates undermines Greek culture and is therefore put toRead MoreAristophanes Charge And Socrates 1876 Words   |  8 PagesAristophanes’ Charge and Socrates’ apologia Aristophanes’ Clouds , a satirical comedy, presents the conflict between politics and philosophy, considering philosophy as a destructive influence upon the life of the polis and harmful to the civic virtue which is significant in maintaining the stability in political order. In the play, Aristophanes depicted Socrates as an investigator of the thing aloft, as a teacher of how to make the weaker speech the stronger, and as a disbeliever in Zeus and theRead More Justice for All Ages Essay example4920 Words   |  20 Pageswhich to proceed. Following in the footsteps of Plato and Socrates, it seems fitting to do utilize the dialogue format. The dialogue format consists of a conversation in which a discussion ensues, questions are asked, hypotheses are formed and challenged, and hopefully, in the end there is some clearer understanding of the issue at hand. This dialogue takes place on the Isle of the Blessed where the now-immortals Achilles, Socrates, Aristophanes and Euripides live. Lasthenia3, a philosopherRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book His Work Memorabilia 1169 Words   |  5 Pagesbook of his work Memorabilia, Xenophon begins by implicitly claiming that he will provide an evaluative account of the persuasiveness of the charges laid against Socrates. Hence, to the extent that the Memorabilia claims to offer a defensive approach towards Socrates, this work bears a line of continuity with Xenophon’s Apology of Socrates to the Jury. The Memorabilia, however, offers a break with the Apology in terms of the method it employs in delivering the Socratic exoneration; it is not a workRead MoreThe French Revolution Essay examples1018 Words   |  5 Pageseverything about their societies from religion to governments. Of course you easily compare this to the time in Ancient Greece where Socrates also criticized everything there was about the society in which he lived in. Moreover, one can compare Socrates thinkery to the salons much visited by Voltaire and Rousseau during the Enlightenment. Socrates in Plato’s Apology criticized his fellow citizens and believed that one should always question everything or else that one personRead MoreSocrates As A Martyr And Socrates927 Words   |  4 PagesIn philosophy class this semester we spoke a lot about Socrates and his trial. We were required to read the dialogue ‘Apology’ by Plato. The ‘Apology’ Dialogue is what Plato recorded during the speech Socrates gave to the court defending himself against the charges of corrupting the young, and by not believing in the gods in whom the city believes† these two were the main charges, but underneath that there were also other significant charges such as being considered an antidemocratic or pro-Spartan

Documents of American History Free Essays

There have been a number of amendments within the United States Constitution that have distinguished themselves as having an important and lasting quality, more so than other amendments. The first amendment with its protection of religious freedom, freedom of the press, assembly, speech and petition is seen as the most important. The 2nd amendment which states that a well organized militia is allowed to carry arms and which the Supreme Court has interpreted it to mean all law abiding citizens have the right to carry arms has been a source of debate for many years. We will write a custom essay sample on Documents of American History or any similar topic only for you Order Now There are two amendments within the Constitution that are terribly important, yet have been forgotten in the years since its passage. The 14th Amendment, which established citizenship for all persons born within the United States had enormous historical and political implications as it overturns the Dred Scott Supreme Court Decision of 1857, strengthens the 13th Amendment and helps pave the way for the 15th Amendment as well as the Civil Rights Act of 1875. The second important yet forgotten amendment within the Constitution is the 19th Amendment which gives woman the right to vote. This amendment as well has large historical and political implications as well since the current frontrunner in the quest for the Democratic nomination for President is Hillary Clinton: a woman. This modern turn of events would not have been made possible if not only for the 19th amendment but also the decades of protests and all the work on behalf of women’s suffrage that took place. The 14th Amendment states that no state can infringe upon the rights of any person, regardless of their race: â€Å"Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. † This is a key aspect of the text as it helps to strengthen the 13th amendment as well. With the passage of the 13th amendment on January 1, 1863, nothing really changed. The Southern States, who were in rebellion against the Union, felt that they were no longer bound to obey any laws that came out of Washington. The amendment would have to be recognized once the Union won the Civil War and brought the southern states back into the Union. To a lesser degree, the same could be said about the 14th amendment and its relation to its predecessor, the 13th amendment. After the war, there was no longer any slavery and four million African Americans were left at the doorstep of the Federal government while still residing in the Southern states. The great migration of African Americans to the Northern cities was still decades in the future. So as a result, southern legislatures sought to put African Americans back in a type of quasi slavery though oppressive Jim Crow and black code laws. These laws were designed to return blacks to their pre war condition of submission to the white establishment. This was accomplished through restrictive measures that prevented African Americans from suing in court, testifying in court, being a member of a jury as well as being able to own a gun. African Americans were not allowed to gather on a street corner by themselves and racial discrimination regarding public places was understood to be included in these black codes as well. The 14th amendment was passed during Reconstruction. Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated and Vice President Johnson, a southerner from Tennessee had been made president. He was from the south but loathed the south’s actions of rebellion during the civil war. However, those feelings seem to pass as he vetoed nearly every civil rights bill that was passed by Congress during his years in office. It would be these actions by President Johnson that would give him the dubious honor of being the first President to be impeached. He avoided banishment by one vote in the senate but the success of his presidency was over. It is in this context that the 14th amendment was passed since in the end, the 14th amendment is a civil rights bill that would be challenged in the years after its passage. The 14th Amendment did not go as far as the Radical Republicans, as they were called, wanted it to go. The 15th amendment and the 1875 Civil Rights Act, built upon the power that the 13th and 14th amendments went in securing the rights of individuals under the Constitution, regardless of their race. The power of the 14th Amendment would be limited after the Supreme Court outlawed the 1875 Civil Rights Act which was built upon the power of the 14th amendment. The Supreme Court said that only the state was prohibited from infringing upon the Civil Rights of an individual and that private businesses could be allowed to implement such practices as segregation or refusal to rent or sell to an African American if they chose to do so. The power of the 14th Amendment would be further decreased with the 1890 Supreme Court Case Plessey vs. Ferguson. The Supreme Court held that the states could not impose segregation on public places as long as those facilities were â€Å"separate but equal. † There were many at the time of the passage of the 14th amendment and who felt that they were responsible for it passage, who regarded the 14th amendment as having broad powers concerning its ability to give African Americans equal protection and recognition under the law. In the immediate years after the passage of the amendment, this seemed to be more and more, less likely to occur. The original intent of the law and its power would not be seen until the 20th century with such decisions as Brown vs. Board or Education (1954) which stuck down forever, racial discrimination within public places. Another important aspect of the 14 amendment was the fact that since African Americans was now seen as citizens, their representation in Congress needed to be known. The section reads: Section 2. â€Å"Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. † Although not at the immediate time of its passage, this section allows for African Americans, now citizens, to be represented in Congress. This struck down the previous â€Å"three-fifths† clause which states that for political reasons, African Americans would be counted as only 3/5 of a vote and therefore, not seen by the government as a complete person. The 14th amendment, continuing on the theme of Civil Rights, struck down this offensive aspect of the Original Constitution in order to give African Americas, now citizens, the rights afforded to them as citizens of The United States of America. Full rights for African Americans would not be realized for many more decades but the 14th amendment did a great deal in increasing those rights that help each citizen to feel as though they are a part of the democratic process and are recognized in such a capacity. The struggle for women’s suffrage reached its peak during the late 1800s. But the famous 1848 meeting at Seneca Falls New York, directed by Elizabeth Caty Stanton and Lucretia Mott, two giants in the cause for women’s suffrage fought long and hard for the right to be able to vote. The first state to allow women to vote was Wyoming in 1870 and women were even allowed to sit as jurors but there was no federal amendment to protect a woman’s right to vote and the majority of the country did not recognize a woman’s right to vote. The cause for women’s suffrage would enjoy a resurgence during the abolitionist days and the move against slavery. The fight for equal rights for African Americans could not help but remind the female abolitionists that they did not even have some of the rights that the former slaves were bound to receive once their freedom would be won. This came to fruition with help from the 14th Amendment. This amendment not only gave citizenship to all individuals that were born in the United States, meaning four million former slaves would now be considered citizens but also gave voting rights to all males in the country. In May 1869, the National Woman Suffrage Association was founded by Elizabeth Caty Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. The organization set out to win a national amendment which would grant women the right to vote. In November 1869, the American Woman Suffrage Association was formed and fought for both state and federal woman suffrage amendments. This helped lay the groundwork for the national campaigns in Washington D. C. in 1912. In 1917, the Susan B. Anthony Federal Suffrage amendment was placed before the House. In 1919, both houses of Congress approved the amendment and it went to the state legislatures for ratification. The approval of thirty six states were needed before the suffrage amendment could become law and surprisingly, the states moved with surprising speed and in August 1920, the 19th Amendment became part of the Constitution. The wording of the amendment reads as such: The right of citizens in the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Both the 14th and 19th Amendments expand the rights of an important segment of the population. Such amendments have been forgotten because the rights that they protect are seen as never having a starting point for a large segment of the population that seems oblivious to anything that has happened before they were born. Recently, a popular comedy television show, had as one of its comedy pieces, set up a table outside of a busy walkway and sought out women to sign a petition: â€Å"To end Women’s Suffrage. † An alarming number of women as well as men signed the petition, possibly confusing suffrage for suffering. It is due to this amazing level of ignorance that the history, wording and influence of these above mentioned amendments be reintroduced into the nation’s consciousness. The 19th amendment gave women the right to vote but it also told women what they already knew: that they were an important aspect of the American democratic system and that their involvement was required. Women then became governors, senators, representatives, Supreme Court judges and in 2008, possibly the next President of the United States. The 19th Amendment helped make all of this come to fruition, along with the dedication and perseverance of a lot of women and men as well. The 14th amendment is also one of those amendments whose forgotten memory serves as an impediment to every American who assumes that they ways that things are today, is how they have always been. In this manner, history’s importance is all too often underestimated as ignorance breeds apathy for the works and sacrifice of others who came before. When Americans think of civil rights, they think of Martin Luther King Jr. Rosa Parks and perhaps even Jesse Jackson. But the study of civil rights must first start in the 18th and 19th century if at all. â€Å"The 13th, 14th and 15th amendments which greatly increased the rights for all peoples, regardless of their race as well as the 19th amendment, all had their origins in the 19th century. † And as it is with most amendments, its origins are seen years and decades before its actual passage and many times, opens the door for further legislation in the future. The 14th and 19th amendments are two examples of this. Sadly, America’s heroes are based more upon pop culture and the every day actions of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. More is known about their unimportant lives than the sacrifices of Elizabeth Caty Stanton and Susan B. Anthony despite the fact that their actions have a more encompassing and important affect on their lives than pop culture ever will, or at least should. Every amendment within the Constitution should be studied and recognized for what it is and does. This is especially true for the 14th and 19th amendments. WORKS CITED Commanger, Henry Steele. Documents of American History. New York: Century Publishers, 1947 Perry, Michael. We the People. The 14th Amendment and the Supreme Court. New York: Oxford University Press. 1999. The Supreme Court. PBS Video: Thirteen Production. February 24, 2007 How to cite Documents of American History, Papers

Marco Polo free essay sample

Marco Polo became famous for his many travels, starting with a trip to Asia that began in 1271. His book about his travels became one of the most famous travel books in history. THE BETTMANN ARCHIVE Microsoft  ® Encarta  ® 2009.  © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Marco Polo They called him â€Å"the man with a million stories. † People flocked to Marco Polo’s home to hear him tell exciting tales about his travels in distant lands. Marco Polo won fame for his journeys across Asia. He wrote a book about his travels that became one of the most famous travel guides in history. EARLY LIFE Marco Polo was born in 1254 to a family of merchants. His home was Venice, Italy. Venetian merchants bought and sold valuable Chinese goods, including precious silk cloth. Such goods were brought to Europe along an ancient route known as the Silk Road. The merchants also used the route to travel east on trading missions. We will write a custom essay sample on Marco Polo or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Marco’s mother died when he was a young boy. His family taught him to be a merchant. He learned how to read, write, calculate, and use foreign money. In 1269, Marco’s father and uncle, Niccolo and Maffeo, returned to Venice after visiting China. In China, they had met the Mongol conqueror Kublai Khan. The khan invited the Polos to return. He asked them to bring Christian scholars to explain the Christian religion to him. TRIP TO CHINA In 1271, Niccolo and Maffeo set out for China again. Marco, then 17 years old, joined his father and uncle for the trip. Two priests also traveled with the Polos. But the route was dangerous, and the priests soon turned back. It took the Polos four difficult years to reach China. The journey led across deserts and high mountains. They passed through wild countryside where bandits lurked, ready to rob and kill. They braved heat and cold, floods, deep snowdrifts, and blinding sandstorms. At last they reached the summer palace of Kublai Khan at Shangdu. The khan welcomed the Polos warmly. He offered Marco a job. Marco accepted, and the Polos lived in China for the next 17 years. Marco traveled on many special missions across the khan’s kingdom and to distant lands. When Marco returned from his missions, he told the khan vivid stories about the people and lands he visited. Over time, the Polos worried that Kublai Khan would not allow them to leave. Several times they had asked the khan for permission to return to Europe. But the khan enjoyed his visitors so much that he would not grant their wish. Finally, the khan changed his mind. Marco Polo’s Journey This illustration shows Marco Polo—along with his father, Niccolo, and his uncle Maffeo—beginning their famous trip from Italy to China in 1271. THE BETTMANN ARCHIVE/Corbis Microsoft  ® Encarta  ® 2009.  © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Kublai Khan and Marco Polo Marco Polo became famous for his travels to China and for his service to the Mongol Empire. In this illustration, the Mongol emperor Kublai Khan presents his golden seal to Marco Polo and his party. Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris/Bridgeman Art Library, London/New York Microsoft  ® Encarta  ® 2009.  © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. RETURN TO VENICE In 1292, Kublai Khan asked Marco to escort a Mongol princess to Persia. The Polos traveled by ship from China to the Persian Gulf. Then the Polos headed for Venice, finally reaching home in 1295. Marco had been away so long that nobody recognized him! We know about Marco’s travels because, in 1298, he became a prisoner of war. He shared his cell with a writer named Rustichello, who helped Marco turn his stories into a book. Rustichello added some details of his own. But much of Marco’s book seems to be true! Marco Polo returned to Venice after his release from prison. He died in 1324. But his book remained popular for centuries. Merchants, mapmakers, and explorers all looked to the book for information about Asian lands. Even the navigator Christopher Columbus owned a copy! Reference Marco Polo. (2009). Microsoft Student 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation. In text: (â€Å"Marco Polo,† 2009).