Subject: ‘Trade’

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Nicolo, Maffeo and Marco

Posted in Exploration, Historical articles, History, Trade, Travel on Friday, 1 July 2016

This edited article about Marco Polo originally appeared in Look and Learn issue number 812 published on 6 August 1977.

Marco Polo, picture, image, illustration

Marco Polo crossing the Persian deserts still largely unexplored today, by Ron Embleton

Seventeen-year-old Marco Polo watched his deeply suntanned father and his uncle packing their bags and cases in their luxury house in Venice.

“Please take me with you,” Marco begged.

His father, Nicolo, looked at Maffeo, and the two elder men in turn looked at the fine, strapping young Marco.

“Very well,” said Nicolo. “You may come with us.”

The Polo’s were preparing for another journey to the mysterious East – only this time, as Marco knew, they had a mission to fulfil.

Two years before, Nicolo and Maffeo Polo had returned from a trip to China which had lasted ten years. They had crossed the great Gobi Desert and come to the court of the Kublai Khan, ruler of all the Tartars, in distant Cathay, where China is today.

At this time – the middle of the thirteenth century – it was unheard on for travellers to ventire so far east. All that men in Europe knew about the other side of the world was what they had been told in legend.

Marco knew that his uncle and his father had returned to Venice because the Great Khan had asked them to speak to the Pope on behalf of the Tartars, so that his people might be told something of the Christian religion.

And the two elder Polos had already told Marco of some of their exciting stories of the Great Khan’s court, and had described to him the riches and treasures that were to be found in the East.

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The best pictures from educational trade cards, 105

Posted in Ancient History, Archaeology, Architecture, Best pictures, Educational card, Famous landmarks, Historical articles, History, Plants, Religion, Ships, Trade, War on Thursday, 26 November 2015

We have selected three of the best pictures from our large collection of 19th and early 20th century educational trade cards.
The first picture shows Enrico Dandolo, Doge of Venice, preaching the Fourth Crusade in St Mark’s Basilica, Venice.

Enrico Dandolo, picture, image, illustration

Enrico Dandolo, Doge of Venice, preaching the Fourth Crusade in St Mark's Basilica, Venice

The second picture shows Cogs of the Hanseatic League, 14th – 15th Century.

Cogs, picture, image, illustration

Cogs of the Hanseatic League, 14th – 15th Century

The third picture shows a shopkeeper weighing fruit in a shop in Pompeii.

Pompeii, picture, image, illustration

Weighing fruit in a shop in Pompeii

High-resolution scans of all educational cards can be found in the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures from educational trade cards, 103

Posted in Ancient History, Architecture, Best pictures, Educational card, Famous battles, Fashion, Geography, Geology, Historical articles, History, Industry, Invasions, Trade, War on Thursday, 26 November 2015

We have selected three of the best pictures from our large collection of 19th and early 20th century educational trade cards.
The first picture shows Tamburlaine and Bajazeth.

Tamburlaine, picture, image, illustration

Tamburlaine conquers Bajazeth

The second picture shows silk merchants in Ancient Rome.

Silk merchants, picture, image, illustration

Silk merchants in Ancient Rome

The third picture shows a slate quarry.

Slate, picture, image, illustration

Slate and its uses

High-resolution scans of all educational cards can be found in the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures from educational trade cards, 96

Posted in Ancient History, Architecture, Best pictures, Bible, British Towns, Famous battles, Famous landmarks, Farming, Heroes and Heroines, Historical articles, History, Insects, Legend, Myth, Religion, Trade, War on Thursday, 26 November 2015

We have selected three of the best pictures from our large collection of 19th and early 20th century educational trade cards.
The first picture shows the destruction and burning of Troy.

Troy, picture, image, illustration

The destruction and burning of Troy

The second picture shows manufacturing Cheshire cheese in England.

cheese, picture, image, illustration

Manufacturing Cheshire cheese in England

The third picture shows a monk in his cell.

monk, picture, image, illustration

A monastic cell

High-resolution scans of all educational cards can be found in the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures from educational trade cards, 93

Posted in Ancient History, Best pictures, Educational card, English Literature, Heroes and Heroines, Historical articles, History, Legend, Literature, Oddities, Religion, Trade on Thursday, 26 November 2015

We have selected three of the best pictures from our large collection of 19th and early 20th century educational trade cards.
The first picture shows Tancredi baptising the dying Clorinda.

Tancredi, picture, image, illustration

Tancredi baptises the dying Clorinda from Torquato Tasso's epic poem Jerusalem Delivered.

The second picture shows a fakir.

A fakir, picture, image, illustration

A fakir

The third picture shows an Ancient Roman bookshop.

Roman bookshop, picture, image, illustration

Ancient Roman bookshop

High-resolution scans of all educational cards can be found in the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures from educational trade cards, 85

Posted in Art, Artist, Best pictures, Discoveries, Educational card, Exploration, Famous artists, Fashion, Historical articles, History, Leisure, Trade, Transport, Travel on Wednesday, 25 November 2015

We have selected three of the best pictures from our large collection of 19th and early 20th century educational trade cards.
The first picture shows the reception of Vasco da Gama by the Samudiri of Calicut, India, May 1498.

Vasco da Gama, picture, image, illustration

Reception of Vasco da Gama by the Samudiri of Calicut, India, May 1498

The second picture shows men and women on bicycles.

bicycles, picture, image, illustration

Men and women on bicycles

The third picture shows Leonardo da Vinci painting the Mona Lisa.

Mona Lisa, picture, image, illustration

Leonardo da Vinci painting the Mona Lisa

High-resolution scans of all educational cards can be found in the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures from educational trade cards, 69

Posted in Absurd, Actors, Africa, Ancient History, Best pictures, Disasters, Education, Educational card, Famous crimes, Heroes and Heroines, Historical articles, History, Legend, Medicine, Myth, Religion, Trade on Wednesday, 25 November 2015

We have selected three of the best pictures from our large collection of 19th and early 20th century educational trade cards.
The first picture shows a quack medicine seller at a fair in a small town in Germany, 1820.

A quack, picture, image, illustration

A quack medicine seller at a fair in a small town in Germany, 1820

The second picture shows Odin, chief of the Norse gods.

Odin, picture, image, illustration

Odin, chief of the Norse gods

The third picture shows Caliph Omar burning the Library at Alexandria.

Alexandria, picture, image, illustration

Caliph Omar Burns The Library at Alexandria

High-resolution scans of all educational cards can be found in the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures from educational trade cards, 58

Posted in Ancient History, Architecture, Arts and Crafts, Best pictures, Educational card, Famous battles, Historical articles, History, Industry, Institutions, Law, Mystery, Politics, Trade, War on Wednesday, 25 November 2015

We have selected three of the best pictures from our large collection of 19th and early 20th century educational trade cards.
The first picture shows the Battle of Courtrai in 1302.

Battle, picture, image, illustration

Battle of Courtrai in 1302

The second picture shows Chinese potters.

Chinese potters, picture, image, illustration

Chinese potters

The third picture shows Lycurgus of Sparta making his fellow citizens take the Spartan Oath.

Lycurgus, picture, image, illustration

Lycurgus of Sparta making his fellow citizens swear to respect the institutions established by him

High-resolution scans of all educational cards can be found in the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures from educational trade cards, 57

Posted in Ancient History, Animals, Arts and Crafts, Best pictures, Educational card, Heroes and Heroines, Historical articles, History, Industry, Institutions, London, Politics, Trade on Wednesday, 25 November 2015

We have selected three of the best pictures from our large collection of 19th and early 20th century educational trade cards.
The first picture shows Oliver Cromwell being sworn in as Lord Protector.

Oliver Cromwell, picture, image, illustration

Oliver Cromwell sworn in as Lord Protector of England , Scotland and Ireland, 1653

The second picture shows Bucephalus tamed by Alexander the Great.

Bucephalus, picture, image, illustration

Bucephalus tamed by Alexander the Great

The third picture shows Porcelain manufacturing in the 18th Century.

Porcelain, 18th Century, picture, image, illustration

Porcelain manufacturing, 18th Century

High-resolution scans of all educational cards can be found in the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures from educational trade cards, 56

Posted in Ancient History, Animals, Arts and Crafts, Best pictures, Educational card, Fashion, Heroes and Heroines, Historical articles, History, Leisure, Politics, Royalty, Sport, Trade on Wednesday, 25 November 2015

We have selected three of the best pictures from our large collection of 19th and early 20th century educational trade cards.
The first picture shows Napoleon in exile on St Helena.

Napoleon, picture, image, illustration

Napoleon in exile on St Helena

The second picture shows Sicilian craftsmen make umbrellas.

umbrellas, picture, image, illustration

Sicilian craftsmen make umbrellas

The third picture shows Horse racing in Rome.

Horse racing, picture, image, illustration

Horse racing in Rome

High-resolution scans of all educational cards can be found in the Look and Learn picture library.