and the Silk Road
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
Table of Contents A Tale Told in Prison.
狱中传出的故事目录。
4 Mysterious Cathay and the Silk Road.
4"神秘卡赛"与"丝绸之路".
5 The Mongols Conquer China.
5"蒙古征服中国".
7 Marco Polo and His Family.
7马可·波罗和他的家人。
10 The Long Trek to China.
10"长征中国".
12 Marco Polo’s Experiences in China.
12 马可·波罗在中国的经验.
16 The Return Voyage.
16"回声".
18 War and Captivity.
18 战争与战斗。
19 A Million Stories or a Million Lies?
1900万故事还是一百万谎言?
20 Glossary.
20 词汇表。
23 Index.
23 指数。
24 A Tale Told in Prison In the year 1298, a man named Marco Polo sat in a prison cell in Genoa, Italy.
24 在监狱传出的故事 1298年,一位叫马可·波罗(Marco Polo)的人坐在意大利热那亚的一个监狱牢房里.
He thought about the remarkable life he had led.
他思考过他所过出众的生活.
During his youth, Marco had traveled from his native Italy to distant lands.
年轻时,马可从他的家乡意大利出行到遥远的地方.
For more than 20 years, he had experienced many great adventures.
20多年以来,他经历了许多伟大的冒险.
But after his return, he was a hostage in a war between two Italian cities—Genoa, and his home city, Venice (VEN-is).
但回国后,他在意大利两个城市-热诺阿与他家乡威尼斯(VEN-is)的战争中被扣为人质.
A fellow prisoner, a writer named Rustichello (rus-ti-KAY-loh), formed a friendship with Marco.
一个同狱囚犯,一个叫Rustichello(rus-ti-KAY-loh)的作家同马可结成了友谊.
“I’ve heard that you have been to Cathay and have seen many amazing things,” he said.
「我听说你去过卡赛,
Cathay (ka-THAY) was what people in Italy and other parts of Europe called China.
Cathay(ka-THAY)是意大利和欧洲其他地区的人们所称之为"中国".
China was a mysterious land most people knew very little about.
中国是一个神秘之地 人们所知甚少
“Yes,” said Marco, “I have been to Cathay.
Marco说,“是的,”“我去过Cathay。
Would you like to hear about it?”
你想听听吗? “
Rustichello nodded.
鲁斯提切罗点头.
“I would indeed.”
“我确实会。 “
Marco then sat back and started to tell Rustichello about his fantastic journey.
马可然后坐下来,开始告诉鲁斯提切洛他的奇妙旅程.
For months, he told one story after another while the writer took pen in hand to write down every word.
数月来,他逐个讲出一个故事,而作家却手拿起笔来写出每一个字.
“This will make a wonderful book,” he said.
他说,“这本书将成为一本很棒的书。”
Mysterious Cathay and the Silk Road Marco Polo was not the first person from Europe to see Cathay.
神秘的克赛和丝绸之路的马可·波罗并不是第一个从欧洲来见克赛的人.
There had been a few before him.
他之前有过几次
However, those travelers did not publish popular books about their journeys.
然而,这些旅行者并没有出版有关其旅程的通俗书籍.
Thus, most people knew very little about the Asian country.
因此,大多数人对亚洲国家了解甚少。
Yet traders from distant lands had been bringing Chinese goods to Europe and other parts of the world for hundreds of years.
然而,数百年来,远地的贸易商一直把中国货物带到欧洲和世界其他地区。
People in Europe had long desired things from China, such as beautiful pottery, carved jade, and silk.
欧洲人对中国有很长的希望,如美丽的陶器,雕刻的玉器,和丝绸等.
Silk is a beautiful, shimmering cloth made from the cocoons of silkworms.
丝绸是一种由丝虫的茧所制而成的美丽而发光的布.
Until the ad 500s, no one outside of China knew how to make silk.
直到广告500年代,中国以外的人都不知道怎么做丝绸.
The ancient Romans (around ad 100) prized silk so highly that they were willing to pay for it with an equal weight of gold.
古罗马人(约公元100年)高度珍视丝绸,愿意以等重的黄金来支付.
Much of the trade with China was conducted by way of a long east-west route across the continent of Asia.
与中国的贸易大都以东西向长途穿越亚洲大陆的方式进行.
This route—actually several interconnecting routes—stretched about 4,000 miles (6,400 km).
这条路线——实际上是几条相互连接的路线——伸展了大约4 000英里(6 400公里)。
It passed through deserts and across mountain ranges.
它穿过沙漠和山脉
For centuries, it was a highway for camel caravans—long lines of camels loaded with goods.
几个世纪以来,它一直是骆驼车队的一条高速公路——一长行的骆驼装满了货物。
The caravans carried many valuable things.
车队携带着许多有价值的东西.
From Europe and other countries in the West, they transported gold, ivory, wool rugs, precious stones, and other wares to China.
他们从欧洲等西方国家向中国运送出黄金,象牙,羊毛地毯,宝石等军器.
In return, they carried Chinese goods to people in Europe and other parts of the West.
作为回报,他们向欧洲和西方其他地区的人运送了中国货物.
Although silk was just one of many items brought back from China, it was probably the most desired.
虽然丝绸只是从中国带回的许多物品之一,但可能是最需要的.
For that reason, the caravan route became known as the Silk Road.
由于这个原因,大篷车路线被称作"丝绸之路".
The Mongols Conquer China The Silk Road was established in about 200 bc.
蒙古人征服中国 丝绸之路建立于约200 bc.
At that time, China was being governed by a dynasty—a line of rulers from the same family or group—called the Han (HAHN).
当时,中国正被一个王朝统治——从同一家族或同一组统治者的一行——称为"汉".
During later centuries, use of the Silk Road varied.
在后几个世纪中,丝绸之路的使用方式各不相同.
Sometimes the journey became dangerous because of warring groups and bandits along the road.
有时由于沿途有交战团体和土匪,旅程变得危险.
When dangers arose, few caravans dared to venture along the route.
当危险出现时,很少有车队敢于沿途冒险.
In ad 907, the road went into a serious decline, and in the early 1200s, dangers on the road multiplied.
在907年的广告中,这条路进入了严重的衰落,在1200年代初期,这条路上的危险增加了.
That is when a people called the Mongols spread out from their homeland of Mongolia on the Asian steppe (grasslands).
这时,一个被称作"蒙古人"的民族从他们在亚洲草原(草地)上蒙古的故乡分出.
The Mongols launched conquests throughout Asia.
蒙古人在亚洲各地发动了征服.
They were ferocious warriors who showed their enemies little mercy.
他们是凶残的战士,他们给敌人一点怜悯。
Mongol armies sometimes destroyed entire cities and slaughtered everyone in them.
蒙古军队有时会摧毁整个城市并屠杀其中的每一个人.
The Mongols were led by a man named Timujin.
蒙古人被一个叫帖木儿的人所领导.
In 1206, his people proclaimed him Genghis Khan (JENG- gihs KAHN), a name that meant “Universal Ruler.”
1206年,他的族人封他为成吉思可汗(JENG-gihs KAHN),这个名字意为"普遍统治者". “
This is the name by which he has come to be remembered.
此名已来受想行识.
Genghis Khan and later Mongol rulers conquered a huge area, which became known as the Mongol Empire.
成吉思汗和后来的蒙古统治者征服了巨大的地区,这一地区被取名"蒙古帝国".
Genghis Khan wanted to add China to his empire, but he died in 1227 before he was able to do so.
成吉思可汗想将中国加入到他的帝国中来,但他在能够这样做之前就已经于1227年去世了.
His grandson, Kublai Khan, fulfilled his desire and conquered northern China in 1264.
他的孙子忽必烈可汗实现了他的愿望,于1264年征服了中国北方.
He then conquered the rest of China, and in 1279 he established the Yuan (yoo-WAHN) dynasty.
随后他征服了中国其他地区,1279年他建立了元(yoo-WAHN)王朝.
Once the Mongols were in firm control of Asia, peace returned.
一旦蒙古人牢牢地控制了亚洲,和平就恢复了.
Even before Kublai Khan finished the conquest of China, the Silk Road had again become safe for camel caravans.
甚至在忽必烈可汗完成对中国的征服之前,"丝绸之路"再次为骆驼行车所安全.
“Fighting with the Mongols” shows a battle scene in Asia.
“与蒙古人相会”是亚洲的一个战场。
Marco Polo and His Family Just ten years before Kublai Khan ruled northern China, Marco Polo was born in 1254 in Venice.
马可·波罗和他的家人 就在忽必烈汗统治中国北部的十年前,马可·波罗于1254年生于威尼斯.
The northern Italian city of Venice had grown rich by trading with faraway lands.
意大利北部城市威尼斯通过与遥远的土地进行交易而变得富有.
Marco’s father, Nicolo, and his uncle, Maffeo, were both merchants.
马可的父亲尼可洛和叔叔马菲奥都是商人.
When Marco was just a baby, the two elder Polos departed on a trading journey.
马可还小的时候,两位长者波洛斯出行了一次贸易之旅.
His mother was left alone to raise Marco.
他的母亲被留下独自抚养马可.
She probably saw to it that Marco received an education typical of the sons of merchant families.
她可能看到马可接受了典型的商人家庭儿子的教育.
The boy most likely studied reading, writing, and arithmetic, and learned about foreign money.
男孩最有可能学习阅读、写作和算术,并了解外国货币。
He also may have received some instruction on how to handle a cargo ship.
他还可能收到了一些关于如何操作货船的指示。
When Marco was 13 years old, his mother died.
马可13岁时,他的母亲去世.
An aunt and uncle then cared for him.
姑姑和叔叔后来照顾他.
Everyone in the family must have wondered when, if ever, Marco’s father and his uncle Maffeo would return.
马可的父亲和叔叔Maffeo何时会回来。
Nicolo and Maffeo Polo finally got back to Venice in 1269.
尼科洛和马菲奥·波罗最终于1269年回到了威尼斯.
They had been gone about 14 years.
他们已经走了大约14年。
They explained that their trip had unexpectedly taken them all the way to China.
他们解释说,他们的出乎意料地把他们一路带到了中国.
There, they met Kublai Khan.
在那里,他们遇到了忽必烈可汗.
The great Mongol ruler had treated them very well and had asked that they return.
大蒙古统治者对他们待遇非常好并曾要求他们返回.
Almost at once, Nicolo and Maffeo started preparing for a return trip to China.
几乎马上,尼可洛和马菲奥开始为回中国之行做准备.
This time, they decided, they would take Marco with them.
这次他们决定把马可带走
Before leaving, the Polo brothers obtained letters and gifts for Kublai Khan from the new pope, Gregory X.
在离开之前,波罗兄弟从新教宗格里高利十世那里得到给忽必烈汗的信和礼物.
During their first trip to China, the Polo brothers had told Kublai Khan about the Christian religion.
在第一次出访中国期间,波罗兄弟曾向忽必烈·可汗讲述了基督教.
The Mongol ruler became very interested in Christianity.
蒙古统治者对基督教产生了浓厚的兴趣.
He asked the brothers to bring him missionaries and information.
他要求兄弟们给他带来传教士和信息.
The Long Trek to China In late 1271, when Marco was 17, he left Venice with his father and uncle on their second trip to China.
对中国的长征 1271年末,马可17岁时,他带着父亲和叔叔第二次出访中国而离开威尼斯.
They were accompanied by two missionaries appointed by Pope Gregory.
他们由教宗格雷戈里任命的两名传教士陪同.
The travelers planned to sail to China from a port city named Hormuz in the country of Persia— present-day Iran.
旅行者计划从波斯国内一个叫荷尔穆兹(Hormuz)的港口城市起航去中国——现今的伊朗.
Since all of the ships at Hormuz were very poorly made, they decided to make the long trip to China by land instead.
由于霍尔木兹的所有舰只都造得很差,他们决定由陆路长途跋涉到中国.
They obtained camels and set off toward the East.
他们获得骆驼,然后朝东方出发。
For much of their journey, they followed the Silk Road.
在他们的大部分旅程中,他们追随了丝绸之路.
The journey was very difficult, taking them across deserts and mountains.
这趟旅程非常艰难,把他们带过沙漠和山脉.
Sometimes they rode camels and sometimes horses.
有时他们骑骆驼,有时骑马.
Early in the journey, the missionaries refused to go any farther and turned back.
出行初期,传教士们拒绝再走更远再回头.
Marco and the two elder Polos pushed on without them.
马可和两个长老波洛斯没有他们就推了下去.
One of the most difficult parts of the journey was traveling across the Gobi Desert.
旅途中最困难的部分是穿越戈壁沙漠.
This is a huge, primarily rocky desert in western Asia, where temperatures soar above 45 degrees Celsius (113°F) in summer and plummet to –40°C (–40°F) in winter.
这是西亚一个以岩石为主的巨大沙漠,夏季气温飙升到45摄氏度(113°F)以上,冬季则暴跌至-40°C(-40°F).
Marco and his companions were relieved when the Gobi was behind them.
马可和他的同伴们在戈壁人背后被松了口气.
By then, they were in China.
当时,他们在中国。
After traveling for three and a half years, the Polos reached the court of Kublai Khan.
在出行了三年半后,波洛斯人到达了忽必烈可汗的宫廷.
The Mongol ruler greeted them warmly.
蒙古统治者热情迎接了他们.
After the Polos had rested, they went with Kublai Khan to the capital, Cambaluc, also called Ta-tu (present- day Beijing).
波洛斯人休息后,与忽必烈可汗一起去首都坎巴卢克,又取名"塔图"(今北京).
There, Marco was amazed by the size and beauty of Kublai Khan’s palace.
在那里,马可对忽必烈可汗宫的大小和美丽感到惊讶.
He called it “the greatest palace that ever was.”
他称之为“有史以来最伟大的宫殿。 “
Marco Polo’s Experiences in China Kublai Khan soon gave the Polos positions of authority, which allowed them to get wealthy.
马可·波罗在中国忽必烈的经验 汗很快授予了波洛斯人的权威地位,这使得他们得以发财.
Kublai Khan did not like using Chinese people in his government.
忽必烈可汗不喜欢在他的政府中使用中国人民.
He and other Mongols discriminated against the Chinese.
他和其他蒙古人歧视了中国人.
All the best government positions were filled by Mongols or other foreigners.
所有最好的政府职位都由蒙古人或其他外国人担任.
Marco became a member of an important government group called the Privy Council.
马可成为了一个重要的政府团体"枢密院"的成员.
And for three years, he was a high-ranking tax official in the city of Yangzhou (yang-JOE).
并三年,出为扬州(今河南焦作市)高官.
As he moved among the people of China, Marco observed them carefully.
当他在中国人民中迁徙时,马可仔细地观察了他们.
He saw that the Chinese hated their Mongol rulers.
他看到中国人讨厌他们的蒙古统治者.
He said the people felt “that they were no more than slaves.”
他说,人民感到“他们只不过是奴隶。 “
But Kublai Khan and the other Mongols didn’t care about the great unhappiness of the people.
但忽必烈可汗等蒙古人并不关心人民的巨大不快.
They felt secure in their power.
他们感到他们的力量是安全的。
Kublai Khan’s rule, blue and white porcelain (right) became more refined and impressed Europeans, especially the Dutch, with its quality; use of written language (below) increased; and Tibetan Buddhism, represented by figures such as Guanyin (left), flourished.
忽必烈可汗的统治,蓝白花瓷(右派)变得更加精炼并给欧洲人特别是荷兰人留下了深刻的印象;使用书面语言(下派)增多;以关仁(左派)等人物为代表的藏传佛教也兴起.
Marco was constantly astonished by China and its culture.
马可经常被中国及其文化所震惊.
China at that time was more advanced and wealthy than the countries of Europe.
当时的中国比欧洲国家更先进更富有.
Marco commented on several things in particular.
马可特别评论了几件事.
One was a postal system that used runners and horseback riders.
一个是使用跑道和骑马的邮政系统.
He was even more impressed to see the Chinese use paper money.
更令他印象深刻的是看到中国人使用纸币.
At that time, coins were the only form of money used in Europe.
当时,硬币是欧洲唯一使用的货币形式.
Giving worthless paper the value of silver or gold demonstrated government power.
给白银或黄金价值不值一文的纸张,显示了政府的力量。
China’s government simply declared that the paper money it issued had value.
中国政府只是宣称其发行的纸币有价值.
This is how almost all paper money works today.
今天几乎所有的纸币都是这样运作的.
Marco was also surprised to see people using “stones that burn like logs” to create heat.
马可还惊讶地看到人们使用"像木头一样燃烧的石头"来制造热能.
These “stones” were coal.
这些“石头”是煤炭。
Coal was common in Europe, but people hadn’t discovered its use yet.
煤炭在欧洲很常见,
The Return Voyage After 17 years in China, the Polos wanted to go home.
回到活佛在中国17年后,波洛斯人想回家.
They had acquired a fortune in gold, jewels, and other treasures.
他们在黄金、珠宝和其他珍宝上 获得了一大笔钱
Kublai Khan was now in his mid-70s, and the Polos were afraid he might die soon.
忽必烈可汗已经70多多岁了,波洛斯人害怕他很快会死.
If that happened, the next ruler might not let them leave with their wealth.
如果发生这种情况,下一位统治者可能不会让他们带着他们的财富离开.
Kublai Khan liked the Polos and did not want them to go.
忽必烈可汗喜欢波洛斯人,不希望他们去.
Finally, however, he gave them his consent to leave if they would perform a favor for him.
然而,他最后同意他们离开,如果他们愿意为他效劳。
He asked them to accompany a Mongol princess to Persia, where she was to marry the Mongol ruler of that land.
他请他们陪同一蒙古公主去波斯,在那里她要嫁给那地的蒙古统治者.
The Polos agreed, and in 1292, they and the princess departed for Persia on ships.
波洛斯人同意了,1292年,他们和公主乘船去波斯.
After taking the princess to Persia, the Polos continued their homeward journey.
带公主去波斯后,波洛斯人继续了回家的旅程.
They traveled by both land and sea.
他们从陆地和海上旅行。
Finally, in 1295, they arrived in Venice.
最后于1295年到达威尼斯.
They had been gone for 24 years.
他们离开了24年。
Marco Polo described four-masted Chinese ships with crews of 300 people, which were more advanced than European vessels.
马可·波罗(Marco Polo)描述了由三百人组成的由四人组成的中国船只,这些船只比欧洲船只更先进.
War and Captivity Marco Polo got home at a bad time.
战争与潜伏马可 波罗出家不正.
Venice was competing with rival Italian city Genoa for control of the Mediterranean Sea.
威尼斯当时正与竞争对手的意大利城市热那亚争夺地中海控制权.
War broke out between the two cities.
两个城市之间爆发了战争.
Although he was now in his early 40s, Marco enlisted in the Venetian navy.
虽然他现在已经40多岁了 但马可还是加入了威尼斯海军
He was placed in command of a war galley—a ship powered by many human rowers.
他被安排指挥着一艘战船——一艘由许多人类划船者提供动力的船只。
Genoa defeated Venice in the war in 1298 and took about 7,000 prisoners, including Marco.
1298年热那亚在战争中击败了威尼斯,并俘虏了大约7000人,其中包括马可.
He was thrown into a prison in Genoa.
他被投入热那亚的监狱.
There he met the writer Rustichello, whom we met at the beginning of this story.
在那里,他遇到了作家Rustichello,我们在这篇故事的开头遇到了他.
Marco and the other Venetians spent a year in the Genoese prison.
马可和其他的威尼斯人在热那亚监狱呆了一年.
By the time they were released, Rustichello had written down all of Marco’s tales about China.
当他们被释放时, Rustichello 已经写下了所有马可关于中国的故事。
He was about to make Marco Polo famous.
他本来打算让马可·波罗出名的.
A Million Stories or a Million Lies?
百万个故事还是一百万个谎言?
Marco Polo’s account of his years in China first became available in 1298 while Marco was still in prison.
马可·波罗在中国的岁月记述最早是在1298年,而马可仍在狱中.
Because printing had not yet been invented in Europe, copies of the book were all written out by hand.
因为印刷在欧洲还没有发明,所以这本书的拷贝都是用手写出.
The book was issued in several languages and under several titles, including The Travels of Marco Polo, which is the title used today.
该书以多种语言并有多个标题发行,包括"马可·波罗之行"(The Travels of Marco Polo),是今天使用的标题.
Marco’s memoir became a sensation.
马可的回忆录成为了一种感觉.
And he became well known throughout Europe.
而他在整个欧洲也逐渐出名.
People called him Il Milione, an Italian name meaning, roughly, the man of a million stories, or, as some said, the man of a million lies.
人们称他为Il Milione,一个意大利人的名字,意思是,大致上,是一百万个故事的人物,或者,正如有些人所说,是一百万个谎言的人物.
Most readers of Marco’s book considered it nothing but a collection of tall tales.
大部分马可的书的读者都认为这只是一部高大故事集.
They refused to believe that China could be so much more advanced than Europe.
他们拒绝相信中国可以比欧洲先进得多.
Even today, there are doubters.
乃至于今日有有疑者.
Although most historians think that Marco Polo’s book is a true account of his travels, others disagree.
虽然大多数历史学家认为马可·波罗的书是对他出行的真实叙述,但其他人不同意.
They say he probably went no farther than Persia.
他们说他可能不会比波斯更远
There, he could have learned about the wonders of China from Persia’s Mongol rulers.
在那里,他可以从波斯的蒙古统治者那里得知中国的奇迹.
Why do some people still think that Marco Polo lied?
为什么有些人仍然认为马可·波罗撒谎?
It is because he made no mention in his book of some obvious things, such as tea drinking, Chinese writing, and the Great Wall of China.
这是因为他在他的书中没有提到一些明显的事情,比如喝茶,中国写作,和中国的长城.
The doubters also point out that Chinese records from the 1200s contain no mention of the Polos.
怀疑者也指出从1200年代开始的中国记录中没有提到波洛斯人.
Marco Polo always swore that he was telling the truth.
马可·波罗一直发誓他说的是实话
When he was on his deathbed in 1324, the 70-year-old Marco was visited by a priest.
1324年他临终时,70多岁的马可被一位神父拜访.
The priest urged him to save his soul by admitting that his book was all lies.
神父敦促他通过承认他的书都是谎言来拯救他的灵魂.
But Marco refused, saying, “I have not told half of what I saw.”
但马可拒绝说,“我没有把所见的一半告诉别人。 “
The Great Wall of China This is a miniature painting from one of the many versions of Marco Polo’s book about the wonders he saw in China.
中国长城 这是一幅小型画作,取自马可·波罗所著"关于他在中国所见所闻之奇事"的许多版本之一.
The scene shows Marco Polo trading with Kublai Khan.
现场显示马可·波罗与忽必烈可汗进行交易.