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While Denis and Francis were traveling through the Middle East, I think they learned the lesson that it isn't always safe. In Balkh they were held at gunpoint and they also had to be escorted by a militia group. This lesson was important because there was lots of scenarios where they weren't completely safe.

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Of all the places and countries that Denis and Francis visited on their journey. One place I would like to visit is Jerusalem. Jerusalem has so much background in religion and it would be so amazing to go there and see all of the different cultures that are practiced by the different groups of people.

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A similarity of Marco Polo's journey to Denis and Francis' journey is that on the returning trip from China and India, they both traveled through Iran to get back. The difference was that Marco Polo was allowed clear passage because Iran or Persia at the time was under Mongol control and so he was able to easily pass through. For Denis and Francis however, Iran was closed off to Americans and did not welcome foreigners.

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Similar to Marco Polo's journey, while Denis and Francis were in India, they saw many of the same ruins and shrines that were still in use by the Indian people. A difference was that when Denis and Francis arrived in India they were held in port for several days and questioned about what they were doing.

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Marco Polo as well as Denis and Francis both saw the city of Kashgar similarly. Kashgar was a big industrial city in China of a Muslim minority. A similarity was that the families of the city were still required to write the names of all of the inhabitants on the door for census and taxing purposes. A difference was that when Denis and Francis went through the city, they were trying to buy camels but unlike in Marco Polo's time no one was using many camels anymore and so they found it difficult to find a place to buy camels.

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Marco Polo took a fleet of 14 ships from Hong Kong to Sumatra, a small island off of Indonesia, but was stranded there for 5 months. Marco Polo described the people of the island to have lots of tattoos and that was seen as their clothing. Similarly, Denis and Francis went to the same island to see those people and while there Francis got a tattoo from the natives. A difference in their times there was that while Marco Polo was there the native islanders were cannibals but when Denis and Francis were there cannibalism had been forgotten and was no longer on the island.

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While traveling through Afghanistan, Marco Polo received a golden tablet from Kubilai Khan that gave him access to lodging and food. Similarly, Denis and Francis received a note from the brother of an Afghan warlord that gave them protection in their trip through the dangerous country. The difference was that for Denis and Francis, traveling through Afghanistan was very dangerous and they needed a company of bodyguards to escort them through the country. For Marco Polo he had to take his tablet with him and just show that to the Mongols.

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Marco Polo was attacked by a militia group when he went through Balkh this is similar to the Americans journey because the Americans were held by a militia as well and it was the same militia that attacked Marco Polo 700 years ago. A difference was that when Marco Polo and his group were attacked, two people were killed but no one in Denis and Francis' group was harmed.