Coming to America

American Minute from William J. Federer

Marco Polo traveled in 1271 to meet Kublai Khan, grandson of Ghengis Khan, who was Emperor of China, Korea, North India, Persia, Russia and Hungary.

Emperor Kublai Khan had requested Christian teachers, but only two preaching friars were sent by Pope Gregory X, and they turned back in fear when crossing an area being attacked by Turkish Muslims.

Marco Polo was employed by Kublai Khan as an envoy for 24 years. Upon his return to Italy, Polo was captured at Genoa, where he dictated his travels.

In 1492, Genoa born Christopher Columbus wrote to the King and Queen of Spain: "Concerning the lands of India, and a Prince called Gran Khan...how many times he sent to Rome to seek doctors in our Holy Faith to instruct him and that never had the Holy Father provided them...Your Highnesses...devoted to the Holy Christian Faith...resolved to send me...to the said regions of India, to see the said princes...and the manner in which may be undertaken their conversion to our Holy Faith."

On OCTOBER 10, 1492, Columbus' Journal records: "Here the people could stand it no longer and complained of the long voyage...but the Admiral...added that it was useless to complain. He had come to the Indies, and so had to continue until he found them, with the help of Our Lord."

William J. Federer is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and president of Amerisearch, Inc, which is dedicated to researching our American heritage. The American Minute radio feature looks back at events in American history on the dates they occurred, is broadcast daily across the country and read by thousand on the internet.