Alright, Team Earth has a new direction.  We are now researching European explorers, their accounts of significant sites on the silk roads, and their interactions with the Mongol Empire.  In a recent group meeting we discussed our research roles.  Jake’s focus will be on the Mongol Empire side of things, Austin is covering Marco Polo’s journey, possibly with more emphasis on the Western perspective.  I have everything in between.  Basically, I want to study the lesser known explorers such as Giovanni of Pian de Carpini, William of Rubruck, Friar Odoric, and Rabbi Benjamin.  My initial goal is to narrow down the similarities in their journeys.  For example, find a city that they all went to and compare their analyses of the culture.
I found a fantastic book called Contemporaries of Marco Polo.  It was published in 1928, and it was last checked out from the Guilford College Library in 1981. The book contains primary accounts of the four explorers I mentioned above, edited by Manuel Komroff, who also provides an informative introduction.
I also found a book called the Vinland Map and the Tartar Relation.  It is about Carpini’s accounts but also a map of the first depiction of the Americas, not sure yet how they’re related but hopefully I’ll learn about Carpini a bit.