Marco Polo

explorer · Silk Road · history

Long journey east. Marco Polo travelled across Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295, spending more than 20 years away from home.

A famous book. His adventures were written down in The Travels of Marco Polo, which described mysterious Eastern lands to amazed Europeans.

Visiting China. He explored China under the Mongol Empire and the Yuan dynasty, describing its huge cities and great wealth.

First big look. His writings gave Europeans their first detailed glimpse of China, Persia, India, Japan, and other Asian societies.

Venice merchant. Marco Polo came from Venice, a busy Italian city built on water and famous for trading.