Though he was not the first European to reach China (see Europeans in Medieval China), Marco Polo was the first to leave a detailed chronicle of his experience. He died in 1324 and was buried in the church of San Lorenzo in Venice. He was released in 1299, became a wealthy merchant, married, and had three children. At this time, Venice was at war with Genoa Marco was captured and imprisoned by the Genoans after joining the war effort and dictated his stories to Rustichello da Pisa, a cellmate. After leaving the princess, they travelled overland to Constantinople and then to Venice, returning home after 24 years.
Around 1291, the Polos also offered to accompany the Mongol princess Kököchin to Persia they arrived around 1293. As part of this appointment, Marco also travelled extensively inside China, living in the emperor's lands for 17 years and seeing many things that had previously been unknown to Europeans. Marco was appointed to serve as Khan's foreign emissary, and he was sent on many diplomatic missions throughout the empire and Southeast Asia, such as in present-day Burma, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. They were received by the royal court of Kublai Khan, who was impressed by Marco's intelligence and humility. The three of them embarked on an epic journey to Asia, exploring many places along the Silk Road until they reached Cathay (China). In 1269, they returned to Venice to meet Marco for the first time. īorn in Venice, Marco learned the mercantile trade from his father and his uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, who travelled through Asia and met Kublai Khan. 1300), a book that described to Europeans the then mysterious culture and inner workings of the Eastern world, including the wealth and great size of the Mongol Empire and China in the Yuan Dynasty, giving their first comprehensive look into China, Persia, India, Japan and other Asian cities and countries. His travels are recorded in The Travels of Marco Polo (also known as Book of the Marvels of the World and Il Milione, c.
Marco Polo ( / ˈ m ɑːr k oʊ ˈ p oʊ l oʊ/ ( listen), Venetian:, Italian: ( listen) September 15, 1254 – January 8, 1324) was a Venetian merchant, explorer, and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 12.