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Marco Polo (1254-1324 CE) was a Venetian merchant and explorer who travelled to China and served the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan (l. 1214-1294 CE) between c. 1275 and 1292 CE. Polo's adventures are recounted in his own writings, The Travels , where he describes the peoples, places, and customs of the East, including the fabulous court of the Khan. The work caused a sensation and was one of the principal factors in creating a lasting image in European minds that China was a fabulous land of wealth and exotica, almost too fantastic to be believed. Even if doubts remain as to just where he travelled to and what he saw with his own eyes, Marco Polo continues to enjoy a reputation as one of the world's greatest ever explorers and his work provides invaluable insights into Mongol rule and Asia in general in the late 13th century CE.

The Court of Kublai Khan

Marco Polo was born into a wealthy Venetian merchant family in 1254 CE; his mother died shortly after giving birth to Marco. In 1271 CE, then aged just 17, Marco accompanied his father and uncle, Niccoló and Maffeo, on what was the elder men's second journey to East Asia, visiting the court of the Mongol leader Kublai Khan in China. The group was accompanied by two friars, eager to travel as missionaries but, after the hardships of the journey, they only got as far as Armenia before turning back. The Polos travelled on by land over the well-established and often ancient trade routes, including the Silk Road (s) that crossed the plains, mountains, and deserts that stretched from Europe to Asia. They went through Persia and the Ilkhan Empire , Samarkand and Turkestan, and then through the Chagatai Khanate . Sometimes they stopped at certain places for months on end while they recovered from fatigue, illness, or awaited fellow travellers to group and form an escorted caravan that might better withstand the dangers of travelling through wild country plagued by bandits. In 1275 CE, after a three-and-a-half-year trek, the Polos finally reached the court of the Khan at his summer capital of Shangdu ( Xanadu ).

The Mongol leader Kublai Khan ruled China as emperor of the Yuan dynasty (1276-1368 CE) under the reign name Shizu. Kublai, grandson of Chinggis Khan (aka Genghis Khan , l. 1162- 1227 CE), created the largest empire the world had ever seen, with Mongol rule extending from the Caspian Sea to the Korean peninsula. Kublai's permanent capital was Cambaluc (aka Khanbalikh, Tatu or Daidu) on the site of modern Beijing (which would be made the capital of China in 1421 CE) and his court was famous for its splendour. The Khan was known as a keen supporter of literature, he himself favoured Buddhism but he permitted all religions to be practised, and he embraced Chinese culture , unlike his predecessors. In short, the Khan was an ideal host to welcome such a traveller as Marco Polo.

The young Venetian would be suitably admiring in his description of the Khan:

Kublai, who is styled grand khan, or lord, is of the middle stature, that is, neither tall nor short; his limbs are well formed, and in his whole figure there is a just proportion. His complexion is fair, and occasionally suffused with red, like the bright tint of the rose, which adds much grace to his countenance. His eyes are black and handsome, his nose is well shaped and prominent (112).

The admiration must have been mutual as Marco was appointed a permanent and roving envoy of the Khan, a move in keeping with the Mongol ruler's policy of not using Chinese officials when possible. It seems that, just as Marco would wow Europe with his tales of the East later in life, so, too, he was destined to travel to the further parts of the Mongol Empire and then return to the Khan and inform him of the peoples and customs he had encountered. He learnt local languages, took extensive notes in his role as the Khan's envoy, and was perhaps even made deputy governor of Yang Chow, a post he held for three years (although some scholars maintain he resided there in some other capacity).

Return & Imprisonment

Marco, along with his father and uncle, finally left China in 1292 CE after staying an incredible 17 years with the Khan, who only very reluctantly let them leave. The excuse was Marco would escort a princess sent by the Khan to marry a fellow Mongol ruler, Arghun, in Persia. The Khan gave them passports of safe conduct through his empire and that of his vassal states, as well as a parting gift of magnificent jewels. The Polos eventually returned home to Venice in 1295 CE - the year after Kublai Khan died, sailing an epic voyage that went via Vietnam, Sumatra, Sri Lanka, and the Persian Gulf. They had been away from Venice for 24 years and had understandable difficulty convincing their fellow citizens of who they were. The fabulous jewels they had brought back helped a great deal and even gave the Polos the nickname Millioni , although some sources claim the name derived from Marco constantly repeating the vast wealth he had seen in China.

Marco's loyalties to his home city remained strong, and the adventurer fought in the war against Venice's long-time rival Genoa, serving as a sea captain. Marco was wounded and captured by the Genoese in 1296 or 1298 CE. He was then imprisoned, but at least this gave him the opportunity to put down in writing his epic adventures in Asia. Well, actually a fellow inmate did the writing, one Rusticien of Pisa (aka Rustichello or Rustigielo), who followed Marco's dictation based on his private notes made in Asia, which are referred to several times in the text itself.

Released from prison, Marco Polo lived a quiet life thereafter. He married and had three daughters. The adventurer died, aged 70, in 1324 CE and was buried near the Church of St. Lorenzo in Venice. A legend did the rounds that on his deathbed the great explorer was asked to confess that his book was all tall tales. Marco responded that he had not described even half of the wonders that he had seen.

Reaction, Controversy & Influence

The finished work of Marco Polos' adventures, titled simply Il milione ('The Million') is often given the title of The Travels of Marco Polo or Travels (Description of the World) in English. The manuscript was circulated c. 1298 CE and immediately caused a sensation. This window into the impossibly distant and exotic world of the East was irresistible. Fantastic tales of impossibly strange peoples and customs captivated medieval Europe as several translations of the original French manuscript were made. There were doubters, too, that Marco was prone to exaggeration and literary license and perhaps he had never even been to all the places he claimed he had. In fairness, the prologue of the book does state right at the start that it is an account of both what Marco saw himself and what others related to him secondhand, including folklore and hearsay.

Apart from satisfying people's curiosity about what lay beyond the horizon in distant lands and, no doubt, inspiring some to follow in his footsteps, Marco Polo's work is also an invaluable historical record of people, places, and cultural practices, even if it, like any other historical text, must be treated with caution. There are certainly some striking omissions in the work. Scholars have noted he does not mention tea or foot binding but these may not have been practised by the Mongols as they were by the Chinese. Neither does he mention the Great Wall of China but the sections he might have seen were in disrepair at that time (the wall had not, after all, stopped the Mongols) and it was only refortified during the later Ming dynasty . Other omissions, more difficult to explain, include Chinese writing , woodblock printing, and the use of chopsticks. On the other hand, Marco does make mention of unique Chinese practices at that time unknown in Europe such as the circulation of paper money and the use of coal as a household fuel. It is also true that many original points of doubt on some of the book's contents, especially on place names and geographical locations, have since been corroborated by Chinese sources and archaeology .

Besides stirring wonder and scepticism in equal measure, Marco's work also had a few unintentional consequences. For example, he corrupted the name of the semi-nomadic Khitan tribes (who were then pressing hard at China's northern borders) to 'Cathay' and this name stuck in Europe for centuries to refer first to northern China only and then later the whole of that country.

While China would pursue a period of relative isolationism following the death of Kublai Khan and the rise of the Ming Dynasty, the next great world traveller who bridged the gap between East and West would be Zheng He (1371-1433 CE), the Chinese admiral who travelled as far as the Persian Gulf and East Africa during his seven epic sea voyages. Then, in 1492 CE the world opened up a whole lot more when one particular reader of The Travels was inspired by the tales of fabulous wealth in the East to attempt to find a route that went westwards across uncharted waters and so reach Asia by sea: one Christopher Columbus .

The Travels

Here follows a selection of passages from The Travels (all taken from the Konemann edition). Not at all lacking confidence in the value of his work, Marco begins his book with the following swagger:

Ye emperors, kings, dukes, marquises, earls, and knights, and all other people desirous of knowing the diversities of the races of mankind as well as the diversities of kingdoms, provinces, and regions of all parts of the East, read through this book… (9)

Passing through Iraq on his way to distant China, Balsara and Baldach ( Babylon ) get a mention:

…a city name Balsara, in the vicinity of which are groves of palm-trees producing the best dates in the world. In Baldach there is a manufacture of silks wrought with gold , and also of damasks, as well so of velvets ornamented with the figures of birds and beasts. Almost all the pearls brought to Europe from India have undergone the process of boring, at this place. (29)

On the nomadic Tatars of central Asia:

Their huts or tents are formed of rods covered with felt, and being exactly round, and nicely put together, they can gather them into one bundle, and make them up as packages, which they carry along with them in their migrations, upon a sort of car with four wheels. When they have occasion to set them up again, they always make the entrance face to the south. (81)

On Kublai Khan's love of trees:

Not far from the palace , on the northern side, and about a bow-shot distance from the surrounding wall, is an artificial mount of earth, the height of which is full a hundred paces, and the circuit at the base about a mile. It is clothed with the most beautiful evergreen trees, for whenever his majesty receives information of a handsome tree growing in any place, he causes it to be dug up, with all the roots and the earth about them, and however large and heavy it may be, he has it transported by means of elephants to this mount, and adds it to the verdant collection. From this perpetual verdure it has acquired the appellation of the Green Mount. (118)

The mystery of paper currency is described for the first time to European audiences:

The coinage of this paper money is authenticated with as much form and ceremony as if it were actually of pure gold or silver ; for to each note a number of officers, specially appointed, not only subscribe their names, but affix their signets also; and when this has been regularly done by the whole of them, the principle officer…having dipped into vermilion the royal seal committed to his custody, stamps with it the piece of paper, so that the form of the seal tinged with vermilion remains impressed upon it, by which it receives full authenticity as current money, and the act of counterfeiting it is punished as a capital offence. (143)

On the efficient Mongol postal system and stations for travellers:

Upon every great high road, at the distance of twenty-five or thirty miles, accordingly as the towns happen to be situated, there are stations, with houses of accommodation for travellers, called yamb or post-houses. These are large and handsome buildings, having several well-furnished apartments, hung with silk , and provided with everything suitable to persons of rank…At each station four hundred good horses are kept in constant readiness, in order that all messengers going and coming upon the business of the grand khan, and all ambassadors, may have relays, and, leaving their jaded horses, be supplied with fresh ones…In his dominions no fewer than two hundred thousand horses are thus employed in the department of the post, and ten thousand buildings, with suitable furniture are kept up. (146-7)

On the heady rice wine of China:

The greater part of the inhabitants of the province of Cathay drink a sort of wine made from rice mixed with a variety of spices and drugs. This beverage, or wine as it may be termed, is so good and well flavoured that they do not wish for better. It is clear, bright, and pleasant to the taste, and being made very hot, has the quality of inebriating sooner than any other. (153)

Finally, on the manufacture of indigo dye in the Indian city of Koulam, visited on Marco Polo's return voyage to Venice:

Indigo also, of excellent quality and in large quantities is made here. They procure it from an herbaceous plant, which is taken up by the roots and put into tubs of water, where it is suffered to remain till it rots; when they press out the juice. This, upon being exposed to the sun, and evaporated, leaves a kind of paste, which is cut into small pieces of the form in which we see it brought to use. (274)

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Bibliography

• Anonymous. Chambers Dictionary of World History. Larousse Kingfisher Chambers, 2000.
• Daniels, P.S. National Geographic Almanac of World History, 3rd Edition. National Geographic, 2014.
• Dawson, R.S. The Chinese Experience. Orion Books: Phoenix Press, 2019.
• Dillon, M. China: A Cultural & Historical Dictionary. Routledge, 1998.
• Ebrey, P.B. Pre-Modern East Asia. Cengage Learning, 2013.
• Polo, M. The Travels. Konemann, Koln, 1996
• Rossabi, M. A History of China. Wiley-Blackwell, 2019.

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Biography of Marco Polo, Merchant and Explorer

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Marco Polo (c.1254–January 8, 1324) was a Venetian merchant and explorer who followed in the footsteps of his father and uncle. His writings about China and the Mongol Empire in "The Travels of Marco Polo" had a significant impact on European beliefs about and behavior toward the East and inspired the travels of Christopher Columbus.

Fast Facts: Marco Polo

• Known For : Exploration of the Far East and writing about his travels
• Born : c. 1254 in the city-state of Venice (modern Italy)
• Parents : Niccolò Polo, Nicole Anna Defuseh
• Died : January 8, 1324 in Venice
• Education : Unknown
• Published Works : The Travels of Marco Polo
• Spouse : Donata Badoer
• Children : Bellela Polo, Fantina Polo, Moretta Polo
• Notable Quote : “I have not told the half of what I saw.”

Early Years

Marco Polo was born into a prosperous merchant family in 1254 in what was then the Italian city-state of Venice . His father Niccolo and uncle Maffeo had already left Venice for a trading trip before Marco was born, and Marco's mother died before the expedition returned. As a result, young Marco was raised by relatives.

Meanwhile, Marco's father and uncle traveled to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), encountering Mongol uprisings and the Byzantine re-conquest of Constantinople along the way. The brothers then headed east to Bukhara (modern-day Uzbekistan ), and, from there, were encouraged to meet with the great Mongolian emperor Kublai Khan (the grandson of Genghis Khan) in his court in what is now Beijing. Kublai Khan took a liking to the Italian brothers and learned a great deal from them about European culture and technology.

A few years later, Kublai Khan sent the Polo brothers back to Europe on a mission to the Pope, asking that missionaries be sent to convert the Mongols (no mission was ever sent). By the time the Polos returned to Venice the year was 1269; Niccolo discovered that his wife had died in the interim, leaving him a 15-year-old son. The father, uncle, and son got along well; two years later, in 1271, the three left Venice once again and headed east.

Travels With His Father

Marco, his father, and his uncle sailed across the Mediterranean Sea and then traveled overland, crossing Armenia, Persia, Afghanistan, and the Pamir Mountains. Finally, they set off across the Gobi Desert to China and Kublai Khan. The entire journey took about four years, including a period during which the group stayed in the mountains of Afghanistan while Marco recovered from illness. Despite the hardships, Marco discovered a love for travel and a desire to learn as much as he could about the cultures he encountered.

Upon reaching Beijing, the Polos were welcomed to Kublai Khan's legendary marble and gold summer palace, Xanadu. All three men were invited to join the emperor's court, and all three immersed themselves in Chinese language and culture. Marco was appointed to become a "special envoy" to the emperor, which entitled him to travel throughout Asia, thus becoming the first European to see Tibet, Burma, and India. His service to the emperor was exemplary; as a result, he received the titles of governor of a Chinese city and earned a seat on the emperor's council.

Return to Venice

After a successful stay of more than 17 years in China , the Polos had become extraordinarily wealthy. They finally left as the escorts to a Mongolian princess named Cogatin, who was to become the bride of a Persian prince.

Though they had the use of a fleet of Chinese ships, hundreds of passengers and crew members died during the voyage home. When they reached Persia, the bride's Persian prince had died as well, leading to a delay while the right match was found for the young princess. During the multi-year trip, Kublai Khan himself died, which left the Polos vulnerable to local rulers who exacted taxes from the Polos before they were allowed to leave.

The Polos returned to Venice as strangers in their own land. When they arrived, Venice was at war with the rival city-state of Genoa. As was the custom, Marco funded his own warship, but he was captured and imprisoned in Genoa.

Publication of 'The Travels of Marco Polo'

While in prison for two years, Marco Polo dictated an account of his travels to a fellow prisoner (and author) named Rusticello. In 1299, the war ended and Marco Polo was released; he returned to Venice, married Donata Badoer, and had three daughters while reviving his successful business.

During this time, "The Travels of Marco Polo" was published in French. Published before the invention of the printing press, the book was copied by hand by scholars and monks, and each of the surviving 130 or so copies is different. Over time, the book was translated into many different languages and distributed worldwide.

At the time of its publication, few readers believed that the book was literally accurate, and many questioned whether it was written by Polo or Rusticello. It seems likely that much of the book is hearsay, as it contains both first-person and third-person passages. Nevertheless, most of the book's description of Kublai Kahn's court and customs have been authenticated by historians.

The Strange Worlds of Marco Polo

In addition to accurate, first-hand descriptions of Asian customs, Marco Polo's book also provided Europe's introduction to paper money, coal, and other important innovations. At the same time, however, it includes stories of people with tails, lands occupied almost entirely by cannibals, and other impossible or unlikely claims.

His description of coal is accurate and, in the long run, was very influential:

Throughout this province there is found a sort of black stone, which they dig out of the mountains, where it runs in veins. When lighted, it burns like charcoal, and retains the fire much better than wood; inso- much that it may be preserved during the night, and in the morning be found still burning. These stones do not flame, excepting a little when first lighted, but during their ignition give out a considerable heat.

On the other hand, his account of the Kingdom of Lambri (theoretically near Java) is pure fiction:

Now you must know that in this kingdom of Lambri there are men with tails; these tails are of a palm in length, and have no hair on them. These people live in the mountains and are a kind of wild men. Their tails are about the thickness of a dog's. There are also plenty of unicorns in that country, and abundance of game in birds and beasts.

Marco Polo spent his final days as a businessman, working from home. He died there at almost 70 years of age, on January 8, 1324, and was buried under the church of San Lorenzo, though his tomb has now vanished.

As Polo neared death in 1324, he was asked to recant what he had written and simply said that he had not even told half of what he had witnessed. Despite the fact that many claim his book to be unreliable, it was a sort of regional geography of Asia for centuries, serving as inspiration for Christopher Columbus—who took an annotated copy along on his first voyage in 1492. Even today, it is considered one of the great works of travel literature.

• BBC. Marco Polo . BBC History.
• “ The Travels of Marco Polo/Book 3/Chapter 11 .” Codex Hammurabi (King Translation) - Wikisource, the Free Online Library , Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
• Khan Academy. " Marco Polo ." Kahnacademy.org.
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Marco Polo summary

Marco Polo , (born c. 1254, Venice [Italy]—died Jan. 8, 1324, Venice), Venetian merchant and traveler who journeyed from Europe to Asia (1271–95). Born into a Venetian merchant family, he joined his father and uncle on a journey to China, traveling along the Silk Road and reaching the court of Kublai Khan c. 1274. The Polos remained in China for about 17 years, and the Mongol emperor sent Marco on several fact-finding missions to distant lands. Marco may also have governed the city of Yangzhou (1282–87). The Polos returned to Venice in 1295, after sailing from eastern China to Persia and then journeying overland through Turkey. Captured by the Genoese soon after his return, Marco was imprisoned along with a writer, Rustichello, who helped him to write the tale of his travels. The book, Il milione , was an instant success, though most medieval readers considered it an extravagant romance rather than a true story.

Marco Polo: Facts, Biography & Travels

The story of his journey is told in "Il Milione" ("The Million"), commonly called "The Travels of Marco Polo." Polo's adventures influenced European mapmakers and inspired Christopher Columbus .

In Polo's day and even today, there has been some doubt about whether Polo really went to China . However, most experts agree that he did indeed make the journey.

Marco Polo was born around 1254 into a wealthy Venetian merchant family, though the actual date and location of his birth are unknown. His father, Niccolo, and his uncle Maffeo were successful jewel merchants who spent much of Marco's childhood in Asia. Marco's mother died when he was young; therefore, young Marco was primarily raised by extended family.

"The merchant families were the movers and shakers of commerce and government in medieval Venice," Susan Abernethy of The Freelance History Writer told LiveScience. They expanded long-distance trade and people began to expect accessibility to the foreign goods they brought. Merchants, like the Polo family, became increasingly wealthier.  

The Polo brothers went as far as China, then called Cathay, during their travels. They met the Mongol leader, Kublai Khan, at his court in Beijing. Kublai Khan, grandson of the great conqueror Genghis Khan, expressed interest in Christianity and requested that the Polo brothers return to Rome to speak to the pope on his behalf. Khan wanted the pope to send the Polo brothers back to Beijing with holy water and 100 learned priests.

"Khan was an exceptional ruler for many reasons," said Abernethy. "He opened up the Mongol and Chinese empires to travelers and traders. He patronized scholars, scientists, astronomers, doctors, artists and poets. Khan himself was an expert in Chinese poetry. In turn, Khan was able to take advantage of the knowledge of these foreigners in enormous projects such as efforts in water management and hydraulic engineering and warfare and siege engineering and other endeavors." The Polos were one family that Khan trusted and learned from. 

When Marco was 15, his father and uncle returned home. Though the pope did not grant their request, the Polo brothers decided to return to Asia. This time, they took 17-year-old Marco with them.

The slow road to China

The party sailed south from Venice across the Mediterranean to the Holy Land. They had brought two friars — the best they could do for Kublai Khan's request — but upon getting a taste of difficult travel life, the friars turned back. The Polos continued, traveling primarily overland and swinging north and south through Armenia, Persia, Afghanistan and the Pamir Mountains. Then, they cut across the vast Gobi Desert to Beijing.

The journey took three or four years and was rife with hardships and adventure. Marco Polo contracted an illness and was forced to take refuge in the mountains of northern Afghanistan for an extended period of time. Polo described there being "nothing at all to eat," in the Gobi Desert. Nevertheless, young Marco Polo enjoyed a keen sense of adventure and curiosity, taking in the sights, smells and cultural phenomena with wonder.

In Xanadu, with Kublai Khan

Finally, the Polos reached Beijing and met Kublai Khan at the summer palace, Xanadu, a glorious marble and gold structure that enchanted young Marco. Khan happily received the Polos. He invited them to stay and for Niccolo and Maffeo to become part of his court. Marco immersed himself in Chinese culture, quickly learning the language and taking note of customs. Khan was impressed and eventually appointed Marco the position of special envoy.

" I suspect Marco was educated and erudite and charming," said Abernethy. "He learned to speak four languages and exhibited a great curiosity and tolerance regarding his surroundings and the people he met with. Khan recognized his talents … Polo was devoted to serving the Emperor."

This position allowed Marco to travel to the far reaches of Asia — places like Tibet, Burma and India; places that Europeans had never before seen. Over the years, Marco was promoted to governor of a great Chinese city, to the tax inspector in Yaznhou, and to an official seat on the Khan's Privy Council.

"Khan provided Marco and his family with a 'paiza' — a gold tablet which authorized him to make use of a vast network of imperial horses and lodgings. This in effect was an official passport making the Polos honored guests of the emperor and allowing them to travel freely throughout Asia," said Abernethy.

Through it all, Marco Polo marveled at China's cultural customs, great wealth and complex social structure. He was impressed with the empire's paper money, efficient communication system, coal burning, gunpowder and porcelain, and called Xanadu "the greatest palace that ever was."

Return home

The Polos stayed in China for 17 years, amassing vast riches of jewels and gold. When they decided to return to Venice, unhappy Khan requested that they escort a Mongol princess to Persia, where she was to marry a prince.

During the two-year return journey by sea across the Indian Ocean, 600 passengers and members of the crew died. By the time they reached Hormuz in Persia and left the princess, just 18 people remained alive on board. The promised prince, too, was dead, so the Polos had to linger in Persia until a suitable match for the princess could be found.

Eventually, the Polos made it back to Venice. After being gone for 24 years, people did not recognize them and the Polos struggled to speak Italian.

Three years after returning to Venice, Marco Polo assumed command of a Venetian ship in a war against Genoa. He was captured and, while being held in a Genovese prison, he met a fellow prisoner, a romance writer called Rustichello. When prompted, Polo dictated his adventures to Rustichello. These writings, written in French, were titled "Books of the Marvels of the World," but are better known in English as "The Travels of Marco Polo."

"Polo's book was what we would call a "blockbuster hit" and made Marco Polo a household name.," said Abernethy. "At first, many viewed the book as fiction, more like a chivalric fable with its seemingly tall tales and descriptions of fantastical animals. Many copies of the book were created and it was translated into several languages. It was only after Polo's death that people realized the book contained the truth about his travels and what he witnessed."

Additionally, some readers questioned Polo's reliability, possibly leading to the book's popular Italian title, "Il Milione," short for "The Million Lies." Some questioned whether Polo even went to China or if the entire thing was hearsay. 

There were several reasons people doubted the veracity of the book. One was its writing process. Polo dictated from his copious notes, and Rustichello (or Rusticiano), who was an author of some renown "may have embellished the story," said Abernethy.

The publishing process of the time could also lead to truths being exaggerated or changed. The book came about before the printing press, and hand-copied manuscripts are subject to human error and willful changes, according to Abernethy. 

"There are what seem to be some glaring omissions," she said. "Polo doesn't mention the Great Wall of China, foot binding, tea or the use of chopsticks. However, none of this is unusual. There are other chroniclers throughout history who omitted obvious information from their writings."

It is also possible that Polo knowingly embellished or recounted stories he heard from other travelers. "Some of the tales seem far-fetched and it's clear Polo didn't witness some of the related information," said Abernethy. "Polo may have been somewhat naïve about what he was witnessing and seen everything through Western eyes, creating discord in the narrative. He may also have recounted stories he heard from other travelers."

That's his story and he's sticking to it

Polo stood by the book, however, and went on to start a business, marry and father three daughters. When Polo was on his deathbed in 1324, visitors urged him to admit the book was fiction, to which he famously proclaimed, "I have not told half of what I saw."

Though no authoritative version of Polo's book exists, researchers and historians in the subsequent centuries have verified much of what he reported. It is generally accepted that he reported faithfully what he could, though some accounts probably came from others that he met along the way. 

"It seems the preponderance of the evidence reveals that Polo did indeed visit China," said Abernethy. "He brings to light detailed information on the currencies used, including paper currency. He mentions the use of burning coal. The data he provides on salt production and revenues show a meticulous familiarity on the subject. Many of the place names he gives in the narrative have now been identified. His description of the Grand Canal of China is highly accurate. Indeed, the premise that he didn't visit China creates more questions than it answers."

The information in his book proved vital to European geographic understanding and inspired countless explorers — including Christopher Columbus, who, it is said, took a copy of Polo's book with him in 1492. 

"About fifty years after Polo's death, his work began to be utilized in the making of maps," said Abernethy. "Cartographers employed the descriptions of his travel routes and the names and terms he used to designate locations in the drawing of their maps."

Marco Polo did not introduce pasta to Italy. The dish had already existed in Europe for centuries, according to History.com. 

The claim that he brought ice cream to Europe is also disputed. A French ice-cream master, Gerard Taurin, argues that Polo did introduce ice cream from China. According to the International Dairy Foods Association, Polo returned with a recipe that resembled modern-day sherbet , and this recipe may have evolved into ice cream in the 16th century.

Polo was one of the first Europeans to see a rhinoceros. However, he thought they were unicorns.

Some scholars think that Polo was born on the island of Korcula on the Adriatic coast, in what is today Croatia, according to a 2011 article in the Telegraph. According to this theory, his father was a merchant from Dalmatia named Maffeo Pilic, who changed his last name to Polo when he relocated to Venice.

In 2011, Italy objected when a museum dedicated to Polo in the Chinese city of Yangzhou was opened not by Italian diplomats but by a former president of Croatia, Stjepan Mesic. Mesic described Polo as a "world explorer, born in Croatia, who opened up China to Europe."

Additional resources

• Project Gutenberg: The Travels of Marco Polo — Complete Text
• History.com: 11 Things You May Not Know About Marco Polo
• Silk Road Foundation: Marco Polo and His Travels

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Jessie Szalay is a contributing writer to FSR Magazine. Prior to writing for Live Science, she was an editor at Living Social. She holds an MFA in nonfiction writing from George Mason University and a bachelor's degree in sociology from Kenyon College. 

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• World Biography

Marco Polo Biography

Born: c. 1254 Venice Died: January 8, 1324 Venice Venetian explorer and writer

The traveler and writer Marco Polo left Venice for Cathay (now China) in 1271, spent seventeen years in Kublai Khan's (1215–1294) empire, and returned to Venice in 1295. His account of his experiences is one of the most important travel documents ever written.

Family business

Born into a noble family of Venetian merchants, Marco Polo began his long experience with Cathay through the adventures of his father, Niccolo, and his uncle, Maffeo Polo, partners in a trading operation at a time when Venice was the world leader in foreign commerce. The Polos had left Venice to travel all the way to Peking, China, and back when Marco was only six years old. During their nine-year absence, Marco was raised by his mother and other members of his extended family. He became a tough, loyal, observant young man, eager to please and interested in adventure.

Marco Polo's father and uncle were well received in China by the Mongol prince Kublai Khan in 1266. The Polos impressed Kublai Khan with their intelligence and their knowledge of the world. For these reasons he kept them around for several years. In 1269 he sent them to Rome as his messengers with a request that the pope send one hundred Europeans to share their knowledge with him. Although the pope did not grant the request, the Polo brothers, in search of further profit and adventure, set out to return to China in 1271. Since his mother had died recently, Marco Polo was taken along on the trip, marking his debut, or first appearance, as a world traveler at age seventeen. The return to China, over land and sea, desert and mountain, took slightly more than three years.

Despite their failure to bring back the one hundred Europeans from Rome, Kublai Khan welcomed the Polos back and again took them into his service. He became increasingly impressed with Marco Polo, who, like his father and uncle, demonstrated not only his ability to travel but also his knowledge of the Mongol language and his remarkable powers of observation.

Years in China

With the approval of Kublai Khan, the Polos began widespread trading ventures within his empire. While on these business trips around the empire, Marco Polo demonstrated his quick mind and his ability to relate what he saw in clear, understandable terms. His reports, which formed the basis of his famous account of his travels, contained information on local customs, business conditions, and events. It was in these reports that he displayed his talent as an objective and accurate observer. Kublai Khan read and used these reports to keep informed of developments within his empire.

All three of the European visitors were kept on as messengers and advisers. The younger Polo was used on several extended missions that sent him traveling over much of China and even beyond. By his own account he came near the edge of Tibet and northern Burma. This relationship between the Polos and Kublai Khan lasted more than sixteen years, during which Marco served as Kublai Khan's personal representative in the city of Yangchow, China.

Leaving the khan

Although the Polos enjoyed the profits of their enterprise, they longed to return to Venice to enjoy their wealth. They were prevented from returning for a time because Kublai Khan was unwilling to release them from his service. Their chance to return to Europe came in 1292, when they were sent on a mission to Persia and then to Rome. The assignment represented Kublai Khan's way of releasing them from their obligations to him. In Persia they were to arrange a marriage between one of Kublai Khan's regional rulers and a Mongol princess. They were forced to remain in Persia for nearly a year when the man who was supposed to be married died and a new groom had to be found. From the Persian court, the Venetians continued their journey home, arriving in 1295 after an absence of nearly twenty-five years.

Marco Polo did not return to Asia again. He entered the service of Venice in its war against the rival city-state of Genoa. In 1298 Marco served as a gentleman-commander of a ship in the Venetian navy. In September 1298 he was captured and imprisoned in Genoa. He was famous for his adventures, and as a result he was treated with unusual courtesy for a prisoner and released within a year. Little is known of Marco Polo's life after his return to Venice. He apparently returned to private life and business until his death in 1324.

Record of his travels

While imprisoned in Genoa, Marco Polo related the story of his travels to a fellow prisoner named Rusticiano, a man from Pisa, Italy, who wrote in the romantic style of thirteenth-century literature. A combination of Marco Polo's gift of observation and the writing style of Rusticiano emerged in the final version of Marco Polo's travels. The book included Polo's personal remembrances as well as stories related to him by others.

In his book, which was translated into many languages, Polo left a wealth of information. The information contained in his maps has proved remarkably accurate when tested by modern methods. His observations about customs and local characteristics have also been proven true by research.

For More Information

Collis, Maurice. Marco Polo. London: Faber and Faber, 1950.

Larner, John. Marco Polo and the Discovery of the World. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1999.

Latham, Ronald. The Travels of Marco Polo. Middlesex, England: Penguin Books, 1958.

Stefoff, Rebecca. Marco Polo and the Medieval Explorers. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1992.

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Marco Polo Biography

Born In: Venice, Italy

One among the first Europeans to set foot on China, Marco Polo was the 13th century explorer, who as a teenager travelled along with his father and uncle to meet Emperor Kublai Khan in China. He spent several years in China, where he worked in the court of Kublai Khan, who was so impressed with Polo that he made him the ruler of one of his cities. He served in many high positions under the Chinese emperor, some of which include: serving as his representative, ambassador and governor of one of his provinces. When he returned home, after 24 years, he had gathered immense wealth, jewels and treasures and also brought to Venice fascinating tales about the Chinese way of life. Authored by Rustichello da Pisa, the book ‘The Travels of Marco Polo’ is a detailed account of all his travel expeditions and experiences in China with Emperor Kublai Khan. After the publication of this book, he became a famous personality in Venice and inspired many others to travel, including Christopher Columbus. To learn more interesting facts about his childhood, personal life and interesting accounts about his travel expeditions and experiences, scroll down and continue to read the biography of Marco Polo.

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Died At Age: 70

Spouse/Ex-: Donata Badoer

father: Niccolò Polo

mother: Nicole Anna Defuseh

children: Bellela Polo, Fantina Polo, Moretta Polo

Born Country: Italy

Explorers Italian Men

Died on: January 8 , 1324

place of death: Venice, Italy

City: Venice, Italy

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Marco Polo Facts, Biography, Timeline and Accomplishments

Published: Aug 16, 2011 · Modified: Nov 12, 2023 by Russell Yost · This post may contain affiliate links ·

Marco Polo (September 15, 1254 - January 9, 1324) was born to his father, Niccolo Polo, who was a wealthy merchant from Europe to the Eastern World.

Marco learned about the trade from his father and his uncle Maffeo and would take this knowledge and apply it. He would expand his father's wealth with his travels to China and would end up as a prisoner during a war between Venice and Genoa.

Here, he would tell his story to a writer who would end up publishing a book titled The Travels of Marco Polo. This book would become an influential work for future explorers who also wanted to acquire wealth from trade with India, China, and the rest of the Indies.

• Marco Polo's Early Years

Capture and Later Life

Death and legend.

Christopher Columbus was especially influenced by these travels and sought to find a new route to the Indies. Instead, he would find a new world.  Ironically, both he and Marco Polo died, never knowing that a New Continent existed.

Marco Polo's Early Years

Marco Polo was born to his father, Niccolo, and a mother who is unknown. His mother passed away early in his life, and while his father was on the road, he was raised by his aunt and uncle.

It would not be long until he joined his father and his uncle Maffeo in their travels.

Marco's father, Niccolo, and his uncle Maffeo were a visionary. During one of their voyages, Marco and Maffeo stopped in Constantinople and saw that change was coming.

At the time, Constantinople was part of the Byzantine Empire and remained as one of the most powerful cities in Europe. However, since the fall of Rome, Europe was in a state of constant war.

The feudal society developed into multiple factions that warred with each other. Rome, which had united the factions, had fallen sometime before.

Marco Polo traveled with Niccolo and Maffeo Polo. Niccolo was his father, and Maffeo was his uncle.

Niccolo and his brother Maffeo set off on a trading voyage before Marco was born and became very wealthy from their travels. According to the Travels of Marco Polo, Niccolo and Maffeo passed through much of Asia and eventually stopped in Constantinople.

During their stay, they foresaw political change and, liquidated their assets into jewels, and moved away.

According to the Travels of Marco Polo, they passed through much of Asia and met the Kublai Khan. During this time, Marco's mother passed away, and he was raised by an aunt and an uncle.

He would become well-educated and learned everything there was to know about being a merchant. Things such as foreign currency, appraising, and the handling of cargo ships. All would come in handy during his travels.

In 1269, Niccolo and Maffeo returned to Venice. Niccolo met his son for the first time.

In 1271, a seventeen-year-old Marco Polo set off for Asia with his father and uncle. They would return 24 years later with many riches. It is estimated that they traveled 15,000 miles.

When the Polos returned to Venice, Venice was at war with Genoa.

Genoese admiral Lamba D'Oria defeated the Venetian fleet at the Battle of Curzola. During the battle, Marco Polo was taken prisoner.

While in prison, he met Rustichello da Pisa. He would spend quite a bit of time dictating his travels to Pisa. This would become the book The Travels of Marco Polo.

The Travels of Marco Polo became influential for many future explorers. Most notably, Christopher Columbus .

The Travels of Marco Polo was the first detailed account of the wealth of China to Europeans.

Polo was released from captivity in 1299. He would have been around 45 years old.

He returned to Venice, where his Father and Uncle had purchased a large home. He would conduct his business here and become one of the wealthiest merchants in the world.

He never left Venice again

In 1300, he married Donata Badoer.

Together, they had three daughters: Fantina, Bellela, and Moreta.

In 1323, Polo was struck with an illness and was bedridden for most of that year.

Although Physicians did the best they could, Marco Polo died on January 8, 1324.

He divided his large portion into his family and other organizations.

Some are skeptical if Marco Polo ever really set foot into China or if it was all hearsay. He never mentions the Great Wall of China, which leads many to hesitate to believe him. However, the Great Wall of China is postdated about two centuries after the life of Marco Polo.

10 Facts About Marco Polo

Explore the real Marco Polo and decipher the man from the many myths.

Venetian explorer Marco Polo spent more than two decades in the service of Kublai Khan , one of the greatest rulers in history who reigned over Mongolia for 34 years.

Polo was known for the book The Travels of Marco Polo , which describes his voyage to and experiences in Asia. Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from Europe to Asia from 1271 to 1295 and remaining in China for 17 of those years. Take a look at real life of this legendary explorer to separate fact from the fiction.

Polo was only 15 years old when he left Venice on the great adventure that took him to the court of Kublai Khan

His father Niccolò and his uncle Maffeo Polo had made the journey previously. Polo barely knew his father, who had spent Polo's childhood as a traveling merchant when they left on their quest. But the death of Polo's mother convinced Niccolò that Marco should accompany him on the return trip, which lasted 24 years (1271-1295). The Polos weren't the first wayfarers — Polo's word — to make it to Asia, but Polo is the one who became most famous for it.

Marco Polo did not bring pasta back to Venice from China

It is one of the most famous legends out there about the adventurer, but truth be told, pasta had made its way into the cuisine of Italy prior to Polo's birth. He did, however, introduce the concept of paper money, which was used in Mongolia in the 13th century, but not in Europe.

'The Travels of Marco Polo' was not written by Polo

Instead, the book was written by the 13th-century romantic author Rustichello of Pisa. The two met while in prison, where Polo dictated the stories of his travels and his adventures at the court of Kublai Khan. [Marco was a prisoner of war, having been captured in a battle between Venice and its rival city-state Genoa in 1298.] There are no longer any original copies remaining of the manuscript, initially titled Il Milione ( The Million ) and released in Italian, French and Latin. The earliest remaining copies of the travelogue are not always consistent in details, but do remain true to the stories. Keep in mind the printing press wasn't invented until 1439, so the books were handwritten and mistakes were made.

He was influential in Christopher Columbus' decision to strike out for unknown territory

Columbus is said to have been inspired by Polo's adventures and took a copy of The Travels of Marco Polo on his Westward sail two centuries after Polo's journey to China.

He has a species of sheep named after him

Many of us have spent a summer's afternoon in a swimming pool playing the tag game of Marco Polo, but did you know that the Venetian merchant also has a species of sheep named after him? In The Travels of Marco Polo, he mentions observing the mountain sheep on the Pamir Plateau in Badakhshan [now northeastern Afghanistan]. Of course, the sheep weren't named after him in his lifetime. The first scientific mention of Ovis ammon polii was in 1841 by zoologist Edward Blyth.

Polo knew four languages

In addition to his native tongue, Polo wrote that he knew four languages. He never elaborated on which four they were, but from his writings, historians have surmised they were Mongolian, Persian, Arabic, and Turkish — not Chinese.

Polo served as a special envoy for Khan

He provided the leader with useful reports from the various trips he took on his behalf all around Asia. This included three years during which he served as the governor of the city of Yangchow.

Khan refused to let Polo leave his service

The Polos finally grew homesick, but Khan valued their services so much, he refused to let them go. They were finally able to return home when they convinced him that they should be the escorts for Princess Kokachin, who was to marry his great nephew, the Il-Khan, who ruled Persia. The journey to Persia was a perilous one, and many died, but the Polos arrived safely. Khan, too, died while they were on this mission, so they were able to return to Venice following the wedding.

Polo was married and had a family

Not a lot is known about Marco Polo after his return to Venice in 1295. It is posited that he returned to the family merchant business, but it is known that he married and had three daughters: Moretta, Fantina, and Bellela. He lived to be 70 years old.

Some people believe he never made it down the Silk Road

There are those who believe that Polo never took the journey down the Silk Road to China and in fact, made it no further than the Black Sea. They believe that the adventures described in his book were made up from stories he heard from others along the road he did travel. It doesn't help his case that there were many exaggerations in The Travels of Marco Polo , plus there were also interesting exclusions, such as the fact that he failed to mention the use of chopsticks for eating, or that he had seen the Great Wall. It also helps these naysayers that no mention of Marco Polo has been found in any historic Chinese records. On the other hand, the majority of historians are prone to believe the Marco did indeed make it to China and work in the service of Kublai Kahn, especially because of the preponderance of cultural information in the book. Plus, there are those who have used his journal to retrace his footsteps, and they declare the geography to be so accurate, they believe the trip happened.

On his deathbed, Marco was encouraged to admit that The Travels of Marco Polo was a work of fiction, but to his dying breath he declared, "I did not tell half of what I saw."

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• Occupation: Explorer and Traveler
• Born: Venice, Italy in 1254
• Died: January 8, 1324 Venice, Italy
• Best known for: European traveler to China and the Far East

• The Travels of Marco Polo was also called Il Milione or "The Million".
• The Polo's traveled home in a fleet of ships that also carried a princess who was to marry a prince in Iran. The journey was dangerous and only 117 of the 700 original travelers survived. This included the princess who made it to Iran safely.
• Some have speculated that Marco made up much of his adventures. However, scholars have checked his facts and believe many of them are likely true.
• During the time when the Mongols and Kublai Khan ruled China, merchants were able to elevate themselves in Chinese society. During other dynasties merchant were considered lowly and looked down upon as parasites on the economy.
• Marco had to travel across the great Gobi Desert to get to China. It took months to cross the desert and it was said to be haunted by spirits.
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Marco Polo was a very popular Italian merchant traveler from Republic of Venice. His travel records are recorded in a book called Livres des Merveilles du –monde . This book introduced the Europeans to China and Central Asia.

It is believed that Marco Polo was born around 1254. The exact birth place of his birth is not known, however most historians claim that he was born in Venice in the Venetian Republic.

His father, a man named Niccolo, was a great merchant who spent his time trading with Middle East. Through his trade, he became a very wealthy man achieving great prestige. Together with his brother, Maffeo, Niccolo set off on a trading voyage before the birth of Marco. In 1260, Maffeo and Niccolo were living in Constantinople. The two foresaw a serious political change and the brothers liquidated their assets into jewels and left the place. They passed through Asia and even met Kublai Khan. During this time, Marco’s mother died and therefore, he was brought up by relatives. He was very well-educated and studied merchant subjects such as foreign currency, appraising, handling of different cargo ships and Latin.

In 1269, Marco’s father and his uncle returned to Venice. Marco was able to meet his dad for the very time. In 1271, Marco, who was only 17 years, along with his dad and uncle, chose to set off to Asia. A series of adventures took place in Asia and all this was recorded in a Marco’s book. In 1295, they went back to Venice; this was after 24 years of adventure. They returned with lots of riches and treasures having traveled for about 15,000 miles.

The Travels of Polo

They all sailed to Acre and later rode on their camels to Persian port Hormuz. At first, they thought of sailing to China but all the ships were not seaworthy. They decided to continue overland until they get to Khan’s summer place in Shangdu near Zhangjiakou. By this time, Marco was 21 years old. Khan welcomed them into his palace. When they reached Yuan court, they presented sacred oil from the city of Jerusalem.

The Polo Family Leaves China

During this time, Marco Polo could speak four languages and his family had already acquired a great deal of knowledge plus experience that was very useful to Khan. Polo requested that Kublai Khan allow his family to leave China, but the request was denied. They became very worried about their return, believing that if the ruler Khan was already dead, then his enemies would turn against them due to their close relationship with Khan.

In 1291, the ruler in Persia sent some people to search for a wife. The representatives asked Polo and his dad to accompany them and so they were allowed to go back to Persia together with the wedding party.

This party sailed all the way to the port of Singapore, and then traveled north to Sumatra. They sailed west to Trincomalee port of Jaffna under Savakanmaindan and to Pandyan of Tamilakkam. Polo was finally able to cross the Arabian Sea all the way to Hormuz. This two year voyage had about 600 people, but only 18 survived. Polo left the party and traveled overland to the port of Trebizond that is on the Black Sea (now Trabzon).

Polo’s Legacy and Death

After Polo returned to Italy, Venice was unstable and was at war. Marco was taken prisoner and spent several months in prison. During his time in prison, he dictated his travels to a fellow inmate. This book soon spread throughout Europe in manuscript form and explained Polo’s journeys throughout Asia. The book gave Europeans their very first look into the world of the Far East, including India, China, and Japan.

In August of 1299, Polo was released from captivity and he was able to go back to Venice. In Venice, he joined his family’s company and soon he became a very wealthy merchant. In 1300, he got married and, together with his wife, they had three children.

In 1323, Marco Polo became confined to his bed. He died on January 8, 1324.

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Marco Polo Biography

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Marco Polo was a wealthy merchant as well as an explorer and writer. He journeyed from Europe to the Orient, where he served the Mongol leader for 17 years before returning to Europe and writing a book of his accounts.

Who was Marco Polo?

Marco Polo was born circa 1224 in the Republic of Venice into a wealthy merchant family. In 1271, Marco Polo joined his father and uncle on their trip to Asia; they took with them two priests. They crossed the Middle East and the Gobi desert, witnessing many sights described later in his book The Description of the World , (which later became known as The Travels of Marco Polo ). They remained in China for 17 years. Khan appointed Marco's father and uncle to high positions in his Court and later employed Marco as an envoy he sent to explore parts of Asia the Europeans hadn't reached, including Burma, India, and Tibet.

Marco was promoted more than once; he served as governor of a Chinese city, an official of the Privy Council, and at one time, he was a tax inspector in Yanzhou. Marco learned four languages during his time in the East. He was impressed by the communication system, the paper money, the economy and production scale of the Mongol empire. His book describes both his journey to China and his observations of the culture and landscapes he encountered while living there.

After so many years living in Khan's empire, he was not happy when his father and uncle decided to leave. In 1295, the Polos reached Venice, where their family failed to recognize them, and they had trouble speaking their native tongue. Marco got involved in a naval conflict as commander of a Venetian ship and was captured and imprisoned by the Genoese. While in prison, Marco befriended another prisoner and writer, Rustichello da Pisa, who wrote down Marco's stories and included some of his own. The book was printed in French, Italian, and Latin and quickly spread throughout Europe.

After Marco Polo was released from prison, he returned to Venice, and married the daughter of a merchant. His family bought a large estate, and he and his uncle continued to fund expeditions, though they likely never left Venice. He fell ill and died in 1324. In his will, he divided his wealth among fraternities, religious groups, and individuals, and wrote off debts. Today, scholars have verified most of the claims in his book, which inspired other explorers and adventurers to go out and see the world. 200 years after Marco's death, Christopher Columbus journeyed across the Atlantic, determined to find a new route to the Orient, with Marco Polo's book in tow.

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Marco polo’s significant accomplishments.

• Traveled across an entire continent to China as a young man, surviving ailments and many other obstacles.
• Impressed the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who made him a special envoy of his Court and promoted him several times to other positions.
• Explored parts of Asia that Europeans had not previously reached.
• Commanded a ship in a naval battle against Genoa.
• Wrote a book that became widely popular and provided a source for some of the first accounts of the Middle and the Far East.
• Amassed a fortune as a successful merchant and explorer.

Marco Polo Quotes

“I did not tell half of what I saw, for I knew I would not be believed.”

“Without stones there is no arch.”

“I speak and speak,...but the listener retains only the words he is expecting...It is not the voice that commands the story: it is the ear.”

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11 Things You May Not Know About Marco Polo

By: Evan Andrews

Updated: August 9, 2023 | Original: March 12, 2013

1. Marco Polo’s famous travelogue was penned in prison.

Marco Polo is remembered thanks to a colorful and popular narrative about his eastward voyage, known simply as The Travels of Marco Polo . Ironically, this record of Polo’s freewheeling years as an explorer was written while he languished behind bars. In 1298, three years after he returned from his journey, Polo was captured after leading a Venetian galley into battle against the rival Italian city-state of Genoa.

While in prison he encountered Rustichello of Pisa, a fellow captive who was known as a talented writer of romances. Eager to document his years as a traveler, Polo dictated his life story to Rustichello, who acted as a kind of ghostwriter. By the time of their release in 1299, the two men had completed the book that would make Marco Polo a household name.

2. Marco Polo was not the first European to travel to Asia.

Marco Polo may be the most storied Far East traveler, but he certainly was not the first. The Franciscan monk Giovanni da Pian del Carpini reached China in the 1240s—over 20 years before Polo left Europe—and gained an audience with the Great Kahn of the Mongol empire. Other Catholic emissaries would later follow, including William of Rubruck, who traveled east in the 1250s on a quest to convert the Mongols to Christianity.

These early missionaries were largely inspired by the myth of Prester John, a legendary king who was believed to rule over a Christian empire in the East. Polo would later mention the fictional monarch in his book and even described him as having fought a great battle against the Mongol ruler Genghis Kahn.

3. Marco Polo barely knew his father and uncle when they began their expedition.

A few months before Marco Polo was born in 1254, his father Niccolo and uncle Maffeo left Italy on a trading excursion to Asia. The brothers returned to Venice in 1269, and it was only then that 15-year-old Marco finally met Niccolo, the father he never knew he had. Although he was essentially a stranger to the elder Polos, Marco joined them when they left on their more extensive second trip in 1271. While they originally planned only a brief stay in the Far East, the three men would eventually travel Asia together for more than 20 years.

Marco Polo: The Early Years Marco Polo was born around 1254 into a prosperous merchant family in the Italian city‑state of Venice. His father, Niccolò, and his uncle Maffeo had left the year before on a long‑term trading expedition. As a result, he was raised by extended relatives following his mother’s death at a young […]

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Leif Eriksson Day commemorates the Norse explorer believed to have led the first European expedition to North America.

4. Marco Polo spent much of his journey as an envoy for the Mongol ruler Kublai Kahn.

The Polos were merchants who dealt in rare items like silk, gems and spices, but their extensive travels were more than just a trading mission. Marco, Maffeo and Niccolo were also employed as emissaries for the Mongol emperor Kublai Kahn , whom the elder Polos had met and befriended on an earlier journey east. Young Marco would forge an especially strong bond with the Great Kahn, who later dispatched him to China and Southeast Asia as a tax collector and special messenger. Kublai Kahn’s trust and protection allowed the Polos to move freely within the borders of the Mongol Empire.

Marco was even provided with a “paiza”—a gold tablet that authorized him to make use of a vast network of imperial horses and lodgings. Thanks to this official passport, the Polos traveled through Asia not merely as wandering merchants, but as honored guests of the Great Kahn himself.

5. Marco Polo mistook some of the animals he saw for mythical creatures.

After his return from Asia, Marco Polo thoroughly documented his encounters with unfamiliar animals such as elephants, monkeys and crocodiles. He described the latter, for instance, as giant, sharp-clawed “serpents” that could “swallow a man … at one time.” But the traveler often confused these strange faunae with creatures from myth and legend. One of the first Europeans to glimpse an Asian rhinoceros, Polo thought the horned beasts were unicorns.

6. Marco Polo was among the first Europeans to describe many of the advanced technologies found in China.

It is a common misconception that Marco Polo introduced pasta to Italy—in truth, the dish had already existed in Europe for centuries—but there’s little doubt he made Westerners aware of many Chinese inventions. Among other things, Marco familiarized many of his readers with the concept of paper money, which only caught on in Europe in the years after his return. Polo also described coal—not widely used in Europe until the 18th century—and may even have introduced eyeglasses to the West.

Meanwhile, he offered one of the historical record’s most detailed accounts of the Mongol post system, a complex network of checkpoints and couriers that allowed Kublai Kahn to administrate his vast empire.

7. The Polos barely made it out of Asia alive.

After enduring decades of travel and surviving several brushes with death, the Polos encountered their biggest hurdles when they tried to return to Italy. Worried that their departure would make him appear weak, the elderly Kublai Kahn initially refused to release his favorite envoys from service.

The Polos were only allowed to leave the Great Kahn’s realm in 1292 when they agreed to escort a Mongol princess to Persia by sea. While they succeeded, the mission apparently proved to be the most perilous leg of the Polos’ journey. Marco later wrote that the members of his company were among the only survivors of a deadly sea voyage that claimed hundreds of lives.

8. The Polos lost much of their fortune while returning home.

Once they moved out of Mongol territory, Marco, Niccolo and Maffeo could no longer rely on Kublai Kahn’s protection. As the travelers passed through the kingdom of Trebizond, in modern-day Turkey, the local government robbed them of some 4,000 Byzantine gold coins. Despite this significant loss, the Polos retained enough of their cargo to arrive home in 1295 as wealthy men. According to one account, the Venetians concealed most of their gems by sewing precious stones into the linings of their coats.

9. Many of Marco Polo’s contemporaries dismissed his stories as lies—and some modern historians still do.

Marco Polo’s elaborate descriptions of the royal palace at Xanadu, the metropolis of Quinsai (modern-day Hangzhou) and the many wonders of the Orient were simply too much for some readers to believe. In fact, by the time he was an old man, Polo’s fellow Venetians had largely branded him as a teller of tall tales. Readers had some reason to be skeptical: Polo and his ghostwriter, Rustichello, were prone to exaggeration and flights of fancy.

For instance, the famous traveler often fictitiously inserted himself into battle scenes and court intrigues. While most modern historians still believe the bulk of his book to be factual, others have dismissed it as an outright fabrication and claim that Polo never even made it to China. For his part, Marco never admitted to a single lie. Even on his deathbed, he is said to have remarked, “I did not tell half of what I saw.”

10. Marco Polo’s route became largely impassable after his return to Venice.

Kublai Kahn died during the Polos’ return to Venice, sending the Mongol empire into decline and crushing any chance that Marco would ever return to the Far East. Tribal groups soon reclaimed land along the once-prosperous trading route known as the Silk Road , effectively cutting off a vital artery connecting East and West. With the land route to China growing increasingly dangerous, few travelers dared set out on wide-ranging journeys for several years. In fact, Polo reportedly never left Venetian territory for the last two decades of his life.

11. Marco Polo was a major influence on other explorers, including Christopher Columbus.

Marco Polo never saw himself as an explorer—he preferred the term “wayfarer”—but his do-or-die approach to travel helped inspire a whole generation of globetrotting adventurers. Among his acolytes was Christopher Columbus, who carried a well-thumbed copy of The Travels of Marco Polo on his voyages to the New World. Not realizing that the Mongol empire had already fallen by the time of his voyage, Columbus even planned to follow in Polo’s footsteps by making contact with Kublai Kahn’s successor.

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• Exploring Marco Polo
• Doomed Exploratory Expeditions
• How the Silk Road Changed the World
• Columbus Facts You Didn't Learn in School
• Conquistadors' Most Brutal Methods
• The Little Ice Age, 1500-1870
• If Columbus Never Hit the Americas

20 Things You Might Not Know About Marco Polo

The biography of Marco Polo tells the story of one of the most famous explorers of all time. Leaving Venice with his father and uncle, he spent 24 years going all the way from Israel to China, where he lived for 17 years. His life story involves working for the great Kublai Khan personally, surviving perilous journeys, and eventually writing one of the greatest travelogues of all time.

But who was Marco Polo? In addition to being an explorer, he was a merchant, a soldier, and a keen observer of strange cultures. He also was known to be a braggart and an exaggerator. Some modern scholars don't believe that Marco Polo wrote his famous Travels  or even went to China at all. With hundreds of different versions of the book (and some that omit basic facts about life in China), it's likely that the original dictations he made are lost to history . 

His Exact Birthplace and Birthdate Are Unknown

• GNU Free Documentation License

Marco Met His Father at Age 15

Exploration Was in His Blood

Marco's father Nicollo and his uncle Maffeo were among the most successful traveling merchants in the Kingdom of Venice. Both brothers were born in 1230, and in 1254, they left Venice for Constantinople, where they lived with fellow Venetians and set up a trading post.

The Polo Brothers Returned with Detailed Instructions from the Khan

The Mongols Were a Complete Mystery to Venice

After Waiting Around Two Years, Marco and the Brothers Left Venice in 1271

The Polo brothers had the bad timing to come back to Venice in 1269, during a time when the Papacy was vacant. Clement IV had died a year earlier, and the Vatican was in the middle of a three year struggle to elect a new pope - one that dragged on so long  the electors were put on rations of bread and water, and eventually put in a roof-less room to speed them along. The Polos waited for two years for the situation to be resolved, then finally decided to just go back to China. 

Short Biography, facts and interesting information about Marco Polo the life story of the famous historical explorer of the Middle Ages The story and biography of Marco Polo which contains interesting information, facts & the history about the life of this Medieval person of historical importance Marco Polo travels to Cathay (China) Marco Polo lived from 1254-1324. Some years before St. Louis led his last Crusade there was born in Venice a boy named Marco Polo. His father was a wealthy merchant who often went on trading journeys to distant lands. In 1271, when Marco Polo was seventeen years old, he accompanied his father and uncle on a journey through the Holy Land, Persia and Tartary, and at length to the Empire of China, then called Cathay. It took the travellers three years to reach Cathay. Marco Polo meets Kublai Khan in Peking The emperor of Cathay was a monarch named Kublai Khan who lived in Peking. Marco Polo's father and uncle had been in Cathay once before and had entertained Kublai Khan by telling him about the manners and customs of Europe. So when the two Venetian merchants again appeared in Peking, Kublai Khan was glad to see them. He was also greatly pleased with the young Marco Polo, whom he invited to the palace. Important positions at the Chinese court were given to Marco Polo's father and uncle, and so they and Marco Polo lived in the country for some years. Marco Polo studied the Chinese language, and it was not very long before he could speak it. Marco Polo works as an envoy for Kublai Khan When Marco Polo was about twenty-one Kublai Khan sent him on very important business to a distant part of China. He did the work well and from that time was often employed as an envoy of the Chinese monarch. His travels were sometimes in lands never before visited by Europeans and Marco Polo had many strange adventures among the almost unknown tribes of Asia. Step by step he was promoted. For several years he was governor of a great Chinese city. Finally Marco Polo, his father and his uncle desired to return to Venice. They had all served Kublai Khan faithfully and he had appreciated it and given them rich rewards; but he did not wish to let them go. Marco Polo leaves China While the matter was being talked over an embassy arrived in Peking from the king of Persia. This monarch desired to marry the daughter of Kublai Khan, the Princess Cocachin, and he had sent to ask her father for her hand. Consent was given, and Kublai Khan fitted out a fleet of fourteen ships to carry the wedding party to Persia. The Princess Cocachin was a great friend of Marco Polo, and urged her father to allow him to go with the party. Finally Kublai Khan gave his consent. Marco Polo's father and uncle were also allowed to go, and the three Venetians left China. Marco Polo escorts the daughter of the Kublai Khan to Persia The fleet with the wedding party on board sailed southward on the China Sea. It was a long and perilous voyage. Stops were made at Borneo, Sumatra, Ceylon and other places, until the ships entered the Persian Gulf and the princess was safely landed. After they reached the capital of Persia the party, including the three Venetians, was entertained by the Persians for weeks in a magnificent manner and costly presents were given to all. At last the Venetians left their friends, went to the Black Sea and took ship for Venice. Marco Polo returns to Venice They had been away so long and were so much changed in appearance that none of their relations and old friends knew them when they arrived in Venice. As they were dressed in Tatar costume and sometimes spoke the Chinese language to one another, they found it hard to convince people that they were members of the Polo family. At length, on order to show that they were the men that they declared themselves to be, they gave a dinner to all their relations and old friends. When the guests arrived they were greeted by the travelers, arrayed in gorgeous Chinese robes of crimson satin. After the first course they appeared in crimson damask; after the second, they changed their costumes to crimson velvet; while at the end of the dinner they appeared in the usual garb of wealthy Venetians. "Now, my friends," said Marco Polo , "I will show you something that will please you." He then brought into the room the rough Tatar coats which he and his father and uncle had worn when they reached Venice. Cutting open the seams, he took from inside the lining packets filled with rubies, emeralds and diamonds. It was the finest collection of jewels ever seen in Venice. The guests were now persuaded that their hosts were indeed what they claimed to be. Marco Polo is captured by the Genoese Eight hundred years before Marco Polo's birth, some of the people of North Italy had fled before the Attila to the muddy islands of the Adriatic and founded Venice upon them. Since then the little settlement had become the most wealthy and powerful city of Europe. Venice was the queen of the Adriatic and her merchants were princes. They had vessels to bring the costly wares of the East to their wharves; they had warships to protect their rich cargoes from the pirates of the Mediterranean; they carried on wars. At the time when Marco Polo returned from Cathay they were at war with Genoa . The two cities were fighting for the trade of the world. In a great naval battle the Venetians were completely defeated. Marco Polo was in the battle and with many of his countrymen was captured by the enemy. Marco Polo dictates an account of his travels For a year he was confined in a Genoese prison. One of his fellow-prisoners was a skilful penman and Marco Polo dictated to him an account of his experiences in China, Japan, and other Eastern countries. This account was carefully written out. Copies of the manuscript exist to this day. One of these is in a library in Paris. It was carried into France in the year 1307. Another copy is preserved in the city of Berne. It is said that the book was translated into many languages, so that people in all parts of Europe learned about the adventures. of Marco Polo. The Legacy of Marco Polo - The Travels of Marco Polo (Il Milione) About a hundred and seventy-five years after the book was written, the famous Genoese, Christopher Columbus, planned his voyage across the Atlantic. It is believed that he had read the description by Marco Polo of Java, Sumatra and other East India Islands, which he thought he had reached when he discovered Haiti and Cuba. So Marco Polo may have suggested to Columbus the voyage which led to the discovery of America.   Famous People of the Middle Ages - Marco Polo Some interesting facts and short biography information about the History, Life & Times of Marco Polo. Additional details, facts, history and information about the famous people of the Middle Ages and important events during their times can be accessed via the Middle Ages Sitemap. Interesting Facts and information about Marco Polo in the Medieval era of the Middle Ages Marco Polo, China and the Kublai Khan Famous Medieval people - Marco Polo Famous People of the Middle Ages Important People of the Middle Ages Life Story and Biography of Marco Polo Famous Travels of Marco Polo to China Life and History of Marco Polo 197 IMAGES Marco Polo Facts, Biography, Timeline Marco Polo Marco Polo Marco Polo Biography Marco Polo Biography Marco Polo Biography in English VIDEO Marco Polo (TV series) / Title sequence Polo G Vs domini (Kountry Wayne Member) Real Life Partners 2024 FATOS DESCONHECIDOS SOBRE MARCO POLO QUE VOCÊ NÃO SABIA Marco Polo The man whose journey of a lifetime brought the FAR EAST to Europe #shorts मार्को पोलो की कहानी। biography of Marco polo Pronunciation of Polo COMMENTS Marco Polo Marco Polo's travels to Asia (1271-95), immortalized in his Travels of Marco Polo. Marco, his father, and his uncle set out from Venice in 1271 and reached China in 1275. The Polos spent a total of 17 years in China. Polo's way was paved by the pioneering efforts of his ancestors, especially his father, Niccolò, and his uncle, Maffeo. Marco Polo: Biography, The Travels of Marco Polo, Kublai Khan Venetian merchant and adventurer Marco Polo traveled from Europe to Asia from 1271 to 1295. ... The Biography.com staff is a team of people-obsessed and news-hungry editors with decades of ... Marco Polo Marco Polo (/ ˈ m ɑːr k oʊ ˈ p oʊ l oʊ / ⓘ, Venetian: [ˈmaɾko ˈpolo], Italian: [ˈmarko ˈpɔːlo] ⓘ; c. 1254 - 8 January 1324) [1] was a Venetian merchant, explorer and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. [2] [3] His travels are recorded in The Travels of Marco Polo (also known as Book of the Marvels of the World and Il Milione, c. 1300 ... Marco Polo Marco Polo (1254-1324) was a Venetian merchant believed to have journeyed across Asia at the height of the Mongol Empire. He first set out at age 17 with his father and uncle, traveling overland ... Marco Polo Marco Polo (1254-1324 CE) was a Venetian merchant and explorer who travelled to China and served the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan (l. 1214-1294 CE) between c. 1275 and 1292 CE. Polo's adventures are recounted in his own writings, The Travels, where he describes the peoples, places, and customs of the East, including the fabulous court of the Khan.The work caused a sensation and was one of the ... Biography of Marco Polo, Merchant and Explorer Marco Polo (c.1254-January 8, 1324) was a Venetian merchant and explorer who followed in the footsteps of his father and uncle. His writings about China and the Mongol Empire in "The Travels of Marco Polo" had a significant impact on European beliefs about and behavior toward the East and inspired the travels of Christopher Columbus. Notable ... Marco Polo summary Marco Polo, (born c. 1254, Venice [Italy]—died Jan. 8, 1324, Venice), Venetian merchant and traveler who journeyed from Europe to Asia (1271-95). Born into a Venetian merchant family, he joined his father and uncle on a journey to China, traveling along the Silk Road and reaching the court of Kublai Khan c. 1274. The Polos remained in China for about 17 years, and the Mongol emperor sent ... Marco Polo: Facts, Biography & Travels Early life. Marco Polo was born around 1254 into a wealthy Venetian merchant family, though the actual date and location of his birth are unknown. His father, Niccolo, and his uncle Maffeo were ... Marco Polo Biography Marco Polo Biography ; Marco Polo Biography. Born: c. 1254 Venice Died: January 8, 1324 Venice Venetian explorer and writer The traveler and writer Marco Polo left Venice for Cathay (now China) in 1271, spent seventeen years in Kublai Khan's (1215-1294) empire, and returned to Venice in 1295. His account of his experiences is one of the most ... Marco Polo Biography After the publication of this book, he became a famous personality in Venice and inspired many others to travel, including Christopher Columbus. To learn more interesting facts about his childhood, personal life and interesting accounts about his travel expeditions and experiences, scroll down and continue to read the biography of Marco Polo. Marco Polo Facts, Biography, Timeline and Accomplishments Marco Polo (September 15, 1254 - January 9, 1324) was born to his father, Niccolo Polo, who was a wealthy merchant from Europe to the Eastern World. Marco learned about the trade from his father and his uncle Maffeo and would take this knowledge and apply it. He would expand his father's wealth with his travels to China and would end up as a ... Marco Polo Biography Biography. Article abstract: Through his Asian travels and his book recording them, Marco Polo encouraged a medieval period of intercultural communication, Western knowledge of other lands, and ... 10 Facts About Marco Polo Venetian explorer Marco Polo spent more than two decades in the service of Kublai Khan, one of the greatest rulers in history who reigned over Mongolia for 34 years. Polo was known for the book ... Marco Polo Marco Polo - Biography. Marco Polo (1254-1324) was an Italian voyager and merchant who was one of the first Europeans to travel across Asia through China, visiting the Kublai Khan in Beijing. He left in 1271 (he was a teenager at the time) with his father (Nicolo Polo) and uncle (Maffeo Polo); they spent about 24 years traveling. Kids Biography: Marco Polo Marco Polo by Grevembrock. Occupation: Explorer and Traveler. Born: Venice, Italy in 1254. Died: January 8, 1324 Venice, Italy. Best known for: European traveler to China and the Far East. Biography: Marco Polo was a merchant and explorer who traveled throughout the Far East and China for much of his life. His stories were the basis for what ... Marco Polo Marco Polo left Italy and served under Chinese ruler Kubla Khan for 20 years. Upon his return, Polo brought news of the Asian culture to a surprised Europe. ... Marco Polo Biography In August of 1299, Polo was released from captivity and he was able to go back to Venice. In Venice, he joined his family's company and soon he became a very wealthy merchant. In 1300, he got married and, together with his wife, they had three children. In 1323, Marco Polo became confined to his bed. He died on January 8, 1324. Marco Polo's Travels Marco Polo was born circa 1224 in the Republic of Venice into a wealthy merchant family. In 1271, Marco Polo joined his father and uncle on their trip to Asia; they took with them two priests. They crossed the Middle East and the Gobi desert, witnessing many sights described later in his book The Description of the World, (which later became ... 11 Things You May Not Know About Marco Polo Imagno/Getty Images. 1. Marco Polo's famous travelogue was penned in prison. Marco Polo is remembered thanks to a colorful and popular narrative about his eastward voyage, known simply as The ... 20 Marco Polo Facts You Might Not Have Known The biography of Marco Polo tells the story of one of the most famous explorers of all time. Leaving Venice with his father and uncle, he spent 24 years going all the way from Israel to China, where he lived for 17 years. His life story involves working for the great Kublai Khan personally, surviving perilous journeys, and eventually writing ... Marco Polo Marco Polo followed in the footsteps of his uncle and father, journeying over 6000 miles from Venice while learning many new languages. Loading... While still a teenager, Venetian explorer Marco Polo set off to explore parts of Asia no European had ever seen before. Marco Polo followed in the footsteps of his uncle and father, journeying over ... Marco Polo Short Biography profile and facts about the life of Marco Polo The following short biography information provides basic facts and information about the life and history of Marco Polo a famous Medieval character of the Middle Ages: Nationality: Italian - Marco Polo was born in Venice ; Also Known by the Nickname: Lifespan: 1254-1324 assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis