Marco Polo

Marco Polo was a traveler and writer from the city of Venice, in present-day Italy. He was born in 1254 into a family of merchants, which means people who buy and sell goods. As a young man, he traveled far from Europe with his father and uncle. These journeys took him across Asia and into China. His travels became well known because he later described what he saw in a detailed book.

Marco Polo began his long journey in 1271. He traveled with his father, Niccolò Polo, and his uncle, Maffeo Polo. The journey followed parts of the Silk Road, a network of trade routes that connected Europe and Asia. Travel was slow and difficult. The group crossed deserts, mountains, and wide grasslands. The trip took several years before they reached China.

In China, Marco Polo met Kublai Khan, the ruler of the Mongol Empire and the founder of the Yuan dynasty. Kublai Khan ruled a large empire that included much of East Asia. Marco Polo stayed in the empire for many years. According to his account, he worked as a helper and messenger for the ruler. This allowed him to visit many cities and regions inside China.

Marco Polo described large cities, busy markets, and advanced systems of government. He wrote about paper money, which was not common in Europe at the time. He also described canals, bridges, and postal stations used for messages. These details showed that China had complex systems for travel and trade. Many of these ideas were new to European readers.

After about twenty-four years, Marco Polo returned to Venice in 1295. Not long after, he was captured during a war between Venice and another city. While in prison, he told his travel stories to another man, Rustichello of Pisa. These stories were written down in a book often called The Travels of Marco Polo. The book was copied and read across Europe.

Marco Polo died in 1324. His book remained an important source of information about Asia for many years. It helped Europeans learn about distant lands, rulers, and customs. Although some details were questioned, many parts of his account matched later discoveries. Marco Polo is remembered as one of the most well-known travelers of the medieval period.