Christopher Columbus vs Marco Polo
How do Christopher Columbus and Marco Polo compare? Here is a side-by-side look at their lives, achievements and historical impact.
| Christopher Columbus | Marco Polo | |
|---|---|---|
| Lifespan | 1451 – 1506 | 1254 – 1324 |
| Born | Genoa, Italy | Venice, Republic of Venice |
| Occupation | Explorer, Navigator | Explorer, Merchant, Writer |
| Known for | Reaching the Americas in 1492, Opening the Age of Exploration, The Columbian Exchange | The Travels of Marco Polo, Journey to Yuan China, Silk Road travel, Court of Kublai Khan |
| Fields | — | — |
| Influence score | 85/100 | 84/100 |
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who, sailing for Spain in 1492, opened sustained European contact with the Americas — a voyage of immense and deeply controversial consequence.
Full biography →Marco Polo
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant and explorer whose travels across Asia to the court of Kublai Khan, recorded in The Travels of Marco Polo, gave medieval Europe its most influential account of the East.
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