Explorer · 1254 – 1324
Marco Polo
Key Takeaways
- Marco Polo traveled overland from Venice to China along the Silk Road.
- He spent years in the service of Kublai Khan of the Mongol Yuan dynasty.
- His book, The Travels, became Europe's chief source on Asia.
- His account later inspired explorers including Christopher Columbus.
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant whose journeys across Asia in the Middle Ages produced the most celebrated travel account of his era. His descriptions of distant lands opened European eyes to the wealth and scale of the East.
The journey east
As a young man, Marco set out with his father and uncle along the Silk Road, crossing deserts and mountains to reach the realm of Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan and ruler of the Mongol Yuan dynasty. Marco served the Khan for years, traveling widely through Asia on official business.
The Travels
Returning to Venice after decades abroad, Marco was later captured in conflict with Genoa. In prison he dictated his experiences to the writer Rustichello of Pisa, producing The Travels of Marco Polo. The book described cities, customs, goods and marvels that astonished European readers.
Legacy
Marco Polo’s account became a foundational source on Asia and a spur to commerce and exploration. A copy of the Travels accompanied Christopher Columbus on his voyages, linking the medieval merchant to the later age of discovery he helped inspire.
Influence
Marco Polo's Travels expanded European knowledge of Asian geography, goods and cultures, fueling commercial ambition and inspiring the later age of maritime exploration.
Legacy
His name became synonymous with adventurous travel, and his book remained a key reference on Asia for generations of merchants and explorers.
Major Works
- The Travels of Marco Polo (Il Milione)
Controversies
- Some scholars have questioned how much of his account is firsthand versus compiled from others, though most accept the core of his journey.
Notable Quotes
“I did not write half of what I saw, for I knew I would not be believed.”
Connections
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Marco Polo?
Marco Polo (c. 1254–1324) was a Venetian merchant and explorer whose account of his travels to Yuan China became medieval Europe's most influential source on Asia.
Did Marco Polo really reach China?
Most historians accept that he traveled to China and served at Kublai Khan's court, though some details of his account remain debated.
Citations & Sources
People Like Marco
Christopher Columbus
85Christopher 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.
Why A later explorer who carried and annotated a copy of Marco Polo's Travels while seeking a sea route to the East.
Genghis Khan
93Genghis Khan was the founder and first Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, a military genius who united the nomadic tribes of the steppe and forged the largest contiguous land empire in history.
Why Founder of the Mongol Empire whose grandson Kublai Khan hosted Marco Polo.
Zheng He
83Zheng He was a Chinese admiral and explorer of the Ming dynasty who commanded vast treasure fleets on seven voyages across the Indian Ocean, reaching as far as Arabia and East Africa.
Why A Chinese admiral whose later voyages similarly bridged distant civilizations across Asia and the Indian Ocean.
Ferdinand Magellan
86Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who, in the service of Spain, led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe, proving the world could be sailed around even though he died midway through the voyage.
Why A later explorer whose age of seaborne discovery was inspired in part by accounts of Asian riches like Polo's.
Ibn Battuta
78Ibn Battuta was a Moroccan scholar and traveller of the 14th century who journeyed some 75,000 miles across Africa, the Middle East, India, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and China — one of the greatest travellers of the pre-modern world.
Why Also a explorer · Active in the same era
Dante Alighieri
93Dante Alighieri was an Italian poet of the late Middle Ages whose masterpiece, the Divine Comedy, is considered one of the greatest works of world literature and helped establish the Italian language.
Why Also a writer · Active in the same era