Marco Polo
Born in Venice in 1254, Marco Polo is one of the most important travelers and merchants of the Middle Ages. He lost his mother at an early age and spent his childhood under the care of relatives, receiving a good education due to his father Niccolò and uncle Matteo’s commercial activities in the East.
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The Great Journey to Asia (1271–1295)
In 1271, at the age of just 17, Marco Polo set out with his father and uncle on a legendary journey that would last 24 years. He visited major trading cities along the Silk Road including Iran, Turkmenistan, Kashgar and Samarkand. During this long journey he closely observed the cultures, peoples and traditions of the East.
A Venetian in Kublai Khan’s Court
In 1275 he arrived at the court of the Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan in Shangdu (Xanadu). Trusting foreign envoys, Kublai Khan appointed Marco Polo to various official posts within the empire. These positions allowed Marco to gather invaluable information about the social structure, cities and daily life of China and surrounding regions.
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The Travels (Il Milione) and Legacy
Shortly after returning to Venice in 1295, Marco Polo was captured during the Venetian-Genoa War. While imprisoned, he recounted his travels to his cellmate Rustichello da Pisa, and these stories were compiled into a book titled Il Milione (The Travels). This work sparked great curiosity in Europe about the lands of the East. Marco Polo’s observations inspired explorers such as Christopher Columbus and are regarded as one of the most important historical sources on the Turk-Mongol world. Polo died in Venice in 1324, leaving behind a legacy rich with discoveries.
Return and Later Years
In 1295 Marco Polo returned to Venice with his father and uncle. Shortly afterward he joined the Venetian-Genoese War and was taken prisoner. While in jail he met Rustichello and committed his travels to writing. After his release he married and had three daughters. He engaged in trade, accumulated wealth and died in Venice in 1324 at the age of 70.
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Significance
Marco Polo is one of the travelers who provided Europeans with information about the Far East and the Turkic world. Through his book, many Europeans learned about the culture and geography of the East, and some explorers, such as Christopher Columbus, drew inspiration from his observations to embark on their own voyages of discovery.
