Over the course of two decades, he traveled on land along the Silk Road, and by sea while traversing parts of Asia.
In 1271, he left home with his father Niccolò and his uncle Maffeo and set out for Asia. This was probably the first time he had met them, as they had been traveling the world since his birth.
Marco Polo offered one of history's most detailed accounts of the Mongol post system, a complex network of checkpoints and couriers that allowed Kublai Khan to administer his empire.
Marco Polo's stories seem incredible, and historians continue to debate exactly how true some of them actually were.
When Marco Polo decided it was time to return home, Khan had grown so attached to the Venetian merchant that he denied his request.
Polo later wrote that the members of his company were among the only survivors of a deadly sea voyage, which claimed hundreds of lives. However, after leaving the princess, the Polos traveled overland to Constantinople before returning to Venice.
Throughout his book, Polo repeated the myths and rumors he encountered as fact. He claimed that evil spirits haunt the Gobi Desert, torturing travelers with illusions, making them lose their way.
In his book, Polo not only said that he traveled farther than almost any European, but he also befriended the emperor, becoming his right-hand man and advisor.
Polo finally convinced the Khan to let him go, in return for a last duty to accompany the Mongol princess Kököchin, who was to become the consort of Arghun Khan, in Persia. In order to ensure Polo was safe, the emperor gave him an inscribed gold plaque, which would help him obtain supplies on their journey and let everyone know he was under the emperor’s protection.
Marco Polo’s travels inspired plenty of explorers, including Christopher Columbus, who brought a copy of his book on his trips across the Atlantic Ocean.
Sources: (History) (Mental Floss)
See also: The history of traveling for pleasure
In the 13th century, European folklore described unicorns as horned, horse-like species who could be captured only with the help of a young maiden. However, Polo's account of the animal debunked that superstition.
Marco, his father, and uncle were also employed as emissaries for the Mongol emperor. When Marco got older, Khan later dispatched him to China and Southeast Asia as a tax collector and special messenger.
After he left home at 17, Marco Polo didn’t return to Venice for 24 years. Imagine that!
Marco Polo was just 17 years old when he embarked on his great journey east. It was likely the first time the young man had left home.
Once they were out of Mongol territory, the Polos could no longer rely on Khan’s protection. As they passed through the kingdom of Trebizond, in modern-day Turkey, the local government robbed them of some 4,000 Byzantine gold coins.
And while he may not have brought ice cream to Europe either, Polo did describe an early form of the milkshake. The Mongols reportedly dried milk and then filled their flasks with the powder to take on their horseback travels. While riding, they added water to the milk, and the motion caused the mix to thicken.
Of all the animals he encountered, the yak seemed to be Polo’s favorite. Amazed by the silky softness of their fur, he brought back yak hair to display in Venice.
The Mongol Empire was circulating paper money long before the Europeans. Polo described the strange currency in his book, describing Kublai Khan as an alchemist who could transform mulberry trees into money, instead of base metals into gold.
Marco Polo encountered various animals on his journeys that were then unknown in Europe, such as the chow chow, the musk deer, and the yak.
Contrary to popular belief, Polo didn't introduce pasta to Italy. Noodles were already big in Europe by that time. He did, however, find endless quantities of rare spices, such as ginger.
Some historians have even questioned whether Polo even made it to China, arguing he may have simply picked up stories from other merchants.
In 1841, zoologist Edward Blyth named a subspecies of Central Asian wild sheep Ovis ammon polii after Marco Polo. They're also known as the Marco Polo sheep.
Kublai Khan died during the Polos' return to Venice, sending the Mongol Empire into irrevocable decline. Tribal groups soon took over the once prosperous Silk Road, making the land route to China increasingly dangerous. Polo never returned.
Polo described unicorns as ugly and dangerous, with feet like an elephant, the head of a wild boar, and a horn in the middle of their foreheads. Modern historians believe he was describing a rhino.
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. There, he befriended another prisoner, Rustichello of Pisa, who happened to be a writer. He began dictating his story to Rustichello, who produced the manuscript that would become 'The Travels of Marco Polo.'
In his book, Polo described that he met with magicians and sorcerers. For example, at the court of Kublai Khan, Polo met astrologers who allegedly could control the weather.
In fact, he wasn’t even the first Polo to visit China. Before Marco embarked on his journey to Asia, Niccolò and Maffeo Polo had already traveled to China and met with Kublai Khan.
Born in the Republic of Venice in 1254, Marco Polo was an explorer, trader, and adventurer who traveled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His journeys are recorded in 'The Travels of Marco Polo,' which described to Europeans the then-mysterious cultures of the Far East. His influential book outlined the geography of Asia, described the traditions of its people, and told tales of life at the court of Mongol emperor Kublai Khan.
But as amazing as all this may sound, it only scratches the surface of his life. Click on to discover what you might not know about Marco Polo.
Despite this significant loss, the Polos still had enough cargo to return home as wealthy men in 1295. One accounted revealed they concealed most of their gems by sewing precious stones into the linings of their coats.
Polo was released in 1299, and became a wealthy merchant. He also married and had three children. He died in 1324 and was buried in the church of San Lorenzo in Venice.
Interesting facts about Marco Polo that you might not be aware of
Discover fascinating facts about his life and his legendary travels to the Far East
LIFESTYLE History
Born in the Republic of Venice in 1254, Marco Polo was an explorer, trader, and adventurer who traveled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His journeys are recorded in 'The Travels of Marco Polo,' which described to Europeans the then-mysterious cultures of the Far East. His influential book outlined the geography of Asia, described the traditions of its people, and told tales of life at the court of Mongol emperor Kublai Khan.
But as amazing as all this may sound, it only scratches the surface of his life. Click on to discover what you might not know about Marco Polo.