1271–1295Reputable sourceWell documented
Marco Polo
On the timeline · around 1271–1295 ·
What happened
The Venetian merchant Marco Polo journeyed the length of the Silk Road to the court of Kublai Khan in China, where he lived for years before returning home. His account of the wonders of the East — its cities, wealth, and marvels — became one of the most influential travel books ever written.
Why it matters
Marco Polo's tales fired the European imagination with visions of the riches of Asia. Two centuries later they helped inspire explorers like Christopher Columbus to seek new sea routes to the fabled East.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Marco Polo · Reputable source
Related timelines
- The Age of Exploration → — The traveler whose tales inspired the age of exploration