Marco Polo

c. 1254 – 8 January 1324

Marco Polo (c. 1254 - 1324) was a Venetian merchant and explorer who traveled overland to Asia and spent about seventeen years in the realm of the Mongol emperor Kublai Khan. The account of his journeys, 'The Travels of Marco Polo', dictated while he was a prisoner in Genoa, introduced Europeans to the geography and wealth of China, Central Asia and the Indian Ocean world.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Marco Polo.

Life events

Born into a family of Venetian merchants
c. 1254

Marco Polo was born around 1254, traditionally in Venice, to the merchant Niccolò Polo, who was away trading in the East during Marco's childhood.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Departed Venice for Asia with his father and uncle
1271

Aged about seventeen, Marco set out with Niccolò and Maffeo Polo on their second journey east, traveling through Persia and Central Asia along the Silk Road.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Arrived at the court of Kublai Khan
c. 1275

After roughly three and a half years of travel the Polos reached the summer capital of Shangdu and were received by the Mongol emperor Kublai Khan.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Served Kublai Khan and traveled widely through the Mongol realm
c. 1275 – c. 1292

According to his book, Marco spent about seventeen years in Kublai's service, undertaking missions that took him across China and to Southeast Asia and India.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Left China escorting a Mongol princess by sea
c. 1292

The Polos departed China with a fleet escorting the princess Kokochin to Persia, sailing via Southeast Asia, Sumatra and India before continuing home.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Returned to Venice after twenty-four years abroad
1295

Marco, his father and uncle arrived back in Venice in 1295, reportedly unrecognized by their relatives and carrying great wealth in gems.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Captured by the Genoese and imprisoned
1298

Taken prisoner during the war between Venice and Genoa, traditionally after the Battle of Curzola, Marco was held in a Genoese prison.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Dictated 'The Travels of Marco Polo' to Rustichello da Pisa
c. 1298 – c. 1299

While imprisoned in Genoa he recounted his journeys to fellow prisoner Rustichello da Pisa, who wrote them down as the book that made Marco Polo famous.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Released from prison and married Donata Badoer
1300

Freed in 1299, Marco returned to Venice, resumed life as a merchant, and married Donata Badoer, with whom he had three daughters.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died at his home in Venice
8 January 1324

Marco Polo died in early January 1324 after dictating his will; he was buried in the church of San Lorenzo in Venice.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓