Marco Polo

Marco Polo (1254-1324) is probably the most famous Westerner traveled on the Silk Road. He excelled all the other travelers in his determination, his writing, and his influence. His journey through Asia lasted 24 years. He reached further than any one before him. Beyond Mongolia to China. He became a confidant of Kublai Khan (1214-1294). He traveled all of China and came back to tell stories about his travels. It is not certain whether Marco Polo …

…fortune as Marco boasted. He also wanted his servant Peter, to be set free. True or not, his Travels have captured readers through the centuries. Editions of his work ran into the hundreds within a century after his death. The book was recognized as the most important account of the world outside Europe that was available at the time. Today there are more than 80 manuscript copies in various versions and several languages around the world.