Polo, Marco

Venetian traveller and writer. He joined his father (Niccolo) and uncle (Maffeo), who had travelled to China as merchants (1260–69), when they began a journey overland back to China (1271). Once there, he learned Mongolian and served the emperor Kubla Khan until he returned to Europe by sea 1292–95.

He was captured while fighting for Venice against Genoa, and, while in prison 1296–98, dictated an account of his travels. These accounts remained the primary source of information about the Far East until the 19th century.