Biography from Ancient Civilizations: Marco Polo

Marco Polo, the first European to travel to China and return to write about his adventures, was born in Venice in 1254. Marco's father had left on a journey to Asia before the boy was born. Marco did not see his father and uncle, Niccolo and Maffeo Polo, until fifteen years later. In 1271 the three Polos left Venice and headed for the court of Kublai Khan in eastern China. The journey took them more than three years - they arrived in 1275. Marco Polo became a favourite of the Great Kahn, and was sent on important missions all over the Mongol Empire.