Marco Polo

Polo, Marco (1254?–1324?), Venetian explorer famous for his overland journey to China (1271–95). Reaching China in 1275, he served as an envoy of the ruler, Kublai Khan. He was appointed governor of Yangchow for 3 years and assisted in the capture of the city of Sainfu. He returned home to Venice (1295) laden with a treasure in precious stones. Commanding a galley against the Genoese at the battle of Curzola (1298), he was captured. In prison he wrote an account of his travels that later inspired explorers like Christopher Columbus to search for a sea passage to the East.