Marco Polo

Marco Polo was born in Venice, Italy, in 1254. He became one of the most famous explorers in history. When he was just 17 years old, he started a very long trip with his father and uncle. They traveled all the way to China! Back then, very few people from Europe had ever seen Asia. Marco Polo spent many years there and then came home to tell his amazing stories.

His Long Journey

Marco Polo left Venice in 1271. He traveled with his father Niccolo and his uncle Maffeo. They went by boat, camel, and horse. The trip to China took more than three years! They crossed huge deserts and tall mountains. They saw many new lands and met many different people along the way.

Life in China

In China, Marco Polo met the great ruler Kublai Khan. The Khan liked Marco and gave him special jobs. Marco worked for him for about 17 years. He saw paper money, coal, and big ships. These things were new to people in Europe. When Marco finally came home, he wrote a book about his trip. It was called 'The Travels of Marco Polo.' The book made many people want to explore the world.

Fun Facts

• Marco Polo was only 17 years old when he started his trip to Asia.
• He was away from home for about 24 years before coming back to Venice.
• Marco Polo wrote his famous book while he was in prison after a war.

Did You Know?

The fun pool game called 'Marco Polo' is named after him! People say it is because he did not always know where he was going on his travels.