Marco Polo: Timeline

1254   Born

1266   Niccolo and Maffeo Polo Marco Polo

Marco Polo was a Venetian [i] trader and explorer [i] who, together with ... 

, brother and uncle of Marco Polo reach Kublai Khan Kublai Khan

Kublai Khan, Khubilai Khan or "the last of the Great Khan [i]s", was a Mongol [i] military [i] leader [i] ... 

's capital Khanbaliq Khanbaliq

Khanbaliq or Cambuluc is the ancient Mongol [i] name for the city at the present location of Beijing [i] ... 

 (now Beijing Beijing

Beijing , a city in northern China [i] ... 

) in China China

China is a cultural region [i] and ancient civilization [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

, setting the stage for Marco's famous expedition starting five years later. Kublai Khan sends the Polos back with a message requesting the pope Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome [i], and, as Successor [i] of Saint Peter [i], is t ... 

 dispatch western scholars to teach in the Mongol Empire Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous [i] empire [i] in world history [i], c ... 

; however, this request is largely ignored.

1271   Marco Polo departs from Venice Venice

Venice is the capital [i] of the region [i] of Veneto [i] and the province of the same name [i] ... 

 with his father and uncle on his famous journey to Kublai Khan Kublai Khan

Kublai Khan, Khubilai Khan or "the last of the Great Khan [i]s", was a Mongol [i] military [i] leader [i] ... 

's China China

China is a cultural region [i] and ancient civilization [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

.

1275   Marco Polo purportedly visits Xanadu, Kublai Khan Kublai Khan

Kublai Khan, Khubilai Khan or "the last of the Great Khan [i]s", was a Mongol [i] military [i] leader [i] ... 

's summer capital of the Mongol Empire Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous [i] empire [i] in world history [i], c ... 

.

1295   Marco Polo returns to Italy Italy

Italy, officially the Italian Republic , is a Southern European [i] country. ... 

 from his travels to China China

China is a cultural region [i] and ancient civilization [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

.

1298   While in prison in Genoa Genoa

Genoa is a city [i] and a seaport [i] in northern Italy [i], the capital of the Province of Genoa [i] a ... 

, Marco Polo dictates his ''Travels'' to a local writer

1324   Died