In 1271, the 17-year-old Marco Polo left Venice with his father Niccolo and uncle Maffeo, merchants who had already visited the court of Kublai Khan, to return to China with letters from the pope. They crossed Persia, the Pamir mountains and the Gobi desert and reached the khan's summer capital in 1275. Marco stayed 17 years in the Mongol empire, and served in the khan's administration. They returned by sea, via Sumatra, India and Persia, in 1295. Dictated in prison in Genoa to Rustichello da Pisa around 1298, his Travels was the main European source on Asia for two centuries, and inspired Columbus.
Before and after
- 1270Construction of Malbork Castle
- from 18 July 1270 to 30 October 1270Eighth Crusade
- from 1271 to 1272Ninth Crusade
- from 1271 to 1368Yuan dynasty
- from 1271 to 1295Marco Polo sets out for China
- from 3 March 1271 to 8 April 1271Fall of Krak des Chevaliers
- from 1272 to 1278War of the Cow
- 1272Rise of House of Bourbon
- 17 December 1273Death of Rumi
More in Exploration & discovery
- 1298The Travels of Marco Polo
- 1451Birth of Christopher Columbus
- c. 1469Birth of Vasco da Gama
- 1480Birth of Ferdinand Magellan
- 1485Birth of Hernán Cortés
- 31 December 1491Birth of Jacques Cartier
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 13th century.