1254-1324. Venetian traveller and writer. He
travelled overland to China 1271-75, and
served the emperor Kublai Khan until he
returned to Europe by sea 1292-95. He was
captured while fighting for Venice against
Genoa, and, while in prison 1296-98, dictated
an account of his travels. After his father
(Niccolo) and uncle (Maffeo) returned from a
trading journey to China 1260-69, Marco
himself began his trip overland to China.
Once there, he learned Mongolian and served
the emperor Kublai Khan, returning nearly
twenty years later by sea to his native
country. His accounts of his travels remained
the primary source of information about the
Far East until the 19th century.