A Best-Seller Born in a Prison Cell
One of the most famous travel books ever written began in a prison. After coming home from Asia, Marco Polo joined Venice's war against the city of Genoa, and was captured by the Genoese.
In prison, he shared a cell with a writer named Rustichello da Pisa. Over several months, Marco told him the story of his travels, and Rustichello wrote it down, adding a few tales of his own.
The book spread across Europe as handwritten copies. It became known as The Travels of Marco Polo, and it gave Europeans their first detailed look at China, Persia, India, Japan and other lands of the East. Marco was released in 1299 and became a wealthy merchant in Venice.
Meeting His Father at 15
Marco was born in Venice around 1254, into a family of merchants. His father and uncle were away trading when he was born and travelled deep into Asia, where they met the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan.
When they finally came home in 1269, Marco met his father for the first time. He was already about 15. Two years later, at 17, he set off with them for Asia.
They sailed to Acre, then travelled by camel to the Persian port of Hormuz, and on along the Silk Road. By the time they reached Kublai Khan's palace in China, Marco was 21 years old.
Seventeen Years at the Khan's Court
Kublai Khan took a liking to the young man, impressed by his intelligence and humility. He made Marco an emissary, sending him on missions across his empire and beyond, to places that are now Myanmar, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
Marco lived in the Khan's lands for 17 years. Kublai valued the Polos so much that he refused several times to let them leave.
Around 1291, he finally agreed, with one last job. The Polos were to escort a Mongol princess to Persia, to be married. From there, they travelled on to Constantinople and home. They reached Venice in 1295, after 24 years away and almost 24,000 kilometres of travel.
Mr Millions and the Great Wall Mystery
Back home, Marco earned a nickname: Milione, or "Million". One story says people called him that because he kept saying that Kublai Khan's wealth was counted in millions. His book was even titled Il Milione.
His account included the first Western record of porcelain, gunpowder and paper money. It inspired Christopher Columbus and many other explorers, and it shaped European maps.
But some people have long doubted him. He never mentioned the Great Wall of China, tea or chopsticks. Supporters point out that the Great Wall we know today was built about two centuries after his visit, and that other travellers of his time did not mention these things either.
