1-155-980 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Marco Polo, Venetian traveller and merchant meeting Kublai Khan, c1274. Marco Polo (1254-1324), together with his father and uncle, presenting the Pope's letter to Kublai Khan (1214-1294), Great Khan of the Moguls and, from 1271, Emperor of China. The Polos set off from Venice for Asia in 1271, travelling the Silk Road and arriving at the court of Kublai Khan some three years later. They spent 17 years in China before returning home, arriving back in Italy in 1295. Marco Polo was imprisoned by the Genoese, writing an account of his travels, Il Milione whilst in captivity. Detail of an illuminated manuscript from the Bodleian Library, Oxford.