1-156-111 - Oxford Science Archive/Heritage Images

Indian sailing ships described by Marco Polo, 15th century. The ships are cogs, the general European trading vessels of the time. The figure in the centre is blowing a brass instrument of the trumpet family. Together with his father and uncle, Venetian traveller and merchant Marco Polo (1254-1324) 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. From a manuscript of the travels of Marco Polo from the Bodlean Library, Oxford.