
Born in 1254 in Venice, Italy, Marco Polo traveled with his father and uncle to China and spent many years living in the court of Kublai Khan (also known as the Great Khan). After serving in several high-level government positions, Khan finally consented to allow the Polos to leave the Empire in 1292. Marco Polo made many written accounts of his journey, but some scholars still question the validity of his claims. Marco Polo died in Venice in 1324.