Marco Emilio Polo, born in Venice, was a Venetian merchant, explorer, and writer who became renowned for his extraordinary travels across Asia between 1271 and 1295. His journey, which spanned much of the Silk Road, was chronicled in The Travels of Marco Polo, also known as Book of the Marvels of the World and Il Milione (circa 1300). This book introduced Europeans to the vast and mysterious cultures of the East, revealing the immense wealth and size of the Mongol Empire and the Yuan Dynasty in China. It provided the first detailed European account of countries like Persia, India, Japan, and several other regions in Asia, offering a window into worlds previously unknown to the West.

Marco's journey was influenced by his family's mercantile background. His father and uncles, Niccolò and Maffeo Polo, were established traders who had ventured into Asia, meeting the powerful Mongol leader, Kublai Khan. In 1269, after returning to Venice, they reunited with Marco and set off again for Asia. Along the Silk Road, they encountered various cultures and challenges before reaching Cathay, modern-day China, where they were welcomed by Kublai Khan's court. The Khan was impressed with Marco's intelligence and demeanor, appointing him as his foreign emissary. This role allowed Marco to undertake diplomatic missions across the Mongol Empire and beyond, traveling to places such as Burma, India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.