because
Marco Polo's travels may have had some influence on the development of European cartography ... leading to the European voyages of exploration a century later. ... Marco Polo and his Description of the World. History Today. Vol. 21, No. ...
Marco Polo was born and raised in Italy, though he spent most of his life in China, returning to Italy in his later years.
It's important since he was one of the first Europeans to reach China and serve at the court of different emperors. His records have been an important tool for historians to learn about life in China in the 13th century.
It was almost always known by the Europeans from the silk road and everything, but Marco Polo really established the European and Chinese connection. I don't know years, but a simple search of 'Marco Polo' will probably do.
Marco Polo did not discover a sea route to the West Indies; he traveled primarily overland along the Silk Road to Asia in the 13th century. The first significant European sea route to the West Indies was established later, primarily by Christopher Columbus in 1492 when he sailed west across the Atlantic Ocean. Columbus's voyages ultimately led to the European discovery of the Caribbean islands, which were later referred to as the West Indies.
Marco Polo's voyage to Asia lasted approximately 24 years, from 1271 to 1295. He traveled extensively through regions such as China, Persia, and India, documenting his experiences and the cultures he encountered. Polo returned to Venice in 1295, where he recounted his adventures, which were later compiled into the famous book "The Travels of Marco Polo." His journey significantly influenced European knowledge of Asia.
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Marco Polo
Niccolò Polo
Marco Polo was not an orphan. His mother died when he was young and he was raised by an aunt and uncle. His father had been traveling in the far east since before he was born and returned when Marco was 15. Two years later, Marco set off with his father, Niccolo Polo, and uncle, Mafffeo Polo, on the 24 year journey that Marco documented in his book.
Marco Polo first traveled eastward from Venice to Cathay (what is now China). Many years later, he traveled westward from Cathay to return home.
Marco Polo's journey, which began in 1271, took him from Venice to Asia along the Silk Road. He traveled extensively through regions such as Persia, the Mongol Empire, and China, where he spent many years in the court of Kublai Khan. Polo's adventures included encounters with diverse cultures, exploration of trade routes, and observations of the wealth and sophistication of Asian societies. His experiences were later chronicled in "The Travels of Marco Polo," which inspired European interest in Asia.