Marco Polo was an Italian explorer who lived in the 13th century. He embarked on a journey to the East with his father and uncle, who were both merchants. They traveled through Asia for over 20 years, and Marco became a trusted advisor of Kublai Khan, the Mongol emperor of China. He learned a great deal about the geography, culture, and customs of the countries he visited, and his descriptions of them became famous in Europe. He returned to Venice in 1295, where he became a wealthy merchant and a prominent figure in the city. He wrote a memoir of his travels, called “The Travels of Marco Polo,” which became a best-seller and one of the most important works of medieval literature. His accounts of the riches of the East inspired many other explorers to follow in his footsteps, and his legacy continues to this day.