Marco Polo (1254–1324), a Venetian merchant and explorer, gained fame for his extraordinary travels to Asia. Born into a family of traders, Marco journeyed alongside his father and uncle to the Mongol Empire, where he served at Kublai Khan’s court for nearly two decades. His detailed accounts of Asia’s cultures, economies, and landscapes shaped European perceptions of the East. Despite skepticism over some claims, Marco’s legacy as one of history’s greatest explorers remains undisputed.