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Marco Polo Timeline

The life of this famous explorer and his travels to China
His birth, family and education
His work for the Kublai Khan
His time in prison which led to writing of his biography detailing his travels and explorations
One of the most famous of the early explorers

Why was Marco Polo famous?
Marco Polo was famous for his travels to Cathay (China) and Persia and his work for the Kublai Khan. The life story and autobiography was called 'The Travels of Marco Polo' or 'Il Milione'.

Marco Polo Timeline

  • Chronology of Life, Key Names, Key Dates, Key People and Key People in the Marco Polo Timeline

 

 

Short Biography of Marco Polo
Date of Birth: Born on September 15, 1254
Place of Birth : Venice
Parents: Father - Niccolo Polo
Uncle: Maffeo

1254

 

September 15: Marco Polo is born in Venice

1260

 

His wealthy father and uncle, Nicolo and Maffeo Polo, set sail from Constantinople to the Crimea on a trading journey

1262

 

Nicolo and Maffeo Polo receive an invitation to Cathay (China) to meet Kublai, the khan of all the Mongols

1267

 

Kublai Khan sets up a new Chinese capital at Daidu  present day Beijing (Peking)

1269

 

Nicolo and Maffeo Polo return to Venice

1271

 

Marco Polo accompanies his father and uncle on a journey through the Holy Land, Persia and Tartary and  to the Empire of China

1274

 

The travellers reach Cathay after a three year journey. Marco Polo arrives in the capital and his father and uncle renew their friendly acquaintance with the Kublai Khan and present him with papal letters. They were given important positions at his court. Marco Polo studied the Chinese language which he learnt to speak

1275

 

Marco Polo is appointed as an envoy for the Kublai Khan and travels through China on his missions

1280's

 

Marco Polo travels through Asia working for the Kublai Khan and is eventually appointed as a governor of one of his cities

1292

 

A marriage is arranged for the daughter of Kublai Khan, the Princess Cocachin, and the Polo's accompany the wedding party, consisting of a fleet of fourteen ships, to Persia.

Stops were made at Borneo, Sumatra, Ceylon and other places until the ships reach Persia

1293

 

The Polo's stay in Persia to celebrate the wedding and then head towards the Black Sea to make their way back to Venice

1294

 

The Death of Kublai Khan

1295

 

Marco Polo arrives in Venice with the finest collection of jewels ever seen

Venice is at war with Genoa

1298

 

Marco Polo was made a "gentlemen commander" of a Venetian galley

His ship joins in the battle of Kurzola and he is taken as a prisoner of war by the Genoese.

Whilst he is in prison he meets a writer called Rustichello of Pisa and dictated to him an account of his travels and experiences in China, Japan, and other Eastern countries

1299

 

Marco Polo is released as a prisoner of war in Genoa: at about this time,

1300

 

Marco marries a Venetian lady called Donata and together they have three daughters called Belela, Fantina and Moreta

1307

 

A copy of his book reaches France and Switzerland and Marco Polo becomes internationally famous

1324

 

January: Marco Polo dies in Venice, he was almost 70 years old

Marco Polo was buried in the Church of San Lorenzo

Marco Polo Timeline

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