Marco Polo did not chronicle his experience.
Marco Polo -LRB- -LSB- ˈmɑrkoʊ ˈpoʊloʊ -RSB- -LSB- ˈmarko ˈpɔːlo -RSB- ; 1254January 8 -- 9 , 1324 -RRB- was a Venetian merchant traveller .. Venetian. Venice Republic. merchant. merchant. His travels are recorded in Livres des merveilles du monde -LRB- Book of the Marvels of the World , also known as The Travels of Marco Polo , c. 1300 -RRB- , a book that described to Europeans the wealth and great size of China , its capital Peking , and other Asian cities and countries .. The Travels of Marco Polo. The Travels of Marco Polo. Livres des merveilles du monde. The Travels of Marco Polo. He learned the mercantile trade from his father and uncle , Niccolo and Maffeo , who travelled through Asia and met Kublai Khan .. Niccolo and Maffeo. Niccolo and Maffeo Polo. Kublai Khan. Kublai Khan. In 1269 , they returned to Venice to meet Marco for the first time .. The three of them embarked on an epic journey to Asia , returning after 24 years to find Venice at war with Genoa ; Marco was imprisoned and dictated his stories to a cellmate .. at war with. Venetian–Genoese Wars. Genoa. Republic of Genoa. He was released in 1299 , became a wealthy merchant , married , and had three children .. merchant. merchant. He died in 1324 and was buried in the church of San Lorenzo in Venice .. San Lorenzo in Venice. San Lorenzo, Venice. Marco Polo was not the first European to reach China -LRB- see Europeans in Medieval China -RRB- , but he was the first to leave a detailed chronicle of his experience .. Europeans in Medieval China. Europeans in Medieval China. This book inspired Christopher Columbus and many other travellers .. Christopher Columbus. Christopher Columbus. There is a substantial literature based on Polo 's writings ; he also influenced European cartography , leading to the introduction of the Fra Mauro map .. Fra Mauro map. Fra Mauro map