Marco Polo (September 15, 1254 – January 9, 1324) was a Italian merchant whose travels are recorded
in Livres des merveilles du monde (Book of the Marvels of the World, also known as The Travels of Marco Polo, c. 1300),
a book that introduced Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned the mercantile trade from his father and uncle,
Niccolò and Maffeo. 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. He was released in 1299, became a wealthy merchant,
married, and had three children. He died in 1324 and was buried in the church of San Lorenzo in Venice. (2830)