Marco Polo sailing from Venice in 1271, (15th century) .

Marco Polo sailing from Venice in 1271, (15th century). Together with his father and uncle, Venetian traveller and merchant Marco Polo (1254-1324) set off from Venice, travelled the Silk Road and arrived at the court of Kublai Khan (1214-1294), Great Khan of the Moguls and Emperor of China, some three years later. He spent 17 years in China before returning home, arriving back in Italy in 1295. He was imprisoned by the Genoese, writing an account of his travels, Il Milione whilst in captivity. From a late 15th century illuminated manuscript in the collection of the Bodleian Library, Oxford. (Photo by Oxford Science Archive/Print Collector/Getty Images)