Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant and explorer who travelled to China in the late 13th century. He went with his father and uncle on a journey through Asia, reaching the Empire of China, then called Cathay, after three years of travel. In Cathay, Marco Polo met the emperor Kublai Khan and gained his favor, studying the Chinese language. Later, Marco Polo escorted one of Kublai Khan's daughters back to Persia as part of a marriage arrangement. After 24 years away, Marco Polo returned to Venice but was not recognized by friends and family due to changes in his appearance. He was later captured during a war between Venice and Genoa and dictated stories of