Marco Polo was an Italian explorer from Venice who travelled along the Silk Road to China in the late 13th century and served as an envoy for Kublai Khan. During his approximately 17 years in China, he gained favor with Kublai Khan and travelled extensively throughout the empire. Upon his return to Venice in 1295, he documented his travels in a book that helped introduce many Chinese products and customs to Europe and inspired later explorers like Christopher Columbus.