Who was Marco Polo sent by?

Marco Polo was born around 1254 into a prosperous merchant family in the Italian city-state of Venice. His father, Niccolò, and his uncle Maffeo had left the year before on a long-term trading expedition. read more

The television film, Marco Polo (2007), starring Brian Dennehy as Kublai Khan, and Ian Somerhalder as Marco, portrays Marco Polo being left alone in China while his uncle and father return to Venice, to be reunited with him many years later. read more

Marco was used on several extended missions that sent himtraveling over much of China and even beyond. By his own account heskirted the edge of Tibet and northern Burma. Thisbusiness-diplomatic relationship between the Polo's and Kublai Khanlasted more than 16 years, during which Marco served as the Khan'spersonal representative in the city of Yangchow. read more