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Marco Polo was born in 1254 in Venice, Italy. There is limited information available about his early childhood.

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Marco’s early life was marked by his family’s travels and business ventures.

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In 1260, when Marco was around six years old, his father and uncle embarked on a journey to the Mongol Empire, which then included parts of modern-day Russia, China, and the Middle East. They returned to Venice around 1269, bringing with them stories of their travels and the riches of the East.

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Marco Polo’s early life was shaped by his family’s involvement in the silk trade and their extensive travels.

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In 1271, at the age of 17, Marco Polo set out on his first major expedition with his father and uncle. They traveled overland along the Silk Road, a network of trade routes connecting the East and West.

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This journey would take them through modern-day countries such as Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan before reaching China, where they entered the court of the powerful Mongol ruler, Kublai Khan.

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He visited numerous cities, observed the culture, and collected information about the country’s geography, people, and customs.

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He spent around 17 years in China, from 1275 to 1292.

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While in China, Polo served as a special envoy for Kublai Khan, traveling to different parts of the empire to help administer the realm.